The Town FilesWhitakers, North Carolina
Town in Nash County · population 627 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $148,300
- Household income
- $48,869
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 34.8
Whitakers is a town of 627 people in Nash County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $148,300, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 93% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 91% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 90% of North Carolina towns.
How Whitakers 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 Whitakers is worth $148,300, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $48,869, which is more affordable than 80% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $887 a month. 51.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Whitakers | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $148,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $887 | $969 |
| Median household income | $48,869 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 51.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.7% | — |
Who lives in Whitakers
| People | Whitakers | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.5% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 31.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Whitakers
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Whitakers since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 28, 1988 about 8.8 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 50 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 19, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 23, 2016.
Severe weather in Nash County since 1996
Nash County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| 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 Nash County
Nash County had 39,498 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,440 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Whitakers itself the ACS puts it at 9.5%.
Towns near Whitakers
- Enfield, NC5.7 mi · 1,865 people · home $105,300
- Dortches, NC10.3 mi · 1,082 people · home $247,600
- Rocky Mount, NC10.9 mi · 54,341 people · home $165,700
- Red Oak, NC11.1 mi · 3,342 people · home $271,800
- Hollister, NC16.3 mi · 618 people · home $158,400
- Tarboro, NC16.4 mi · 10,721 people · home $185,500
- Scotland Neck, NC16.4 mi · 1,640 people · home $73,000
- Nashville, NC16.6 mi · 5,632 people · home $205,300
Whitakers questions
Is Whitakers, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Whitakers scores better for retirees than 39% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 91%. 11.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.8).
How much does a house cost in Whitakers?
The median owner-occupied home in Whitakers is valued at $148,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,869, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $887 a month.
What is the weather like in Whitakers?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 3.2 inches of snow.
Does Whitakers get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Whitakers since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 28, 1988. 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)