Population 6,596 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Elm City: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Elm City
Household size in Elm City
| Period | Elm City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.60 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.49 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.51 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.47 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Elm City run small, averaging 2.47 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has dropped from 2.60 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Elm City
| Period | Elm City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.8 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.3 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.0 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.9 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.1 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Elm City skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 41.8 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Elm City
| Period | Elm City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.2% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Elm City (12.9%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. Elm City has a higher share of single-parent households than most North Carolina cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Elm City
Renters in Elm City
| Period | Elm City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.1% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.1% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.2% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.5% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.5 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Elm City is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 56.5% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 5.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Elm City
| Period | Elm City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.2% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Elm City as nationally: 8.5%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in North Carolina overall (11.4%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.7 points, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Elm City
| Period | Elm City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Elm City are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1987, versus 1980 across the U.S. That is in line with the rest of North Carolina. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Elm City
| Period | Elm City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $646 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $796 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $748 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $984 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$338 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Elm City costs $984 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $338 a month from 2006–10, a 52% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.4% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Elm City
Bachelor's degrees in Elm City
| Period | Elm City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.2% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.9% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Elm City: 18.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 4.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Elm City
| Period | Elm City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.3% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.4% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.2% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.0% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.7 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Elm City is a bit above the national rate: 91.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of North Carolina. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 8.7 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Elm City
| Period | Elm City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.1 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Elm City runs below the national rate: 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 7.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Elm City compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elm City | 2.47 | 45.9 | 12.9% | 18.5% | 8.5% | 1987 | $984 | 18.9% | 91.0% | 4.2% |
| Winstead Crossroads | 2.53 | 44.9 | 12.4% | 14.0% | 4.6% | 1991 | $852 | 27.8% | 89.5% | 3.1% |
| Sharpsburg | 2.65 | 34.3 | 37.1% | 40.0% | 18.2% | 1988 | $1,053 | 14.5% | 88.1% | 0.4% |
| Rosebud | 2.90 | 29.8 | 30.7% | 29.8% | 15.9% | 1993 | $942 | 17.8% | 81.5% | 6.3% |
| Wilson | 2.36 | 41.1 | 14.4% | 46.0% | 11.8% | 1984 | $1,004 | 22.4% | 84.4% | 6.6% |
| Holdens Crossroads | 1.87 | 54.5 | 4.1% | 29.8% | 12.6% | 1991 | $921 | 18.1% | 77.2% | 5.5% |
| Wilbanks | 2.41 | 40.4 | 18.5% | 27.0% | 13.7% | 1992 | $943 | 15.2% | 79.2% | 4.3% |
| Lamm | 3.24 | 44.4 | 4.9% | 21.6% | 20.7% | 1992 | $870 | 11.3% | 53.8% | 7.5% |
| Stanhope | 3.24 | 44.4 | 4.9% | 21.6% | 20.7% | 1992 | $870 | 11.3% | 53.8% | 7.5% |
| Rocky Mount | 2.38 | 41.2 | 16.2% | 47.2% | 13.9% | 1977 | $954 | 22.6% | 87.0% | 6.9% |
| Mercer | 2.48 | 41.5 | 11.7% | 31.5% | 15.3% | 1991 | $1,183 | 10.2% | 86.4% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Topsfield, MA · Easton, CT · Broadway, VA · Brookville, PA · Caddo Mills, TX · Valhalla, NY · Uhrichsville, OH · Smithville, NJ · Solvay, NY · Cedar Hill, MO
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Elm City. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.