The Town FilesSmithfield, North Carolina
Town in Johnston County · population 11,292 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $242,500
- Household income
- $43,270
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 44.9
Smithfield is a town of 11,292 people in Johnston County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $242,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 84% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 76% of North Carolina towns.
How Smithfield 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 Smithfield is worth $242,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 5.6 times the median household income of $43,270, which is more affordable than 9% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $658 a month. 58.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Smithfield | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $242,500 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $658 | $969 |
| Median household income | $43,270 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 58.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.4% | — |
Who lives in Smithfield
| People | Smithfield | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.7% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.1% | 89.5% |
Weather in Smithfield
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 31.4°F. About 49.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 76 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smithfield since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 23, 1992 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 5, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 1, 2012.
Severe weather in Johnston County since 1996
Johnston County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Johnston County
Johnston County had 61,005 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,305 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Smithfield itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Smithfield
9 public schools with 4,712 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smithfield-Selma High | 9-12 | 1,551 | 14.8 |
| Neuse Charter School (charter) | K-12 | 912 | 17.9 |
| Smithfield Middle | 6-8 | 530 | 12.3 |
| South Smithfield Elementary | PK-5 | 463 | 11.0 |
| West Smithfield Elementary | PK-5 | 446 | 10.6 |
| Johnston Co Early College Academy | 9-13 | 282 | 28.2 |
| The Innovation Academy at South Campus | 6-8 | 262 | 15.4 |
| Johnston County Schools Career Technical | 9-13 | 196 | 19.6 |
| Choice Plus Academy | K-12 | 70 | 5.0 |
Towns near Smithfield
- Selma, NC3.6 mi · 6,317 people · home $171,600
- Wilson's Mills, NC4.3 mi · 2,534 people · home $241,800
- Clayton, NC10.7 mi · 26,307 people · home $329,600
- Archer Lodge, NC11.0 mi · 4,797 people · home $324,500
- Benson, NC14.2 mi · 3,967 people · home $279,800
- Wendell, NC18.6 mi · 9,793 people · home $330,500
- Garner, NC18.7 mi · 31,159 people · home $355,000
- Knightdale, NC20.2 mi · 19,435 people · home $380,100
Smithfield questions
Is Smithfield, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Smithfield scores better for retirees than 30% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 27%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.9).
How much does a house cost in Smithfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Smithfield is valued at $242,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,270, so homes cost about 5.6 times income. Median rent is $658 a month.
What is the weather like in Smithfield?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 31.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Smithfield get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smithfield 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)