The Town FilesPlymouth, North Carolina
Town in Washington County · population 3,320 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $87,000
- Household income
- $34,521
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 48.6
Plymouth is a town of 3,320 people in Washington County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $87,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for cycling than 90% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 76% of North Carolina towns.
How Plymouth 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 Plymouth is worth $87,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $34,521, which is more affordable than 91% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $728 a month. 55.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Plymouth | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $87,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $728 | $969 |
| Median household income | $34,521 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 55.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Plymouth
| People | Plymouth | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.9% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Plymouth
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 33.6°F. About 54.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.4 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plymouth since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on August 4, 2020 about 8.2 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 19 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 3, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 14, 2021.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, 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 Washington County
Washington County had 3,099 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,932 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Plymouth itself the ACS puts it at 26.4%.
Public schools in Plymouth
1 public school with 260 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County High | 9-12 | 260 | 15.3 |
Towns near Plymouth
- Windsor, NC14.2 mi · 3,582 people · home $102,700
- Edenton, NC16.1 mi · 4,460 people · home $274,100
- Williamston, NC17.8 mi · 5,248 people · home $107,100
- Washington, NC26.4 mi · 9,875 people · home $206,800
- River Road, NC27.7 mi · 4,048 people · home $232,800
Plymouth questions
Is Plymouth, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Plymouth scores better for retirees than 42% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 40%. 28.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.6).
How much does a house cost in Plymouth?
The median owner-occupied home in Plymouth is valued at $87,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,521, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $728 a month.
What is the weather like in Plymouth?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 33.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.4 inches of snow.
Does Plymouth get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plymouth since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on August 4, 2020. 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)