The Town FilesElizabeth City, North Carolina
City in Pasquotank County · population 18,631 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $187,700
- Household income
- $52,141
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 36.5
Elizabeth City is a city of 18,631 people in Pasquotank County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $187,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more walkable than 98% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 90% of North Carolina towns, more seaside character than 89% of North Carolina towns.
How Elizabeth City ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Elizabeth City is worth $187,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $52,141, which is more affordable than 57% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,117 a month. 44.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elizabeth City | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,117 | $969 |
| Median household income | $52,141 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 44.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Elizabeth City
| People | Elizabeth City | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Elizabeth City
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 33.6°F. About 51.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabeth City since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 23, 1992 about 6.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 17, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 17, 2009.
Severe weather in Pasquotank County since 1996
Pasquotank County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Pasquotank County
Pasquotank County had 16,026 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,275 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Elizabeth City itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in Elizabeth City
14 public schools with 5,480 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Academy of Aerospace & AdvTech (charter) | 5-12 | 761 | 19.0 |
| Northeastern High | 9-12 | 666 | 15.9 |
| Pasquotank County High | 9-12 | 616 | 16.2 |
| Elizabeth City Middle | 6-8 | 472 | 14.3 |
| Sheep-Harney Elementary | PK-5 | 468 | 16.1 |
| River Road Middle | 6-8 | 428 | 16.5 |
| Northside Elementary | K-5 | 411 | 13.7 |
| J C Sawyer Elementary | K-5 | 372 | 14.3 |
| P W Moore Elementary | K-5 | 337 | 14.7 |
| Central Elementary | K-5 | 328 | 15.6 |
| Pasquotank Elementary | K-5 | 254 | 11.5 |
| Weeksville Elementary | K-5 | 216 | 13.5 |
Towns near Elizabeth City
- Moyock, NC14.7 mi · 5,154 people · home $405,100
- Grandy, NC20.4 mi · 2,776 people · home $306,000
- Edenton, NC25.9 mi · 4,460 people · home $274,100
- Chesapeake, VA26.8 mi · 249,422 people · home $378,400
Elizabeth City questions
Is Elizabeth City, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elizabeth City scores better for retirees than 27% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 5%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Elizabeth City?
The median owner-occupied home in Elizabeth City is valued at $187,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,141, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,117 a month.
What is the weather like in Elizabeth City?
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 33.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Elizabeth City get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabeth City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 23, 1992. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)