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Living in
Tarboro.
About
Life in Tarboro
Tarboro is a community of 10,705 people in North Carolina. The median household income is $49,386, median rent runs about $843 per month, and median home values are around $185,500. The unemployment rate is 5.6%.
Tarboro at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
51.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.5%
Foreign-Born
3.3%
Broadband Internet
80.2%
of households
Population Growth
+2.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.3% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in Tarboro: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Tarboro, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (41.7%), and 8.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.1%
of residents
65 and Older
29.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.0%
of households
Married Couples
38.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.10
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 31% below NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Tarboro
In Tarboro, rent runs 31% below the NC average, and home values are 36% below the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
57.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,617
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1974
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $157,347 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.8 pts above NC average
Unemployment in Tarboro
Unemployment in Edgecombe County, which includes Tarboro, is 1.8 percentage points higher than the NC average.
Unemployment rate
Tarboro: Edgecombe County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Edgecombe County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Commute20.8 min avg
How Tarboro residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Tarboro, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 73% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 mi
Pitt-Greenville Airport (PGV)
Regional airport · few flights41k passengers boarded in 2025
- 70 mi
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Medium hub7.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 18% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Tarboro runs 18% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
390.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,004.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Tarboro Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
76.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Edgecombe County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Edgecombe County, which includes Tarboro, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Excessive Heat | $160,000 |
| 2024 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $371,500 |
| 2022 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $836,500 |
| 2021 | 3 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2020 | 7 | Strong Wind | $2.1M |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $612,000 |
| 2018 | 12 | Winter Weather | $753,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Edgecombe County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Edgecombe County, which includes Tarboro, is typically good — 308 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
308
per year
Moderate Days
57
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Edgecombe County, county-wide
Climate88°F summers, 32°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Tarboro has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and cold winters (avg low 32°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
71°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
73°/51°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
54°/32°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.6"
Annual Snowfall
4.8"
Hot Days/Year
43
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
70
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
113
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 30°F | 3.27" |
| Feb | 55°F | 32°F | 2.99" |
| Mar | 62°F | 38°F | 3.71" |
| Apr | 72°F | 47°F | 3.63" |
| May | 79°F | 57°F | 3.33" |
| Jun | 86°F | 66°F | 4.27" |
| Jul | 89°F | 70°F | 4.92" |
| Aug | 87°F | 69°F | 5.03" |
| Sep | 82°F | 63°F | 6.22" |
| Oct | 73°F | 50°F | 3.35" |
| Nov | 63°F | 40°F | 3.48" |
| Dec | 55°F | 34°F | 3.39" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Tarboro
Tarboro has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Vidant Edgecombe Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Tarboro
Tarboro's student/teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 26.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Tarboro (within 15 miles)
North Carolina Wesleyan University
14.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,214 students · in-state tuition $37,856 · 67% graduate · median earnings $49,264 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Petersburg National Battlefield, 89 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Tarboro
Tarboro has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Petersburg National Battlefield (89 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
89 mi awayHistoric Jamestowne Part of Colonial National Historical Park
Part of Colonial National Historical Park
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Tarboro
Edgecombe County Memorial Library
909 Main St, Tarboro
Cities Near Tarboro
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Tarboro?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Tarboro FAQ
Is Tarboro, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Tarboro's median rent is $843/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $49,796/year. Median home value is $185,500.
Is Tarboro, North Carolina safe?⌄
Tarboro's violent crime rate was 390 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2005 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Tarboro, North Carolina?⌄
Edgecombe County, which includes Tarboro, has an unemployment rate of 5.6%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Tarboro, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Tarboro is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $843/month and median household income is $49,796/year. The median home value is $185,500. About 58% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Tarboro, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Tarboro is 21 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from