What are the schools like in Tarboro, NC?

Tarboro is served primarily by Edgecombe County Public Schools. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.7:1.

What is the median household income in Tarboro?

The median household income in Tarboro, NC is $43,523 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.3%.

What is the weather like in Tarboro, NC?

Tarboro has an average high temperature of 51.4°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 4.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Tarboro, NC affordable or expensive?

Tarboro's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Tarboro is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $145,600 and the median rent is $657 per month.

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

Tarboro has a violent crime rate of 668.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2692.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Tarboro, NC a Good Place to Live?

Tarboro is a small city of 10,696 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $43,523 and a 3.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Tarboro stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Tarboro is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Tarboro 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

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

Metric	Tarboro, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$145,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$657	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	58.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$43,523	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Tarboro's violent crime rate is 668.5 per 100,000 residents — 76% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

668.5 /100k

Property Crime

2692.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Tarboro is served primarily by Edgecombe County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Tarboro, NC	National Avg
School District	Edgecombe County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Tarboro sees average highs of 51.4°F in January and 89.3°F in July, with 47.6 inches of annual precipitation and 4.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Tarboro, NC
Average High — January	51.4°F
Average High — July	89.3°F
Annual Precipitation	47.6"
Annual Snowfall	4.8"

Demographics

Metric	Tarboro, NC	National Avg
Population	10,696	—
Median Age	48.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	46.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	49.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	22.0%	22.2%
65 and over	26.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Princeville, NC 2 mi Leggett, NC 6 mi Speed, NC 8 mi Conetoe, NC 8 mi Pinetops, NC 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Tarboro

Tarboro, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

27886

Tarboro vs Other Cities

Tarboro, NC vs Princeville, NC Tarboro, NC vs Leggett, NC Tarboro, NC vs Speed, NC Tarboro, NC vs Conetoe, NC Tarboro, NC vs Pinetops, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tarboro, NC affordable or expensive?

Tarboro's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Tarboro roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $145,600 and median rent is $657/month.

What is the crime rate in Tarboro, NC?

Tarboro's violent crime rate is 668.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2692.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Tarboro?

Public schools in Tarboro are operated by Edgecombe County Public Schools. The district has 6 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 26.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Tarboro, NC a good place to live?

Tarboro, NC has a population of 10,696, a median household income of $43,523, and an unemployment rate of 3.3%. 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 Tarboro?

Tarboro averages 51.4°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.6 inches with about 4.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Tarboro?

Tarboro, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 27886.

What is the population of Tarboro?

The population of Tarboro, North Carolina is 10,696 with a median age of 48.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Tarboro?

Key numbers for living in Tarboro: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $145,600, median household income $43,523, crime index 157 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Tarboro side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.