The Town FilesElizabethtown, North Carolina
Town in Bladen County · population 3,296 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $159,200
- Household income
- $29,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 51.8
Elizabethtown is a town of 3,296 people in Bladen County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $159,200, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 87% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 81% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 79% of North Carolina towns.
How Elizabethtown 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 Elizabethtown is worth $159,200, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $29,375, which is more affordable than 11% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $439 a month. 46.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elizabethtown | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,200 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $439 | $969 |
| Median household income | $29,375 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 46.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Elizabethtown
| People | Elizabethtown | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 17.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in Elizabethtown
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 31.6°F. About 53.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 62 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabethtown since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 16, 2011 about 1.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 16, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 15, 2024.
Severe weather in Bladen County since 1996
Bladen County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, hurricane.
| 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 Bladen County
Bladen County had 13,453 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,430 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Elizabethtown itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Elizabethtown
6 public schools with 2,331 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emereau: Bladen (charter) | K-8 | 581 | 12.1 |
| East Bladen High | 9-12 | 554 | 15.4 |
| Elizabethtown Primary | PK-4 | 502 | 13.9 |
| Elizabethtown Middle | 5-8 | 314 | 14.3 |
| Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy (charter) | 6-12 | 213 | 13.3 |
| Bladen Lakes Primary | PK-5 | 167 | 16.7 |
Towns near Elizabethtown
- Whiteville, NC20.8 mi · 4,766 people · home $187,500
- Lumberton, NC23.5 mi · 19,025 people · home $152,600
Elizabethtown questions
Is Elizabethtown, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elizabethtown scores better for retirees than 71% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 34%. 30.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.8).
How much does a house cost in Elizabethtown?
The median owner-occupied home in Elizabethtown is valued at $159,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $29,375, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $439 a month.
What is the weather like in Elizabethtown?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 31.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Elizabethtown get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabethtown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 16, 2011. 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)