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CITY · 2010 ACS

Elizabeth City

North Carolina · 18,683 residents · 11.7 sq mi
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The short version

With 18,683 people, Elizabeth City is a city in North Carolina. 46% of homes are owner-occupied. This skews young, with a median age of 31.3. The poverty rate is 28.1%, above the 13.8% national rate. Households here earn about 24% less than in North Carolina as a whole. The foreign-born share is 4%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 31.3
US median: 37.2
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 72%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
18,683
+9%since 2000
from 17,188 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
31.3
−5%since 2000
from 32.9 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Land area
11.7 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
14K15K17K18K20K19902000201020202024Elizabeth City
202419K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2010
Under 57.5%(1,396)
US avg: 6.5%
5 to 96.2%(1,164)
US avg: 6.6%
10 to 145.3%(992)
US avg: 6.7%
15 to 199.7%(1,814)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 2412.1%(2,253)
US avg: 7%
25 to 3413.3%(2,490)
US avg: 13.3%
35 to 449.8%(1,830)
US avg: 13.3%
45 to 5412.2%(2,272)
US avg: 14.6%
55 to 6410%(1,872)
US avg: 11.8%
65 to 746.7%(1,248)
US avg: 7%
75 to 844.8%(899)
US avg: 4.2%
85 and over2.4%(453)
US avg: 1.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$34,532
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,193 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$17,592
+32%since 2000
from $13,333 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
13.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
28.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 27.2% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.461
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information12.7%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade7.5%
US avg: 10.9%
Wholesale trade7.4%
US avg: 7.2%
Other services3.4%
US avg: 7%
Finance & insurance3.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical2.6%
US avg: 4.2%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 2.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1.2%
US avg: 1.4%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$152,200
+72%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,900 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$726
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $473 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
46.4%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 49.6% in 2000
53.6% rent
Vacancy rate
16.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Persons per household
2.45 people
+1%since 2009
from 2.42 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
Owner cost-burdened
41.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 40.3% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.6%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
4.4
+8%since 2009
from 4.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic39.6%(6,813)
Black56.4%(9,692)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(258)
Asian0.8%(135)
Other0%
2010
White, non-Hispanic37.6%(7,026)
Black53.7%(10,027)
Hispanic / Latino5%(943)
Asian1.2%(227)
Other2.1%(396)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.6%(666)
Spaniard0.4%(83)
Honduran0.3%(62)
Puerto Rican0.3%(58)
Ancestry
American9.6%(1,796)
English6%(1,111)
German3.9%(719)
Irish3.7%(697)
Italian2.4%(455)
Scottish2.2%(419)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(201)
French1%(185)
Polish0.8%(140)
Welsh0.7%(130)
Finnish0.5%(90)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Russian0.4%(69)
Norwegian0.3%(49)
Swedish0.2%(41)
Hungarian0.2%(40)
British0.2%(39)
Dutch0.2%(31)
Canadian0.1%(25)
Swiss0.1%(23)
Brazilian0.1%(16)
Portuguese0.1%(16)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.9%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 17.4% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
79.3%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 74.1% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
7.0%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.2 min
+10%since 2000
from 17.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
73.1%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 76.8% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
15.0%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
1.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
3.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
12.9%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
18.3%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 20.2% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
27.6%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 28.4% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
Female
53.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 53.7% in 2009
Foreign born
4.1%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
10.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married41%(2,639)
Married43.3%(2,791)
Widowed3.7%(240)
Divorced12%(774)
Women 15+
Never married37%(3,328)
Married39.1%(3,522)
Widowed11.1%(999)
Divorced12.8%(1,149)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
13.0%
−11.0 ptssince 2013
from 24.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
44.1%
+5.5 ptssince 2020
from 38.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
15.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 15.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
21.0%
+4.9 ptssince 2020
from 16.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
26.9%
+2.2 ptssince 2020
from 24.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 1.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
58.6%
+2.9 ptssince 2020
from 55.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
43.3%
+6.3 ptssince 2020
from 37.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)39.2%(507)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)29.2%(378)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era28.5%(368)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,293 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Elizabeth City, North Carolina?

Elizabeth City, North Carolina has about 18,683 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Elizabeth City, North Carolina?

The typical household in Elizabeth City, North Carolina earns about $34,532 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Elizabeth City, North Carolina expensive?

In Elizabeth City, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $152,200, and the typical rent is about $726 a month.

How educated are people in Elizabeth City, North Carolina?

About 20.9% of adults age 25 and over in Elizabeth City, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Elizabeth City, North Carolina?

About 28.1% of people in Elizabeth City, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Elizabeth City, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Elizabeth City, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,404 residents, a change of about 31 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →