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City · 10,770 residents · Edgecombe County, North Carolina

Tarboro , North Carolina

In Tarboro, a typical home is worth $185,500 and typical rent is $843 a month. Compared with all of Edgecombe County, the typical home value is 48% higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $185,500

    48% above the county

    36% below North Carolina

    • Tarboro
    • Edgecombe
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $843a month

    About the same as the county

    31% below North Carolina

    • Tarboro
    • Edgecombe
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $49,796a year

    3% below the county

    31% below North Carolina

    • Tarboro
    • Edgecombe
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    57%

    4 points below the county

    9 points below North Carolina

    • Tarboro
    • Edgecombe
    • North Carolina

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$157,347
0.6% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,062 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Tarboro is in Edgecombe County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Edgecombe County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Tarboro apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. The typical home in Tarboro is worth $185,500, 48% more than in Edgecombe County as a whole ($125,100).

  2. Tarboro has the 12th largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 136 cities in North Carolina with more than 5,000 people (64%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Tarboro

What homes there are in Tarboro, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house rules in Tarboro: 69% of homes, more than in Edgecombe County (65%).

Year built

In Tarboro, half of the homes were built before 1974; in Edgecombe County, before 1978.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

At least 97% of owner-occupied homes in Tarboro are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Edgecombe County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,332 a month

Edgecombe County: $1,252 a month

Without a mortgage

$580 a month

Edgecombe County: $511 a month

Owners with a mortgage

57%

Edgecombe County: 51%

Owning costs more in Tarboro: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,332 a month; in Edgecombe County, $1,252. Without one, $580.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Tarboro rose 66% since 2015–2019, more than in Edgecombe County (46%).

Rents in Tarboro rose faster than in Edgecombe County: 30% since 2015–2019, against 24%.

To compare: typical income in Tarboro rose 67%; the home, +66%; the rent, +30%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureTarboroEdgecombe CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate3.9%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.102.442.442.53
Drive alone 80%79%72%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate9%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Work from home 11%8%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.10 on average, against 2.44 in Edgecombe County.

The car rules in Tarboro: 80% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Tarboro?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Tarboro, worth $185,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 37% of the typical household income in Tarboro, which is $49,796 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $65,473 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Edgecombe County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Tarboro. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,493 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,528

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$182,140
Total interest
$262,056
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,133 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,162 a month

  • Tight

    $1,162 to $1,494 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,494 a month

    Your payment · 37%

Compared with the typical household income in Tarboro ($49,796 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,528
Principal & interest$1,234
Property tax$135
Home insurance$77
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$82

You need at least $6,493 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Tarboro and Edgecombe County

Tarboro is in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Tarboro's own numbers

Typical home value
$185,500
Typical monthly rent
$843
Typical yearly household income
$49,796
Households that own their home
57%
Effective property tax rate
0.87%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Edgecombe County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,167
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+49%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
5.6%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Edgecombe County.

Everything about Edgecombe County

Buying

Buying a home in Tarboro

A typical home in Tarboro is worth $185,500: 48% above the county and 36% below North Carolina. With the typical household income in Tarboro ($49,796 a year), a typical home costs 3.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Tarboro 3.7 years
  • Edgecombe 2.4 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Edgecombe County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Edgecombe County rose 73% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Edgecombe County.

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) −3.9% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +49% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +73% +107% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Tarboro next to Edgecombe County, North Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Tarboro $185,500
  • Edgecombe $125,100
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Tarboro $843
  • Edgecombe $858
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Tarboro $49,796
  • Edgecombe $51,265
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Tarboro next to Edgecombe County and North Carolina
Measure Tarboro Edgecombe County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $185,500 $125,100 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $843 $858 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $49,796 $51,265 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 57% 61% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,617 $1,306 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.87% 1.04% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 64% 48% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Edgecombe County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Tarboro

For a typical $185,500 home in Tarboro, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Tarboro's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,528a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,493
    Cash to close
    $12,058
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $82

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,494a month

    Down payment
    $9,275
    Cash to close
    $14,840
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $88

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,217a month

    Down payment
    $37,100
    Cash to close
    $42,665
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,389a month

    Down payment
    $27,825
    Cash to close
    $33,390
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Tarboro and for Edgecombe County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Tarboro

0.87%of the home’s value each year

$1,617 a year for the typical owner in Tarboro.

