The Town FilesCape Colony, North Carolina
Community in Chowan County · population 691 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $221,400
- Household income
- $78,152
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 46.8
Cape Colony is a community of 691 people in Chowan County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $221,400, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of North Carolina towns, more seaside character than 94% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 90% of North Carolina towns.
How Cape Colony 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 Cape Colony is worth $221,400, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $78,152, which is more affordable than 85% of North Carolina towns. 94.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cape Colony | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $221,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | — | $969 |
| Median household income | $78,152 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 94.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cape Colony
| People | Cape Colony | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 12.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 17.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 14.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Cape Colony
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 34.4°F. About 51.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cape Colony since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 25, 2014 about 7.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 20, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 9, 2003.
Severe weather in Chowan County since 1996
Chowan County has been included in 26 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 |
| October 14, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4568: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Chowan County
Chowan County had 5,071 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,249 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Cape Colony itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Cape Colony
- Edenton, NC2.8 mi · 4,460 people · home $274,100
- Hertford, NC12.7 mi · 1,934 people · home $176,500
- Plymouth, NC14.5 mi · 3,320 people · home $87,000
- Winfall, NC15.0 mi · 555 people · home $401,200
- Arrowhead Beach, NC15.8 mi · 640 people · home $198,200
- Windsor, NC20.0 mi · 3,582 people · home $102,700
- Columbia, NC20.3 mi · 610 people · home $120,000
- Elizabeth City, NC27.0 mi · 18,631 people · home $187,700
Cape Colony questions
Is Cape Colony, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cape Colony scores better for retirees than 88% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 90%. 30.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.8).
How much does a house cost in Cape Colony?
The median owner-occupied home in Cape Colony is valued at $221,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,152, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Cape Colony?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 34.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.0 inches of precipitation a year and 2.3 inches of snow.
Does Cape Colony get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cape Colony since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 25, 2014. 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)