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City Housing Verdict

Williamston, NC

Manageable

Your dollar goes further in Williamston, NC — everyday costs run about 33% below the national average (Cost Index: 67). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued at $108,900, well under the $303,400 US median. The local median household income of $40,556 tends to stretch further here than in most parts of the country.

Williamston looks comparatively manageable for household relocation, with 18% rent burden, 2.7x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 36. Use the assumptions below to test whether your own budget still stays in the safe range.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Safe

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Williamston.

Monthly Housing
$621/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
18%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$2,259/mo
After housing and debt · $753/person
Rent vs Buy
Buying can be tested
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: nonmetroHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 33%
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Cost Index
67
Very Affordable
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$108,900
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$621/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$40,556
National: $78,538
Population
5,157
Purchasing Power
77
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
36 / 100
64% below average
Rent Index
46 / 100
54% below average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Utilities
88 / 100
12% lower utility bills
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Healthcare & Services
98 / 100
In line with national average
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Overall Index
67
Very Affordable · 33% below average

Williamston Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $108,900 and North Carolina's property tax rate of 0.84%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$40,556
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
18%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
2.7x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Williamston looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Williamston, NC

Est. Annual Property Tax
$915
Monthly Impact
$76
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.84%
National avg: ~1.00%

North Carolina Place Tax Context

Tax TypeNorth CarolinaNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.84%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate4.5%~5.0%
State Sales Tax6.97%~5.0%

Compare Williamston to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Williamston, NC
67
46
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Williamston, NC: 36
Rent Prices
46

FAQ: Living in Williamston

Is Williamston, NC an affordable place to live?+

Yes — everyday expenses in Williamston run about 33% below the US average (Cost Index: 67). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $108,900, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is typically around $621, versus $1,348 nationally.

How does Williamston fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $621, while local median household income is $40,556. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 18% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Williamston, NC?+

North Carolina has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 4.5%. The effective property tax rate is 0.84%. On a home worth $108,900, that translates to roughly $915 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 6.97% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Williamston, NC?+

The typical monthly rent in Williamston is around $621. That's roughly 54% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $108,900, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Williamston, NC?+

The median home in Williamston is valued at $108,900. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $551/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 52% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Williamston?+

Grocery prices in Williamston are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Williamston, NC like to live in?+

Williamston is a small town with a population of about 5,157. The median age of residents is 43.9, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 30.58%, above the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in North Carolina

If Williamston feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in North Carolina

Use these city pages when you want to compare Williamston against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly