What are the schools like in Bailey, NC?

Bailey is served primarily by Nash County Public Schools. The district operates 11 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 7 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 20.2:1.

What is the median household income in Bailey?

The median household income in Bailey, NC is $57,829 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.0%.

What is the weather like in Bailey, NC?

Bailey has an average high temperature of 52.1°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.9 inches.

Bailey, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bailey, NC affordable or expensive?

Bailey's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bailey is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $124,200 and the median rent is $841 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bailey, NC?

Bailey has a violent crime rate of 501.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2631.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bailey, NC a Good Place to Live?

Bailey is a small town of 459 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $57,829 and a 5.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Bailey stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Bailey is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bailey city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 88.2

Bailey's overall cost of living index is 88.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bailey costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bailey, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$124,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$841	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,829	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Bailey's violent crime rate is 501.6 per 100,000 residents — 32% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

501.6 /100k

Property Crime

2631.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bailey is served primarily by Nash County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bailey, NC	National Avg
School District	Nash County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	11	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	7	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	20.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	81.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bailey sees average highs of 52.1°F in January and 90.2°F in July, with 49.6 inches of annual precipitation and 1.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bailey, NC
Average High — January	52.1°F
Average High — July	90.2°F
Annual Precipitation	49.6"
Annual Snowfall	1.9"

Demographics

Metric	Bailey, NC	National Avg
Population	459	—
Median Age	47.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	56.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	20.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	17.2%	18.9%
Asian	5.4%	6.3%
Under 18	16.8%	22.2%
65 and over	28.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Sims, NC 3 mi Middlesex, NC 5 mi Wilson, NC 11 mi Lucama, NC 11 mi Spring Hope, NC 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Bailey

Bailey, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

27807

Bailey vs Other Cities

Bailey, NC vs Sims, NC Bailey, NC vs Middlesex, NC Bailey, NC vs Wilson, NC Bailey, NC vs Lucama, NC Bailey, NC vs Spring Hope, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bailey, NC affordable or expensive?

Bailey's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bailey roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $124,200 and median rent is $841/month.

What is the crime rate in Bailey, NC?

Bailey's violent crime rate is 501.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2631.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bailey?

Public schools in Bailey are operated by Nash County Public Schools. The district has 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 7 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.2:1. 15.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bailey, NC a good place to live?

Bailey, NC has a population of 459, a median household income of $57,829, and an unemployment rate of 5.0%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Bailey?

Bailey averages 52.1°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.6 inches with about 1.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bailey?

Bailey, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 27807.

What is the population of Bailey?

The population of Bailey, North Carolina is 459 with a median age of 47.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bailey?

Key numbers for living in Bailey: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $124,200, median household income $57,829, crime index 129 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bailey side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.