Washington Street downtown Williamston, NC · Camb.g2g / CC BY-SA 4.0Williamston, North Carolina - Fire, Rescue, EMS · U.S. Department of Agriculture / Public domain
Williamston is a small town of 5,224 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $41,182
and a 14.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Williamston stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Williamston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Williamston 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: 87.8
Williamston's overall cost of living index is 87.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Williamston costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Williamston, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$103,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$695
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
50.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$41,182
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Williamston's violent crime rate is 1161.4 per 100,000 residents
— 206% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1161.4 /100k
Property Crime
6407.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Williamston is served primarily by Martin County Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1
.
Metric
Williamston, NC
National Avg
School District
Martin County Schools
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
77.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Williamston sees average highs of 51.8°F in January
and 88.5°F in July,
with 53.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.5 inches of snow per year.
Williamston's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Williamston roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $103,800 and median rent is $695/month.
Williamston's violent crime rate is 1161.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 6407.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Williamston are operated by Martin County Schools.
The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1. 17.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Williamston, NC has a population of 5,224, a median household income of $41,182, and an unemployment rate of 14.2%.
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.
Williamston averages 51.8°F in January and 88.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.2 inches
with about 0.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Williamston, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 27892.
The population of Williamston, North Carolina is 5,224 with a median age of 45.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Williamston: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $103,800, median household income $41,182, crime index 305 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Williamston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
