Elizabeth City 71 Excellent
Elizabeth City Livability #110 ranked city in North Carolina#6,920 ranked city in the USARanks better than 76% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Elizabeth City

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The cost of living in this region is notably lower than the national average, encompassing everyday goods, housing, utilities, transportation and health care expenses.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Achieving a high health and safety score relies on factors including great air quality and convenient access to vital health facilities such as hospitals, doctors, clinics and police stations.

CONS
  • Commute Commute

    Access to public transportation in this particular area may be limited, which can result in longer-than-average commute times to reach workplaces.

  • Employment Employment

    Low income levels and high unemployment rates results in a low score in the employment category. It could prove difficult to find well-paying employment in this area.

  • Schools Schools

    The lower than average schools score may be influenced by below-average education levels, subpar reading and math scores and the lack of access to local elementary and high schools.

What's it like Living in Elizabeth City?

Located in the state of North Carolina, Elizabeth City is a medium-sized city with a population of 18,364 inhabitants. Elizabeth City is known to be an ethnically diverse city. The two most common races are White (41%) and Black or African American (51%). If you are a young adult or student, you might be pleased to know that the average age of all Elizabeth City residents is 33. Elizabeth City is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 47%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make Elizabeth City your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 24 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Elizabeth City could be a positive experience compared to other cities in North Carolina if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Finding the best places to live in Elizabeth City and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, crime, cost of living, commute, housing and other important metrics.

The livability score in Elizabeth City is 69/100 and the city is ranked in the 73rd percentile of all cities across America. There are nine total categories that generate the livability score. Elizabeth City scores well for amenities (B-), cost of living (A+) and housing (A+) There are some categories that Elizabeth City ranks poorly for, including: crime (F), education (F) and employment (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to determine why.

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Elizabeth City can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

Elizabeth City real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Elizabeth City. The median home price for Elizabeth City homes is $270,582, which is 6.5% lower than the North Carolina average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Elizabeth City, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 4.2, which is 2.4% higher than the North Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Elizabeth City

See all the best places to live around Elizabeth City

How Do You Rate The Livability In Elizabeth City?

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Compare Elizabeth City, NC Livability

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      Elizabeth City transportation information

      Statistic Elizabeth City North Carolina National
      Average one way commute24min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work78.6%81.1%76.4%
      Workers who carpool9.6%9.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.3%1.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.4%0.2%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.9%1.8%2.8%
      Working from home7.0%4.8%4.6%
      Source: The Elizabeth City, NC data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.