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City · 5,112 residents · Martin County, North Carolina

Williamston , North Carolina

In Williamston, a typical home is worth $107,100 and typical rent is $684 a month. Compared with all of Martin County, typical household income is 20% lower, typical rent is 10% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 16 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $107,100

    2% below the county

    63% below North Carolina

    • Williamston
    • Martin
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $684a month

    10% below the county

    44% below North Carolina

    • Williamston
    • Martin
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $38,738a year

    20% below the county

    46% below North Carolina

    • Williamston
    • Martin
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    51%

    16 points below the county

    16 points below North Carolina

    • Williamston
    • Martin
    • North Carolina

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$133,711
4.8% more than 12 months ago

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

Williamston is in Martin 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 Martin County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Williamston apart

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

  1. Williamston has the lowest typical home value of the 166 cities in North Carolina with more than 5,000 people: $107,100.

  2. Williamston has the 5th lowest typical rent of the 154 cities in North Carolina with more than 5,000 people ($684).

  3. Williamston has the 7th lowest typical household income of the 165 cities in North Carolina with more than 5,000 people ($38,738).

  4. 51% of households in Williamston own their home, against 67% in Martin County.

  5. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Williamston rose 4.8%; in North Carolina, it barely changed.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Williamston

What homes there are in Williamston, 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

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 73% of homes here, against 68% in Martin County.

Year built

Homes in Williamston are older: the typical year built is 1962; in Martin County, 1975.

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
Monthly rent with utilities

At least 75% of rented homes in Williamston cost less than $1,000, below HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,012).

With a mortgage

$947 a month

Martin County: $1,273 a month

Without a mortgage

$501 a month

Martin County: $476 a month

Owners with a mortgage

65%

Martin County: 50%

In Williamston, 65% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $947 a month, against $1,273 in Martin County. Without one it drops to $501.

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 Williamston stayed about the same since 2015–2019: the Census sees no clear change.

The typical rent in Williamston stayed about the same over that time: the difference is within the Census margin of error.

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

MeasureWilliamstonMartin 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 estimateUnreliable estimate2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.112.262.442.53
Drive alone 65%76%72%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate14%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate6%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Williamston are smaller: 2.11 people on average; in Martin County, 2.26.

To get to work, 65% of workers in Williamston drive alone; in Martin County, 76%.

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 Williamston?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Williamston, worth $107,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 29% of the typical household income in Williamston, which is $38,738 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $39,637 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Williamston. 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 $3,749 (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

$925

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$105,160
Total interest
$151,300
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $1,809 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $904 a month

  • Tight

    $904 to $1,162 a month

    Your payment · 29%

  • Hard

    more than $1,162 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Williamston ($38,738 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$925
Principal & interest$712
Property tax$121
Home insurance$45
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$47

You need at least $3,749 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

Williamston and Martin County

Williamston is in Martin 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).

Williamston's own numbers

Typical home value
$107,100
Typical monthly rent
$684
Typical yearly household income
$38,738
Households that own their home
51%
Effective property tax rate
1.35%

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

Numbers for all of Martin County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,012
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+42%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.4%

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 Martin County.

Everything about Martin County

Buying

Buying a home in Williamston

A typical home in Williamston is worth $107,100: 2% below the county and 63% below North Carolina. With the typical household income in Williamston ($38,738 a year), a typical home costs 2.8 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.

  • Williamston 2.8 years
  • Martin 2.3 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Martin County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Martin County rose 66% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) −0.8% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +42% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +66% +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

Williamston next to Martin 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
  • Williamston $107,100
  • Martin $109,700
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Williamston $684
  • Martin $758
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Williamston $38,738
  • Martin $48,578
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Williamston next to Martin County and North Carolina
Measure Williamston Martin County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $107,100 $109,700 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $684 $758 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $38,738 $48,578 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 51% 67% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,448 $1,168 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.35% 1.06% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 51% 42% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Martin 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 Williamston

For a typical $107,100 home in Williamston, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Williamston's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $925a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $3,749
    Cash to close
    $6,962
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $47

  • Conventional, 5% down $905a month

    Down payment
    $5,355
    Cash to close
    $8,568
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $51

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $746a month

    Down payment
    $21,420
    Cash to close
    $24,633
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $845a month

    Down payment
    $16,065
    Cash to close
    $19,278
    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 Williamston and for Martin County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Williamston

1.35%of the home’s value each year

$1,448 a year for the typical owner in Williamston.

  • Williamston 1.35%
  • Martin 1.06%
  • 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 Martin County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.4%
399
Of those, with NFIP insurance
11%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.4% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 11% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Williamston

Typical rent in Williamston is $684 a month: 10% below the county. In Williamston, 51% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Martin County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,012 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.46 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Martin 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 $769 $14.79 $30,760
1 bedroom $774 $14.88 $30,960
2 bedrooms $1,012 $19.46 $40,480
3 bedrooms $1,325 $25.48 $53,000
4 bedrooms $1,330 $25.58 $53,200

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 Williamston

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Williamston is in ZIP code 27892.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,020: $8 more than the fair market rent for Martin County ($1,012).

  • 27892 $1,020$1,340

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Williamston 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 Williamston

HUD lists 8 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Williamston. These are the largest.

  • Riverdale/Warren Court 508 E Church St, Williamston 27892 150 low-income homes · Run by Williamston Housing Authority · Average payment: $317 a month · Average wait: 18 months (252) 792-7571
  • Roanoke Apartments 201 Gatling St, Williamston 27892 58 homes, 57 low-income · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 37 · 3 bd: 9 · In service since 2016 · For families
  • Andrews Park 300 Slade St, Williamston 27892 50 low-income homes · 1 bd: 10 · 2 bd: 30 · 3 bd: 10 · In service since 2009 · For families
  • Andrews Park Apartments Slade ST., Williamston 27892 50 low-income homes · For families (252) 792-1595
  • Walnut Terrace 244 W Pine St, Williamston 27892 50 low-income homes · For families (252) 792-7571

See all 12 buildings in Martin County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Williamston

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.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Martin County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A young man and a young woman look something up together on a laptop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Williamston

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Williamston or Martin County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Williamston 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 Williamston

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

  • Choanoke Area Development Association of Nc, Inc.

    120 Sessoms Dr, Rich Square · 33 miles away · Spanish

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

  • Housing Authority of the City of Rocky Mount, NC

    901 Authority Dr, Rocky Mount · 39 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 · 48 miles away

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

All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Williamston

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 Williamston

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

  • Williamston Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (252) 792-7571

One other authority has an office in Martin County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

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

Everything about Martin County Housing in North Carolina

Neighboring counties

If Martin 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 Williamston.

All guides
A smiling girl holds up a small mushroom she found on a forest outing.

Questions

Housing questions about Williamston

Short answers with the numbers for Williamston and all of Martin 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 Williamston?

The typical home value in Williamston is $107,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Martin County it is $109,700.

How much does it cost to rent in Williamston?

Typical rent in Williamston is $684 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Martin County is $1,012.

What is the FHA loan limit in Williamston?

Williamston uses the FHA limit for all of Martin 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 Williamston?

The typical homeowner in Williamston pays $1,448 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.35% of the home’s value; in Martin County, the rate is 1.06%.

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

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Martin County; the nearest ones are on this page. 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).