Median Income
$49,245
household / year
Median Home Value
$136,200
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,025
gross / month
Cost of Living
91
national avg = 100

Is Erwin, NC a Good Place to Live?

Erwin is a small town of 4,606 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $49,245 and a 1.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Erwin is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Erwin 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: 91.4

Erwin's overall cost of living index is 91.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Erwin costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric Erwin, NC National Avg
Median Home Value $136,200 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,025 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 67.4% 65.9%
Median Household Income $49,245 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Erwin's violent crime rate is 436.4 per 100,000 residents — 15% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
436.4 /100k
Property Crime
2348.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Erwin is served primarily by THINK SMART OUTREACH CENTER.

Metric Erwin, NC National Avg
School District THINK SMART OUTREACH CENTER
Elementary Schools N/A
Middle Schools N/A
High Schools N/A
Student/Teacher Ratio N/A 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 12.9% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 86.5% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Erwin sees average highs of 54.5°F in January and 91.8°F in July, with 50.1 inches of annual precipitation and 2.1 inches of snow per year.

MetricErwin, NC
Average High — January54.5°F
Average High — July91.8°F
Annual Precipitation50.1"
Annual Snowfall2.1"

Demographics

MetricErwin, NCNational Avg
Population4,606
Median Age40.938.9
Unemployment Rate1.5%3.7%
Avg Commute Time32.1 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)68.9%59.3%
Black or African American19.2%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino8.7%18.9%
Asian0.9%6.3%
Under 1823.3%22.2%
65 and over20.9%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Erwin

Erwin, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Erwin vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Erwin's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Erwin roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $136,200 and median rent is $1,025/month.
Erwin's violent crime rate is 436.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2348.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Erwin are operated by THINK SMART OUTREACH CENTER. The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools. 12.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Erwin, NC has a population of 4,606, a median household income of $49,245, and an unemployment rate of 1.5%. 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.
Erwin averages 54.5°F in January and 91.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.1 inches with about 2.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Erwin, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28339.
The population of Erwin, North Carolina is 4,606 with a median age of 40.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Erwin: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $136,200, median household income $49,245, crime index 114 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Erwin side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.