The Town Files

Chowan County, North Carolina

13,836 people. The median home is worth $235,800 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $53,864.

Towns in Chowan County

Towns in Chowan County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Edenton4,460$274,100$38,41746.7

People and housing

Chowan CountyTypical North Carolina town
Median home value$235,800$228,900
Median rent$681$969
Median household income$53,864$60,458
Median age48.641.1
Bachelor's degree or higher25.0%24.5%
Below the poverty line19.1%14.3%

Jobs and pay

5,071 jobs in 2024, average pay $49,249 a year.

Largest industries in Chowan CountyRetail634 jobs · $42,399Manufacturing574 jobs · $60,171Wholesale trade460 jobs · $46,888Hotels & restaurants434 jobs · $21,694Transportation & warehousing196 jobs · $68,838Construction184 jobs · $52,286
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Chowan County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.6%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 197 storm events in Chowan County from 1996 to 2026, with 3 deaths.

Storm events in Chowan County by type since 1996Hail28Flood5Tornado8High Wind5Heavy Rain23Flash Flood6Winter Storm23Excessive Heat4Tropical Storm10Winter Weather15
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Chowan County has been included in 26 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3637: Severe Winter Storm
September 26, 2024Tropical StormEM-3617: Hurricane Helene
August 6, 2024Tropical StormEM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby
October 1, 2022HurricaneEM-3586: Hurricane Ian
October 14, 2020HurricaneDR-4568: Hurricane Isaias
August 2, 2020HurricaneEM-3534: Hurricane Isaias
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).