  • Tarboro 0.87%
  • Edgecombe 1.04%
  • North Carolina 0.66%

What North Carolina publishes Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion (North Carolina General Assembly (statute))

Exemptions and deadlines in North Carolina

Flood risk in Edgecombe County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Edgecombe County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
5.6%
1,059
Of those, with NFIP insurance
32%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 5.6% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 32% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Tarboro

Typical rent in Tarboro is $843 a month: about the same as the county. In Tarboro, 64% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Edgecombe County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,167 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $22.44 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Edgecombe County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $967 $18.60 $38,680
1 bedroom $972 $18.69 $38,880
2 bedrooms $1,167 $22.44 $46,680
3 bedrooms $1,567 $30.13 $62,680
4 bedrooms $1,787 $34.37 $71,480

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Tarboro

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Tarboro is in ZIP code 27886.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,040: $127 less than the fair market rent for Edgecombe County ($1,167).

  • 27886 $1,040$1,400

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Tarboro when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Tarboro

HUD lists 9 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Tarboro. These are the largest.

  • Pinehurst Homes 17 Pinehurst Homes, Tarboro 27886 193 low-income homes · Run by Redevelopment Commission of the Town of Tarboro · Average payment: $440 a month · Average wait: 21 months (252) 823-6339
  • Pender Square I 500 Benson Dr, Tarboro 27886 72 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · 2 bd: 48 · In service since 2014 · For families
  • Hilma Greens 810 W Wilson St, Tarboro 27886 64 low-income homes · 2 bd: 38 · 3 bd: 26 · In service since 2018 · For families
  • Hunter Hill Apartment Homes 200 Hunter Hill Rd, Tarboro 27886 56 low-income homes · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 28 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2014 · For families
  • Elmhurst Apartments 1000 Simmons ST, Tarboro 27886 50 low-income homes · For older adults (252) 641-5400

See all 24 buildings in Edgecombe County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Tarboro

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Edgecombe County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair to help a teenage girl with her book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Tarboro

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Tarboro or Edgecombe County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Tarboro the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Carolina

  • NC Home Advantage Mortgage

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment

    Statewide in North Carolina

    A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Tarboro

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Tarboro, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Rocky Mount, NC

    901 Authority Dr, Rocky Mount · 11 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (252) 977-3141

  • Wilson Community Improvement Association, Inc.

    504 Green St E, Wilson · 23 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    252-243-4855x214

  • Choanoke Area Development Association of Nc, Inc.

    120 Sessoms Dr, Rich Square · 30 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (252) 539-4155

Every agency in Edgecombe County All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Tarboro

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Tarboro

HUD’s record names them for Tarboro or Edgecombe County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Redevelopment Commission of the Town of Tarboro Public housing (252) 823-6339

2 other authorities have an office in Edgecombe County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Tarboro, with the typical home value.

Everything about Edgecombe County Housing in North Carolina

Neighboring counties

If Edgecombe County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Tarboro.

All guides
A father smiles as he carries his baby on his shoulders outdoors.

Questions

Housing questions about Tarboro

Short answers with the numbers for Tarboro and all of Edgecombe County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Tarboro?

The typical home value in Tarboro is $185,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Edgecombe County it is $125,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Tarboro?

Typical rent in Tarboro is $843 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Edgecombe County is $1,167.

What is the FHA loan limit in Tarboro?

Tarboro uses the FHA limit for all of Edgecombe County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Tarboro?

The typical homeowner in Tarboro pays $1,617 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.87% of the home’s value; in Edgecombe County, the rate is 1.04%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Tarboro?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Edgecombe County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).