Smithfield 66 Good
Smithfield Livability #254 ranked city in North Carolina#11,432 ranked city in the USARanks better than 60% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Smithfield

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Everyday cost of living expenses like goods and services, housing, groceries, transportation, health care and utilities are far below the national average.

  • Housing Housing

    Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Accessible health facilities like hospitals, doctors offices, clinics and nursing homes as well as good air quality are all factors that have led to a high score in this category.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.

  • Commute Commute

    Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.

  • Crime Crime

    Reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people, this area may be perceived as an unsafe place to reside. These statistics encompass both violent and property crime rates.

  • Employment Employment

    This area earns a low score in the employment category due to low household income levels and high unemployment rates, which may pose challenges in seeking job opportunities.

  • Schools Schools

    The low schools score might be a result of factors like lower than average education levels, lackluster reading and math scores and the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools.

What's it like Living in Smithfield?

Located in the state of North Carolina, Smithfield is a moderately-sized city with a population of 13,082 inhabitants. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Smithfield offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 20 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Are you trying to decide if living in Smithfield is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a positive experience before relocating to any new city in North Carolina, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. To help you find the best places to live in and around Smithfield, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, crime, employment and more.

With a livability score of 65 out of 100, Smithfield is ranked #12,590 in the United States and #299 in North Carolina. For each of the livability categories, we know that Smithfield ranks very well for cost of living (A+) and housing (B+). Unfortunately for Smithfield, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (F), crime (F), education (F) and employment (F).

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Smithfield has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Smithfield is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Smithfield come in at $254,803, which is 12% lower than the North Carolina average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Smithfield, the home price to income ratio is 5.1, which is 24.4% higher than the North Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Smithfield

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Smithfield?

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Compare Smithfield, NC Livability

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      Smithfield transportation information

      Statistic Smithfield North Carolina National
      Average one way commute20min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work85.3%81.1%76.4%
      Workers who carpool7.8%9.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.5%1.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.2%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.0%1.8%2.8%
      Working from home5.4%4.8%4.6%
      Source: The Smithfield, 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.