North Carolina city at the top of the Research Triangle
Roughly 12 miles south of the Virginia/North Carolina border and about 30 miles north of Durham is the small city of Roxboro. Tucked between two ridges and a pair of large lakes, this community of approximately 8,000 people is surrounded by natural beauty. “We are the tiara of the Research Triangle,” says Roxboro Mayor Merilyn Newell, who’s also a native. “We have a slower, gentler pace of life than a big city might offer, but as the only incorporated community in Person County, we’re the economic engine. This is where the action is.”
The city’s historic Main Street stretch, known as Uptown, is lined with small businesses and serves as the hub for Person County’s arts scene. The city is also home to some of the county’s top employers, including the furniture manufacturer Polywood, GKN Automotive Components and Person Memorial Hospital, a full-service 98-bed facility. Research Triangle Park, the nation’s largest research park, with top companies ranging from IBM and Fidelity Investments to Cisco Systems and LabCorp, is less than 40 miles away. “People are relocating here because of the quality of life,” Newell says. “There’s not so much traffic.”
Dating to the mid-1800s, Roxboro is named after the Scottish town of Roxburgh. Like many small cities and towns in central North Carolina, it grew with the arrival of the railroad. Roxboro would later gain a small measure of fame as the hometown of baseball Hall of Famer Enos “Country” Slaughter, a fact displayed next to the city’s welcome sign on Durham Road. Today, Roxboro’s successful high school volleyball programs have earned it the nickname of Volleytown.
Roxboro's historic Main Street stretch, known as Uptown, is lined with small businesses.
Roxoboro is a small city between 2 lake in norther North Carolina.
Many Roxboro residents work in the Research Triangle Park.
Roxboro is home to GKN Automotive Components and many other large companies.
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Home prices rising amid wave of new construction
The median price for a home in Roxboro is $275,000, significantly less than the national median of $404,500. Prices increased 14% from 2023 to 2024, and they range from $160,000 for ranch-style homes needing renovation to $500,000 for new-construction houses.
Large Victorian homes with wraparound porches and ornate decorative finishes rest blocks from Uptown. Ranch-style houses, cottages and Cape Cods fill the surrounding streets. Communities of manufactured homes sit outside Midtown, and new construction is popping up around the city, including on Dolly and Dover streets.
Newell says there are plans to build 1,700 new homes in the coming years. Developers are also looking to construct Roxboro’s first planned unit development. City leaders are waiting to see the plans for this project, which will include commercial space, as well as single-family and multifamily housing.
In Roxoboro a rach style home needing work will run $160-$500.
Large Victorian homes with wraparound porches line Roxboro's main street.
The median price for a home in Roxboro is $275,000, significantly less than the nations.
Roxboro is a growing community with new construction all over.
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Local eats, boutiques and the arts in Uptown Roxboro
Black antique streetlights, a 1950s-inspired pharmacy with a classic soda fountain, and an Art Deco theater with a glowing marquee — Uptown Roxboro is known for its nostalgic character. Red brick buildings from the late 19th century line Main Street in this walkable historic district visited by people across Person County. Small businesses thrive here, with each block hosting locally owned boutiques and specialty stores stocked with antiques, clothing, gifts, jewelry, paint supplies and more. Eateries range from small cafes and delis to full-service restaurants serving Italian, Mexican, Cajun and American fare. Bars, a brewery and a bottle shop are sprinkled in between.
The Kirby Cultural Arts Complex anchors the city’s art scene in the heart of Uptown. The complex features the Kirby Theater, used for theatrical and musical performances, youth theater programs and movie screenings. Two art galleries are housed in the complex, showcasing various works by local and regional artists, with monthly exhibition openings. The Learning Studios offers “paint your own ceramics” nights, while the Commonplace Studio & Collective holds pottery classes down the block. Creativity extends to the streets of Roxboro, where public art adorns walls, crosswalks and alleyways. Kirby Art Park is a small, dedicated green space for sculptures.
Roxboro musicians, artisans and crafters are highlighted each October during the annual Personality Festival. Celebrating the community and culture of Person County, this weekend-long event held in Uptown is the city’s biggest gathering of the year. “It’s been going on for over 40 years,” Newell says. “We close all the streets, open our doors and bring in all kinds of food trucks and vendors. People are out everywhere. You’ll see kids dancing in the street.”
Locally owned boutiques and specialty stores line the street of downtown Roxboro.
Red brick buildings from the late 19th century line Main Street in Roxboro.
The Kirby Cultural Arts Complex anchors the Roxboro's art scene in the heart of Uptown
You can still find an old fashioned soda counter in downtown Roxboro. Roxboro
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Water sports at Hyco and Mayo lakes, new county park
Outdoor recreation in Roxboro centers around two lakes north of the city, both created by what’s now Duke Energy as cooling reservoirs. Hyco Lake, the largest of the two, is surrounded by homes and has become a regional destination for boating, wakeboarding, water skiing and camping. Mayo Lake offers a quieter atmosphere for fishing and kayaking. The city's parks are primarily used for team sports and exercise, with nearly every green space having ballfields and walking trails. Near Uptown, Huck Sansbury Recreation Complex is where youth softball and baseball teams practice. It’s also popular for its tennis and pickleball courts and a small playground. Person County’s Veteran’s Park is across the street. “There are almost 4,000 veterans in Person County,” says Newell, who adds that the park often hosts events for Memorial Day and the like. A new county park is set to open by the summer of 2025 south of the city. Rotary Centennial Park will offer 200 acres of nature to explore with hiking and mountain-biking trails.
