Edenton grades D overall, 252nd among North Carolina's 286 graded towns, mostly because of health and incomes. Residents are less healthy than 89% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. The median household income is $38K, and 30% of residents live below the poverty line. One bright spot: it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 84% of U.S. towns. History is its standout character grade: an A+, better than 98% of U.S. towns, with 22 places on the National Register. 30% of residents live below the poverty line in Edenton, above both the North Carolina town median (13%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Its National Register listings include Chowan County Courthouse and Cupola House. FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 80% of U.S. communities, with hurricanes at the top.

StrongestA⁺History A⁻WalkabilityWeakestDHealth DHazard risk C⁻Jobs & income CSafety

What makes Edenton stand out

Where Edenton beats most towns.

Chowan County Courthouse

HistoryA⁺

Settled in 1712

19 places on the National Register

A history going back 314 years.

Jobs vs. working residents

Jobs here3,429

Residents who work1,639

Work

2.1 jobs for every working resident

A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 94% of U.S. towns

Census LEHD 2023.

WalkabilityA⁻

More walkable than 84% of U.S. towns

9.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transit

EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.

Chowan County Courthouse · National Register of Historic Places

Edenton’s story

314 years in pictures

Chowan County Courthouse is one of 3 National Historic Landmarks here, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1712, comes before those of 99% of the North Carolina towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 1,575 in 1790, 4,460 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1701 and 3 maps from 1904 on.

19 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1712Edenton is settled

Explore the history →

How Edenton grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Carolina), ordered by how far Edenton is from typical.

How grading works

HealthVidant Chowan Hospital 1.1 miles awayDOpen →Hazard riskhurricanes tops the listDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.7 of 20; 18.5% of households have no carA⁻Open →Jobs & incomeC⁻Open →SafetyCOpen →Cost of livingCOpen →SchoolsC⁺Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors1 mile of trail; 8% conserved landB⁻Open →History14 notable people born hereA⁺Open →Civic life5.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC⁺Open →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 46.7; 23% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Edenton: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Edenton, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerTown of EdentonEIAHIFLD · EIA

WaterTown of Edenton water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet7 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Edenton’s trash rules yet

SchoolsEdenton-Chowan SchoolsWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn North Carolina you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person with same-day registration during the early voting period, or by mail (postmarked 25 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereChowan County Board of ElectionsChowan County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2019

ZIP code2793227932 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Edenton.

Edenton draws workers from Elizabeth City and beyond and is healthier than towns with similar incomes, but it carries more natural-hazard risk than most of North Carolina (mostly hurricanes).

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C⁻

About one in three working residents works right in Edenton

3,429 jobs are based in Edenton, 2.1 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in.

About one in 3 of Edenton’s working residents works in town. Jobs based in Edenton grew to 3,429 in 2023, 514 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Elizabeth City (5%), Greenville (3%) and Raleigh (3%).

33%work in town

	Edenton	North Carolina towns	U.S. towns
Working residents who work in town	33%	6.8%	8%
Median household income	$38,000	$69,000	$80,000
Average trip to work	26 minutes	24 minutes	25 minutes

Where working residents work

In Edenton33%

Elizabeth City5%

Greenville3%

Raleigh3%

Virginia Beach2%

24 mi

median commute distance

3,429

jobs based in Edenton

A job hub

jobs vs. working residents

A−

Walkability grade: more walkable than 84% of U.S. towns

Full pageEdenton’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here3,429 jobs based here · A job hub Where people work33% work in Edenton Commute times26 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 24 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

SchoolsC⁺

Edenton’s public schools trail 60% of North Carolina districts

Its public schools are run by the Edenton-Chowan Schools. Its one school is below. The largest public high school is John A Holmes High, with 554 students.

40%of NC districts it outscoresC⁺School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
John A Holmes HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	554	B⁺

Full pageEdenton’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsEdenton-Chowan Schools Vs. the neighbors1 bordering town Every school1 school · John A Holmes High Questions“Are Edenton’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduation

HealthD

More of Edenton’s adults have diabetes than in the typical North Carolina or U.S. town

Against the 1,969 U.S. towns with household incomes like Edenton’s, it is healthier than 58%, so its D isn’t only a matter of income.

20% of Edenton adults have diabetes. Only 3 of the 289 North Carolina towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have high blood pressure than Edenton. 43% of Edenton adults have obesity.

11%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade

	Edenton	North Carolina towns	U.S. towns
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)	20%	13%	12%
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)	9.8%	15%	16%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)	52%	38%	35%
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)	29%	19%	19%

32 measures vs. North Carolina

3 better11 too close to call18 worse

What stands out	Edenton	NC
Fewer binge drinkers	9.8%	14.7%
More adults treating high blood pressure	83.5%	76.7%
More adults who have had a stroke	6.7%	3.6%

Vidant Chowan Hospital

1.1 mi away · emergency room

3 of 3

care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

11th

percentile among NC towns

Full pageEdenton’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore adults who get no exercise Hospitals & doctors nearby1.1 miles to an ER · Vidant Chowan Hospital How adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than NC on 3 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D

Very high risk in Edenton, with hurricanes at the top

FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 79% of North Carolina towns; that rating is what its D for hazard risk is built on. 150 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 12 properties have flooded more than once.

Since 1985, 150 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Edenton.

80risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

HurricanesInland floodingHeat waves

150

paid flood claims since 1985

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageEdenton’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesVery high risk Flood claims150 paid flood claims · Since 1985 Past disasters7 federal disasters · Paid out in Edenton Get ready0.3 events a year, on average · Ready for hurricanes

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

SafetyC

Crime per resident in Edenton is higher than in 75% of U.S. towns

Reported crimes fell from 98 to 60 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.

