The Town FilesElm City, North Carolina
Town in Wilson County · population 1,218 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $109,300
- Household income
- $36,150
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 43.1
Elm City is a town of 1,218 people in Wilson County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $109,300, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 73% of North Carolina towns.
How Elm 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 Elm City is worth $109,300, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $36,150, which is more affordable than 80% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $859 a month. 58.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elm City | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $109,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $859 | $969 |
| Median household income | $36,150 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 58.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Elm City
| People | Elm City | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.7% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in Elm City
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 30.8°F. About 44.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elm City since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on November 15, 2008 about 0.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 5, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 28, 2007.
Severe weather in Wilson County since 1996
Wilson County has been included in 28 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 |
| March 3, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta |
Jobs and pay in Wilson County
Wilson County had 35,117 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,643 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Elm City itself the ACS puts it at 8.8%.
Public schools in Elm City
3 public schools with 1,285 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coopers Elementary | PK-5 | 618 | 17.2 |
| Elm City Middle | 6-8 | 425 | 17.0 |
| Gardners Elementary | K-5 | 242 | 16.1 |
Towns near Elm City
- Sharpsburg, NC4.6 mi · 1,697 people · home $121,900
- Wilson, NC6.5 mi · 47,851 people · home $210,700
- Rocky Mount, NC11.7 mi · 54,341 people · home $165,700
- Pinetops, NC12.3 mi · 1,200 people · home $136,500
- Black Creek, NC12.3 mi · 692 people · home $112,200
- Nashville, NC12.7 mi · 5,632 people · home $205,300
- Lucama, NC13.9 mi · 1,036 people · home $115,500
- Stantonsburg, NC13.9 mi · 762 people · home $132,600
Elm City questions
Is Elm City, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elm City scores better for retirees than 55% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 33%. 26.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in Elm City?
The median owner-occupied home in Elm City is valued at $109,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,150, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $859 a month.
What is the weather like in Elm City?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 30.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does Elm City get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elm City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on November 15, 2008. 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)