Drag races take place at Roxboro Motorsports Park, about 12 miles east of the city, while Orange County Speedway hosts stock car races 12 miles to the south. Nearby across state lines is Virginia International Raceway, which has some of the most sought-after road courses in the United States. Newell says a love for cars and motorcycles is part of the culture here. “People go to the races every weekend. Many work on the crews or are part of the race team.”
Roxboro experiences four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid, and winters are mild, with the city typically receiving a few inches of snow each year. “Because of our elevation, we’re the snow capital of the Triangle,” Newell says. “If it’s going to snow in central North Carolina, we’re going to get it first.”
Mayo Lake offers some great fishing near Roxboro.
Hyco is great for camping and water sports near Roxboro.
Huck Sansbury Recreation Complex is near downtown Roxboro
Orange County Speedway is about 20 miles south of Roxboro.
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Duke Energy's plans for expansion
As Duke Energy looks to provide power to North Carolina's rapidly growing population, the power company wants to build two natural gas power plants at Hyco Lake. If approved by the state's Utilities Commission, construction could begin in 2025, with the first plant opening in 2028 followed by the second in 2030. As part of Duke Energy's efforts to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from its power plants as required by a 2021 law, the company will retire its coal-fired operations at Hyco Lake in phases starting in 2029 and then again in 2034. This is as it continues the cleanup of its coal ash basins at the Hyco and Mayo Lake facilities prior to a 2036 deadline set by the state.
Quick access to U.S. Highways 501 and 158
Roxboro residents commute about 28 minutes one way on average, about a minute longer than the national average. Newell says about a quarter of the workforce drives to employers out of the city, including the companies at Research Triangle Park and Duke University Hospital. U.S. Highways 501 and 158 converge in Roxboro and are the main roads in and out of town. Highway 501 leads to Durham, 30 miles south. Highway 158 connects to Interstate 85 outside Oxford, 30 miles east.
The Person Area Transportation System’s free Roxboro Uptown Shuttle has 21 stops throughout the city. Raleigh-Durham International is the closest airport with commercial service, roughly 44 miles away.
Newell says that as the city looks to improve its infrastructure, sidewalks and bike lanes are a gap they hope to fill. New sidewalks are in the works around Southern Middle School, and while there are no official plans, there’s been a recent interest in adding bike lanes on city streets with low traffic.
U.S. Highways 501 and 158 converge in Roxboro.
About 30 miles north of Durham is the small city of Roxboro.
Person Area Transportation System’s free Roxboro Uptown Shuttle has 21 stops.
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Person County Schools' passion for volleyball
Person County Schools serves Roxboro and earns an overall grade of B from Niche. A small school district, it has 14 schools attended by around 4,300 students. Person High School, receiving a B-minus rating, and Roxboro Community School, with a B-plus, are known for their successful volleyball programs, which is how the city’s nickname came to be Volleytown. The district’s magnet school, Person Early College for Innovation & Leadership, receives a B-plus rating. The school partners with Piedmont Community College, which allows students to earn a high school diploma and an associate's degree in STEM-related fields, such as Health Sciences, Advanced Manufacturing and Technology. PCC is located in Roxboro’s northern end and serves roughly 4,400 students. It offers more than 80 degree programs, workforce training and continuing education courses.
Person County Schools serves Roxboro and earns an overall grade of B from Niche.
Person County Schools and Roxboro are a small district with only 14 schools.
Piedmont Community College, is located in the Northern part of Roxboro.
PCC in Roxboro, offers workforce training and continuing education courses.
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Higher-than-average crime rates
According to the 2023 annual report by the Roxboro Police Department, the city’s crime rate rose by 1.56% in 2023. While violent crime increased by 1.68%, property crimes decreased by 0.12%. Police noted that crime overall has remained at a historic low for the past decade. However, according to FBI data, the city's violent and property crime rates are higher than the national and state figures.
Written By
DeeVa Payne
Photography Contributed By
Bryan Regan
Video By
Ellie Brown
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Roxboro by the Numbers
8,698
Population
47
Average Days on Market
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)$255,000
Median Single Family Price$268,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft$168
Months Of Supply3
Demographics and Finance
Population Density1 ppl/acre
Median Household Income$37K
Lower than National Average$71K
% Owners49%
Lower than National Average63%
College Graduates16%
Lower than National Average34%
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Top Schools in Roxboro, NC
Source:
Best Public Elementary Schools
#1 North End Elementary School
B
Niche
8
GreatSchools
#2 Stories Creek Elementary School
B+
Niche
6
GreatSchools
#3 South Elementary School
C+
Niche
6
GreatSchools
#4 North Elementary School
C
Niche
2
GreatSchools
Best Public Middle Schools
#1 Southern Middle
B
Niche
7
GreatSchools
#2 Northern Middle School
C+
Niche
2
GreatSchools
Best Public High Schools
#1 Person Early College for Innovation and Leadership
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
