1st Advantage MortgageChowan County households have a median income of $53,864 and median rent of $681 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's North Carolina license first.
On this page
- Chowan County by the numbers
- Income in Chowan County compared with North Carolina
- What it costs to live in Chowan County
- Jobs and commutes in Chowan County
- The counties around Chowan County
- Chowan County towns compared
- More Chowan County figures
- Reading the Chowan County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Chowan County
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Chowan County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Chowan County by the numbers
With an estimated 13,836 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Chowan County ranks 89th of 100 in North Carolina for population. Land area is 173 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 80 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Chowan County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Edenton is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 4,494 people (32% of the county total).
Income in Chowan County compared with North Carolina
At $53,864, the typical Chowan County household income is 18% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 73rd among North Carolina's 100 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Chowan County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.7% | +6.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.0% | +2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.0% | -6.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.3% | -2.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 26% of Chowan County households make $100,000 or more, and 30% make less than $35,000. 19.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.0%). For a borrower in Chowan County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in Chowan County
A typical Chowan County rental runs $681 a month including utilities, which is 45% below North Carolina. 54% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 29% spend half or more. With a median value of $235,800, a typical Chowan County house costs 4.4 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 71%. Median construction year: 1980.
| Measure | Chowan County | North Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $681/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $235,800 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 13% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Jobs and commutes in Chowan County
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Compared with North Carolina, the county leans toward other services (8% against 5%). The survey's unemployment rate for Chowan County averages 4.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Chowan County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.7% | +2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.6% | -2.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.0% | +0.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +1.0 pts |
| Other services | 8.2% | +3.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Chowan County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The counties around Chowan County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Chowan County's, from 12 to 27 miles away. Income ranges from $41,813 in Washington County to $67,917 in Perquimans County; 3 of these neighbors top Chowan County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chowan County | - | $53,864 | $681/mo | 71% |
| Perquimans County, NC | 12 mi | $67,917 | $1,008/mo | 77% |
| Washington County, NC | 20 mi | $41,813 | $743/mo | 68% |
| Bertie County, NC | 21 mi | $48,750 | $839/mo | 73% |
| Pasquotank County, NC | 21 mi | $66,589 | $1,170/mo | 67% |
| Gates County, NC | 22 mi | $66,333 | $1,143/mo | 81% |
| Hertford County, NC | 27 mi | $45,537 | $844/mo | 67% |
Chowan County towns compared
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Chowan County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 6,570 people, so roughly 53% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $38,417 in Edenton to $78,152 in Cape Colony. Live in one of these Chowan County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edenton | town | 4,494 | $38,417 | $388 | 5 mi |
| Arrowhead Beach | CDP | 1,242 | $66,667 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Cape Colony | CDP | 509 | $78,152 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Chowan Beach | CDP | 325 | $23,095 | n/a | 8 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
More Chowan County figures
Degree holders: 25% of adults over 25. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Chowan County | North Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.0% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.8% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.2% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.8% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.1% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Chowan County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.5% |
| 60+ min | 10.8% |
Reading the Chowan County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Chowan County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Manufactured homes. 17% of Chowan County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Older households. A 48.6 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Free help first. 19% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Rent squeeze. 54% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Room for a loan payment in Chowan County
Chowan County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,489 before taxes
- Median rent: $681, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,114: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Chowan County's.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Chowan County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A North Carolina license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Chowan County credit union about member loans.
Lender oversight for Chowan County
The North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks is the place to verify any lender's North Carolina license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: North Carolina guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Chowan County earn?
The median is $53,864; 26% earn $100,000 or more and 30% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Chowan County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $681 against $1,228 statewide, and 54% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Chowan County?
By population: Edenton, Arrowhead Beach, Cape Colony, Chowan Beach. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Chowan County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Chowan County check a lender's license?
With the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.