Elizabeth City city, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Elizabeth City city is a small city located in North Carolina. The total population is 18,740. It ranks as the 55th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Elizabeth City city is 36.1 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Elizabeth City city is $50,947. This is 27% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 35% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.0%. This is 14% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 7.8%. This is 60% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $202,100. Housing costs are 22% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 40.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 38% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Elizabeth City city is Black or African American, making up 49.0% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 36.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (49.0% vs 20.3%). The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

28.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 19% lower than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Elizabeth City city, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.