The Town FilesTarboro, North Carolina
Town in Edgecombe County · population 10,721 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $185,500
- Household income
- $49,796
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 51.2
Tarboro is a town of 10,721 people in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $185,500, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks hipper than 81% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 75% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 74% of North Carolina towns.
How Tarboro 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 Tarboro is worth $185,500, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $49,796, which is more affordable than 52% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $843 a month. 57.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tarboro | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $185,500 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $843 | $969 |
| Median household income | $49,796 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Tarboro
| People | Tarboro | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.5% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Tarboro
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 30.1°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.8 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tarboro since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 23, 1992 about 1.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 13, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 31, 2019.
Severe weather in Edgecombe County since 1996
Edgecombe County has been included in 27 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 Edgecombe County
Edgecombe County had 15,302 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,402 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Tarboro itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Tarboro
8 public schools with 3,374 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North East Carolina Prep (charter) | PK-12 | 1,020 | 15.0 |
| Martin Millennium Academy | K-8 | 558 | 12.7 |
| Tarboro High | 9-12 | 506 | 16.9 |
| Stocks Elementary | PK-5 | 395 | 13.6 |
| W A Pattillo Middle | 6-8 | 304 | 16.0 |
| Princeville Elementary | PK-5 | 207 | 12.2 |
| North Edgecombe High | 9-12 | 200 | 12.5 |
| Edgecombe Early College High | 9-13 | 184 | 18.4 |
Towns near Tarboro
- Princeville, NC2.0 mi · 1,254 people · home $106,000
- Pinetops, NC9.1 mi · 1,200 people · home $136,500
- Bethel, NC12.2 mi · 1,373 people · home $107,800
- Rocky Mount, NC14.7 mi · 54,341 people · home $165,700
- Sharpsburg, NC15.5 mi · 1,697 people · home $121,900
- Whitakers, NC16.4 mi · 627 people · home $148,300
- Scotland Neck, NC17.3 mi · 1,640 people · home $73,000
- Robersonville, NC17.9 mi · 1,269 people · home $94,500
Tarboro questions
Is Tarboro, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tarboro scores better for retirees than 70% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 37%. 29.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.2).
How much does a house cost in Tarboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Tarboro is valued at $185,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,796, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $843 a month.
What is the weather like in Tarboro?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 30.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 4.8 inches of snow.
Does Tarboro get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tarboro 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)