1st Advantage MortgageIn Edgecombe County, North Carolina, the typical household earns $51,265 a year and the typical rent is $858. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in North Carolina before sharing details.
On this page
- Edgecombe County, NC: the basics
- What it costs to live in Edgecombe County
- Paychecks and income spread in Edgecombe County
- How Edgecombe County residents earn a living
- Places inside Edgecombe County
- The counties around Edgecombe County
- A Edgecombe County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Edgecombe County data as a borrower
- Who lives in Edgecombe County, in numbers
- Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
- Four steps for Edgecombe County borrowers
- More guides for Edgecombe County
- Frequently asked questions
Edgecombe County, NC: the basics
Roughly 48,736 residents live in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, 53rd by population among the state's 100 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 505 square miles, that is close to 96 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Rocky Mount, NC metropolitan area. Tarboro is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 10,770 people (22% of the county total).
What it costs to live in Edgecombe County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $858 in Edgecombe County versus $1,228 statewide. By the Census definition, 48% of Edgecombe County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $125,100, a typical Edgecombe County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 61% of homes. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Edgecombe County | North Carolina figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $858/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $125,100 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 20.5% | 11.0% | n/a |
Paychecks and income spread in Edgecombe County
Half of Edgecombe County households take in less than $51,265 a year and half take in more, 29% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
| Band | Edgecombe County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.6% | +12.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.2% | +0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.9% | -6.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.3% | -7.1 pts |
Some 36% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 22% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 21.7%, 9 points higher than the state's 13.0%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.457 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Edgecombe 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.
How Edgecombe County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Edgecombe County residents work in education and health care and 18% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 18% locally and 12% for North Carolina. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 8.7% in Edgecombe County. Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 10.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Edgecombe County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.2% | +0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.1% | +6.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.7% | -3.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.3 pts |
| Construction | 5.6% | -1.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Edgecombe County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Edgecombe County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 15,368 residents, leaving about 68% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $60,458 at the median in Pinetops, $38,776 in Conetoe. Median rent ranges from $815 in Pinetops to $1,103 in Princeville. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarboro | town | 10,770 | $49,796 | $843 | 3 mi |
| Princeville | town | 1,619 | $46,406 | $1,103 | 5 mi |
| Pinetops | town | 1,426 | $60,458 | $815 | 9 mi |
| Conetoe | town | 561 | $38,776 | $1,055 | 11 mi |
| Whitakers | town | 494 | $48,869 | $887 | 14 mi |
| Macclesfield | town | 391 | $56,000 | $796 | 12 mi |
| Speed | town | 64 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Leggett | town | 43 | $41,563 | n/a | 5 mi |
The counties around Edgecombe County
Nash County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Greene County, is 30 miles off. Nash County leads the group on income ($62,426), Halifax County trails ($45,590), and Edgecombe County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgecombe County | - | $51,265 | $858/mo | 61% |
| Nash County, NC | 22 mi | $62,426 | $953/mo | 64% |
| Halifax County, NC | 23 mi | $45,590 | $813/mo | 63% |
| Wilson County, NC | 23 mi | $56,423 | $953/mo | 60% |
| Pitt County, NC | 26 mi | $58,188 | $993/mo | 51% |
| Martin County, NC | 27 mi | $48,578 | $758/mo | 67% |
| Greene County, NC | 30 mi | $53,244 | $853/mo | 67% |
A Edgecombe County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Edgecombe County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $4,272 a month: gross income for a household at the Edgecombe County median
- Median rent: $858, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 40% ceiling, about $851 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Reading the Edgecombe County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Edgecombe County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 11% of Edgecombe County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 21% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- 22% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Who lives in Edgecombe County, in numbers
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Edgecombe County | North Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.5% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.0% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.0% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.0% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.7% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.7% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Edgecombe County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.4% |
| 60+ min | 5.3% |
Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
Edgecombe County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Edgecombe County borrowers
A short checklist for Edgecombe County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in North Carolina.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Edgecombe County
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Edgecombe County?
$51,265 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,388 for North Carolina. It ranks 82nd of 100 in the state.
Is Edgecombe County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $858 against $1,228 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Edgecombe County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: Tarboro, Princeville, Pinetops, Conetoe, Whitakers.
Does living in Edgecombe County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Edgecombe County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Edgecombe 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.