Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 1,250, settled in 1891.
The best of Elm City’s subject grades are a B+ for cost of living and history; the weakest is a D for health. 34% of residents live below the poverty line in Elm City, where North Carolina’s towns sit at 13% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. On health, just 31 of North Carolina’s 450 towns do worse. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 90% of U.S. towns. On the outdoors, just 20 of North Carolina’s 451 towns do worse. Elm City has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them W. H. Langley House and Joseph John Pender House. Elm City's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 85% of U.S. towns. Elm City has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Elm City beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
| Widest gap | Elm City | NC |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 29% | 13.9% |
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Carolina), ordered by how far Elm City is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Elm City, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Elm City.
32% of adults say their health is fair or poor in Elm City, above both the North Carolina town median (19%) and the median of U.S. towns (19%). 18% of Elm City adults report frequent physical distress. Elm City beats the North Carolina average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 19.
| Elm City | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 19% | 19% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 13% | 12% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 15% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 51% | 38% | 35% |
| What stands out | Elm City | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 10.2% | 14.7% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 82.5% | 76.7% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 29% | 13.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Its public schools are run by the Wilson County Schools. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elm City MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 399 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduation
Most working residents leave Elm City for work: only 3% work in town. Since 2013, Elm City has lost 138 jobs, to 204 in 2023. Elm City’s average trip to work is 28 minutes.
| Elm City | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.9% | 6.8% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
The typical Elm City home is worth about $229,000, about the same as a year ago, 31% below the North Carolina typical home. 58% of households own their home in Elm City.
| Elm City | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 58% | 67% | 73% |
| Median rent | $859 a month | $1,085 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Elm City has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Elm City is 90°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 53% of U.S. communities. Since 2016, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Elm City.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
3 within 15 miles of the center of Elm City
About 3 of every 100 Elm City residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.
Where Elm City’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
3 notable people were born in Elm City.
Town in North Carolina, United States
Elm City is a town in Nash and Wilson County, United States. As of the 2020 census, Elm City had a population of 1,218. It is a suburb of Wilson, North Carolina.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.
3 notable people were born here, including Jamie Watson and Vance Page.
