What it's like to live in Tarboro
Tarboro is a small city in North Carolina with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Tarboro deals with county unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- Below-average household incomes
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Tarboro compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Tarboro
Based on Tarboro's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,686
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $33,720 a year
- 58% of Tarboro renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$37,100
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $18,550
- Homes cost 3.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 40% below US
$843/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $843 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $185,500. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $185,500 · 58% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Edgecombe County is 5.6%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Edgecombe County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 18% above US
390 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 2005/100k · Tarboro Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 20% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 88°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 32°F and snow a regular occurrence. 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 3.0 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
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, 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 Petersburg National Battlefield (89 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Tarboro's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are county unemployment above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($843/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up.
Other places near Tarboro
All North Carolina guides →Not sure Tarboro is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.