Edenton’s property crime rate is 10.9 per 1,000 residents. Within North Carolina, it does better than 57% of towns.

25%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade

	Edenton	North Carolina towns	U.S. towns
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	10.9 per 1,000 residents	21.8	9.9
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	2.4 per 1,000 residents	3.2	1.6

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Edenton2.4

North Carolina3.3

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Edenton10.9

North Carolina18.2

U.S.15.5

25th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

57th

percentile among NC towns

violent crimes reported in 2025

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageEdenton’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type2.4 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsDown since 2023 Vs. the neighbors1 bordering town Questions“Is Edenton, NC safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

HousingCost of living grade C

Homes in Edenton are worth about $236K, by Zillow’s estimate

62.2% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 48.9% across North Carolina.

The typical Edenton home is worth about $236,000, up 4.7% in a year, 29% below the North Carolina typical home. 52% of households own their home in Edenton.

$236KZillow home value

Typical home value

Edenton$236K

North Carolina$332K

+4.7%

value change, 1 year

Full pageEdenton’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 4.7% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 6.1 years of income Rents$388 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighbors1 bordering town

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Climate

In Edenton, expect mild winters and hot summers

Edenton has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 88°, January nights drop to 33° and about 2 inches of snow falls in a winter.

2″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter35–54°

Spring50–70°

Summer70–87°

Fall54–72°

Nov 14

typical first frost

Mar 24

typical last frost

+1.3°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageEdenton’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 88°, January lows 33°Rain & snow2″ of snow a winter · 52 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingBoth heating and cooling Then and now+1.3° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

OutdoorsB⁻

7.7% of Edenton is conserved land

0.9 miles of trail in 4 parks and preserves.

7.7%conserved

	Edenton	North Carolina towns	U.S. towns
Conserved land	7.7%	3.4%	4.3%
Miles of trail per square mile	0.2 miles per square mile	0.2	0.4

7.7%

conserved · 272 of 3,550 acres

0.9 mi

of trails · 0.2 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Colonial Waterfront Park	0.1 mi	6
2. Pembroke Creek Park	—	5
3. Queen Anne's Park	0.1 mi	1

Full pageEdenton’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map0.9 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk0.1 miles of trail · Colonial Waterfront Park Conserved land7.7% conserved · 272 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Edenton?”

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Edenton

20pages on Edenton

The big questions

SchoolsC⁺Behind 60% of NC districts · 1 school SafetyC2.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthDBetter than NC on 3 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingC$236K typical home · up 4.7% in a year Work & commuteC⁻$38K median household income · 3,429 jobs here Natural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 80% of U.S. communities · hurricanes

Out and about

OutdoorsB⁻1 mi of trails · 8% conserved land PlacesAttractions20 nearby · Edenton National Fish Hatchery under 1 mi LibraryC⁺Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library Colleges

The story

HistoryA⁺Settled 1712 · 19 on the National Register Famous people14 born in Edenton Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 59 residents Climate88° summer highs · 2″ of snow

Day to day

News4 recent stories about Edenton WeatherHandbookZIP code 27932 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Edenton; the nearest are

Elizabeth City State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Elizabeth City26.3 mi$6,536 in-state tuition College of the AlbemarleCommunity college · Public · Elizabeth City28 mi$2,242 in-state tuition

About 1 of every 100 Edenton residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

A job hub

Every workday, about 2,895 people come to Edenton for work

Where Edenton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

3,429jobs based in Edenton

33%of working residents work in town

24 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

Landmarks

19 places in Edenton on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Chowan County CourthouseBuilt 1767 · National Historic Landmark

Cupola HouseBuilt 1758 · National Historic Landmark

Hayes PlantationBuilt 1814 · National Historic Landmark

James Iredell House

Famous people from Edenton

14 notable people were born in Edenton.

See all 14 →

Harriet JacobsAmerican slave, writer, and abolitionist · 1815–1897

William AllenAmerican politician, 31st Governor of Ohio · 1803–1879

Jesse GonzalezMexican association football player · born 1995

Penelope BarkerAmerican revolution activist · 1728–1796

Alfred Moore GatlinAmerican politician · 1790–1841

Charles E. WilhelmAmerican marine corps general · born 1941

About Edenton

Town in North Carolina, United States

Official town website ↗

The town of Edenton is located on the Albemarle Sound in North Carolina, United States, in the Inner Banks region. It is the county seat of Chowan County. The population was 4,397 at the 2020 census. Edenton served as the first capital of North Carolina, during the colonial era as the Province of North Carolina, though other than housing the governor's official residence, it did not have other governmental functions. It served as capital from 1722 to 1743, when the capital was moved to Brunswick. The town was the site of the Edenton Tea Party, a protest organized by several Edenton women in 1774 in solidarity with the organizers of the Boston Tea Party. It was the birthplace of Harriet Jaco…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1712
Area: 5.6 sq mi
Elevation: 13 ft
ZIP code: 27932
Area code: 252

Edenton’s neighbors

One town shares a border with Edenton.

Explore the map →

Cape ColonyEdenton

Cape Colony

Visit

How the neighbors grade

Town	NC rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Edenton	#252	D	C	C	C⁺	D
Cape Colony	—	—	—	—	—	—

Cape Colony isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Edenton with a neighbor →

Questions about Edenton

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Edenton, NC a good place to live?

Edenton grades D overall, better than 6% of U.S. towns and #252 of 286 in North Carolina. It grades D for health, C for safety and C+ for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a D.

Is Edenton, NC safe?

Within North Carolina, it does better than 57% of towns.

Is Edenton, NC expensive?

That is 4.4 years of the area's median household income ($53,864 across the county).

What is Edenton, NC known for?

14 notable people were born here, including Harriet Jacobs and William Allen.

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