Wallace is a small town of 3,443 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $47,318
and a 13.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Wallace stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Wallace is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Wallace 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: 88.5
Wallace's overall cost of living index is 88.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Wallace costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Wallace, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$155,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$589
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
59.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$47,318
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Wallace's violent crime rate is 400.9 per 100,000 residents
— 5% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
400.9 /100k
Property Crime
3207.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Wallace is served primarily by Duplin County Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.2:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Wallace, NC
National Avg
School District
Duplin County Schools
—
Elementary Schools
8
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
73.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Wallace sees average highs of 55.2°F in January
and 90.7°F in July,
with 57.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.7 inches of snow per year.
Wallace's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Wallace roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $155,700 and median rent is $589/month.
Wallace's violent crime rate is 400.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3207.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Wallace are operated by Duplin County Schools.
The district has 8 elementary, several middle, and 5 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.2:1. 15.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Wallace, NC has a population of 3,443, a median household income of $47,318, and an unemployment rate of 13.1%.
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.
Wallace averages 55.2°F in January and 90.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.2 inches
with about 0.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Wallace, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28466.
The population of Wallace, North Carolina is 3,443 with a median age of 46.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Wallace: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $155,700, median household income $47,318, crime index 124 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wallace side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
