The Town FilesHertford, North Carolina
Town in Perquimans County · population 1,934 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $176,500
- Household income
- $40,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 52.0
Hertford is a town of 1,934 people in Perquimans County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $176,500, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more seaside character than 99% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 87% of North Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 86% of North Carolina towns.
How Hertford 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 Hertford is worth $176,500, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $40,250, which is more affordable than 27% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $613 a month. 53.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hertford | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $176,500 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $613 | $969 |
| Median household income | $40,250 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.4% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.9% | — |
Who lives in Hertford
| People | Hertford | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 0.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 37.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Hertford
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 1.6 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
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hertford since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 23, 1992 about 5.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 17, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 12, 2009.
Severe weather in Perquimans County since 1996
Perquimans County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, 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 |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Perquimans County
Perquimans County had 2,412 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,891 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Hertford itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Hertford
2 public schools with 926 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perquimans County High | 9-12 | 535 | 16.2 |
| Hertford Grammar | 3-5 | 391 | 15.0 |
Towns near Hertford
- Winfall, NC2.5 mi · 555 people · home $401,200
- Edenton, NC11.0 mi · 4,460 people · home $274,100
- Cape Colony, NC12.7 mi · 691 people · home $221,400
- Arrowhead Beach, NC13.6 mi · 640 people · home $198,200
- Elizabeth City, NC15.1 mi · 18,631 people · home $187,700
- Camden, NC19.5 mi · 620 people · home $398,700
- Columbia, NC21.6 mi · 610 people · home $120,000
- Plymouth, NC27.0 mi · 3,320 people · home $87,000
Hertford questions
Is Hertford, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hertford scores better for retirees than 20% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 42%. 27.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.0).
How much does a house cost in Hertford?
The median owner-occupied home in Hertford is valued at $176,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,250, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $613 a month.
What is the weather like in Hertford?
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 1.6 inches of snow.
Does Hertford get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hertford 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)