What it's like to live in Smithfield
Smithfield is a small city in North Carolina with home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, a population that has grown fast since 2020, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Smithfield deals with household incomes below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Fast-growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Smithfield compares
Median household income
Median home value
What it takes to move to Smithfield
Based on Smithfield's median rent, home value and household income
To buy
$48,500
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $24,250
- Homes cost 5.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Job market
3.2% county unemployment
Unemployment in Johnston County is 3.2%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Johnston County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 13% below US
288 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 3889/100k · Smithfield Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.1 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 6% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 90°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 33°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 26% below US
27% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 27%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
10 public schools inside the boundary
There are 10 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Moores Creek National Battlefield (74 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Smithfield's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and county unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low). It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
See all the data for Smithfield →·All North Carolina cities →
Other places near Smithfield
All North Carolina guides →Not sure Smithfield is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.