Ellenboro is a small town of 944 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $47,727
and a 4.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Ellenboro 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 Ellenboro is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Ellenboro 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: 86.9
Ellenboro's overall cost of living index is 86.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Ellenboro costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Ellenboro, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$92,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$670
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
68.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$47,727
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Ellenboro's violent crime rate is 268.5 per 100,000 residents
— 29% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
268.5 /100k
Property Crime
1576.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Ellenboro is served primarily by Rutherford County Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.4:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Ellenboro, NC
National Avg
School District
Rutherford County Schools
—
Elementary Schools
10
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
82.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Ellenboro sees average highs of 52.6°F in January
and 90.6°F in July,
with 51.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 4.5 inches of snow per year.
Ellenboro's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Ellenboro roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $92,700 and median rent is $670/month.
Ellenboro's violent crime rate is 268.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1576.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Ellenboro are operated by Rutherford County Schools.
The district has 10 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.4:1. 14.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Ellenboro, NC has a population of 944, a median household income of $47,727, and an unemployment rate of 4.4%.
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.
Ellenboro averages 52.6°F in January and 90.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.7 inches
with about 4.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Ellenboro, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28040.
The population of Ellenboro, North Carolina is 944 with a median age of 31.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Ellenboro: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $92,700, median household income $47,727, crime index 72 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ellenboro side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
