The Town FilesPittsboro, North Carolina
Town in Chatham County · population 4,537 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $376,300
- Household income
- $81,639
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 43.0
Pittsboro is a town of 4,537 people in Chatham County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $376,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 94% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 87% of North Carolina towns, better for retirees than 84% of North Carolina towns.
How Pittsboro 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 Pittsboro is worth $376,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $81,639, which is more affordable than 24% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,211 a month. 69.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pittsboro | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $376,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,211 | $969 |
| Median household income | $81,639 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 69.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2002 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Pittsboro
| People | Pittsboro | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.4% | — |
| Work from home | 19.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 30.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Pittsboro
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 29.9°F. About 49.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.8 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 74 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pittsboro since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 29, 1991 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 9, 2008.
Severe weather in Chatham County since 1996
Chatham County has been included in 22 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 11, 2025 | Tropical Depression | DR-4889: Tropical Depression Chantal |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Chatham County
Chatham County had 18,540 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,876 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Pittsboro itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Pittsboro
7 public schools with 3,828 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seaforth High | 9-12 | 1,035 | 19.9 |
| Northwood High | 9-12 | 702 | 13.0 |
| Chatham Grove Elementary | PK-5 | 687 | 17.2 |
| Pittsboro Elementary | PK-4 | 510 | 14.2 |
| George M. Horton Middle | 5-8 | 381 | 17.3 |
| Willow Oak Montessori (charter) | K-8 | 273 | 11.4 |
| Perry W Harrison Elementary | PK-5 | 240 | 14.1 |
Towns near Pittsboro
- Fearrington Village, NC6.5 mi · 2,557 people · home $472,600
- Briar Chapel, NC7.0 mi · 5,108 people · home $570,300
- Carrboro, NC14.2 mi · 21,295 people · home $539,400
- Chapel Hill, NC15.2 mi · 61,960 people · home $613,700
- Apex, NC15.5 mi · 58,780 people · home $576,100
- Sanford, NC16.2 mi · 30,261 people · home $245,400
- Siler City, NC17.3 mi · 7,702 people · home $154,600
- Holly Springs, NC18.3 mi · 41,239 people · home $535,800
Pittsboro questions
Is Pittsboro, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pittsboro scores better for retirees than 84% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 83%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in Pittsboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Pittsboro is valued at $376,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,639, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,211 a month.
What is the weather like in Pittsboro?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 29.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.9 inches of precipitation a year and 2.8 inches of snow.
Does Pittsboro get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pittsboro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 29, 1991. 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)