The Town FilesWilliamston, North Carolina
Town in Martin County · population 5,248 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $107,100
- Household income
- $38,738
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 45.4
Williamston is a town of 5,248 people in Martin County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $107,100, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks quieter than 76% of North Carolina towns.
How Williamston 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 Williamston is worth $107,100, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $38,738, which is more affordable than 85% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $684 a month. 50.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Williamston | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $107,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $684 | $969 |
| Median household income | $38,738 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 50.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Williamston
| People | Williamston | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.4 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.3% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 36.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 11.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Williamston
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 33.1°F. About 53.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 53 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Williamston since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on August 4, 2020 about 10.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 15 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 5, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 3, 1998.
Severe weather in Martin County since 1996
Martin County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, biological, severe storm.
| 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 Martin County
Martin County had 6,150 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $38,562 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Williamston itself the ACS puts it at 9.8%.
Public schools in Williamston
6 public schools with 2,097 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside High | 9-12 | 470 | 18.8 |
| Bear Grass Charter School (charter) | 6-12 | 451 | 14.5 |
| Williamston Primary | PK-2 | 362 | 13.9 |
| Riverside Middle | 6-8 | 340 | 15.5 |
| E J Hayes Elementary | 3-5 | 263 | 15.5 |
| Rodgers Elementary | K-5 | 211 | 12.4 |
Towns near Williamston
- Windsor, NC12.3 mi · 3,582 people · home $102,700
- Plymouth, NC17.8 mi · 3,320 people · home $87,000
- Washington, NC19.5 mi · 9,875 people · home $206,800
- River Road, NC23.8 mi · 4,048 people · home $232,800
- Greenville, NC24.5 mi · 87,521 people · home $233,500
- Tarboro, NC27.8 mi · 10,721 people · home $185,500
- Winterville, NC28.9 mi · 10,462 people · home $245,100
- Edenton, NC30.0 mi · 4,460 people · home $274,100
Williamston questions
Is Williamston, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Williamston scores better for retirees than 61% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 76%. 22.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.4).
How much does a house cost in Williamston?
The median owner-occupied home in Williamston is valued at $107,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,738, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $684 a month.
What is the weather like in Williamston?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 33.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Williamston get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Williamston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on August 4, 2020. 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)