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Randolph County, North Carolina

USDA's soil survey flags shrink-swell clay on 14% of Randolph County's mapped land and a shallow water table under basements on 13%, both below the national shares of 15% and 29%. 17% of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map.

FEMA's flood data list 20 flood losses here since 2016. 41% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1985.

Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources

14%

expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes

13%

high water table: limits basements

17%

in drought, October 13, 2026

41%

of homes built before 1980

Soil under Randolph County

Expansive clay (limits slab homes)14.1%
High water table (limits basements)12.6%
Septic fields very limited58.7%
Clay swell (LEP, by area)3.3%
High-swell land (LEP 6%+)11.5%
Mapped soil505,254 acres
Soil seriesShare hereSeries nationally: expansive clay
Georgeville31%0%
Badin15%n/a
Tarrus14%n/a
Wynott6%n/a
Mecklenburg5%n/a
Callison4%n/a
Davidson County: 16%Guilford County: 35%Montgomery County: 4%Chatham County: 14%Alamance County: 20%Moore County: 1%Stanly County: 4%Forsyth County: 2%Randolph County DavidsonGuilfordMontgomeryChathamAlamanceMooreStanlyForsythRandolph
Randolph County (heavy outline) and nearby counties, shaded by expansive clay share.under 10%10-25%25-40%40-60%60%+

How we count · survey areas NC151 (2025-08-28)

What the numbers mean here

Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 30.80 in, 15.50 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 46.30 in.

USDA rates 59% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.

With shrink-swell clay on 14% and a shallow water table on 13% of the land, the soil survey points to neither problem across most of Randolph County; conditions still vary lot by lot.

Drought

17% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 50 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 36 weeks, most recently on the August 4, 2026 map.

October 21, 2025Share of area in drought, weeklyOctober 13, 2026
Category, October 13, 2026Share of county
D0 abnormally dry or worse100%
D1 moderate drought or worse17%
D2 severe or worse0%
D3 extreme or worse0%
D4 exceptional0%

Flood losses since 2016

20 flood losses since 2016, $205,025 paid. The worst year was 2018, with 9.

YearFlood losses
20160
20170
20189
20194
20202
20211
20221
20231
20242
20250
2026 to date0

Rain

Average year, 1991-202046.30 in
12 months to August 202630.80 in (-15.50)
202541.50 in (-4.80)
Wettest year since 18952018: 68.14 in
Driest year since 18951933: 30.61 in
Days with 1 inch or more, normal at ASHEBORO 2 W (2 mi away)12.1

Homes

Housing units62,901
Median year built1985
Built before 198041%
Built 2000 or later24%
Owner-occupied73%
Median value, owner-occupied$197,100
Single-family detached68%

What repairs cost

Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.

WorkRangeSource
Foundation repair, US $2,200 to $8,200 Fixr, January 27, 2026
Pier-and-beam repair, US $2,000 to $15,000 Fixr, January 27, 2026
Foundation inspection, US $300 to $600 Fixr, January 31, 2025

Nearby counties

PlaceDistanceExpansive clayHigh water table
Davidson County, NC 23 mi 16% 15%
Guilford County, NC 26 mi 35% 9%
Montgomery County, NC 27 mi 4% 19%
Chatham County, NC 31 mi 14% 44%
Alamance County, NC 32 mi 20% 24%
Moore County, NC 33 mi 1% 28%
Stanly County, NC 37 mi 4% 18%
Forsyth County, NC 39 mi 2% 11%

Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 28, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status