Town · North Carolina
Williamston, North Carolina
Williamston, town, in Martin County, North Carolina. Williamston had 5,086 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,248 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,112 (±28). GEOID 3774220.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,086
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,248 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,112 ±28
Median household income
$38,738
±$9,382 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$107,100
±$21,710 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$684
±$47 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is Williamston and what county is it in?
Williamston is a town in Martin County, North Carolina. It covers 4.5 square miles of land, 1,163 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Williamston, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,086 people lived in Williamston on July 1, 2025, down 3.0% since 2020, while North Carolina grew 7.2%. The 2020 Census counted 5,248 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,112 (±28).
| Measure | Williamston | Martin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,112 ±28 | 21,644 | −200 |
| Households | 2,364 ±225 | 9,502 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.11 ±0.19 | 2.26 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,809 ±236 | 11,058 | no clear change |
Williamston's population since 2000
From 5,843 in 2000 to 5,086 in 2025: down 13.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Williamston as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Williamston?
The median resident of Williamston is 45.4 years old; 20.1% are under 18 and 22.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 50.2%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 35.9%. 2.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Williamston | Martin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.4 ±6.7 | 46.8 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.1% ±4.9 pts | 20.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 22.0% ±5.5 pts | 25.6% | – |
| Male | 42.9% ±3.6 pts | 46.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.8% ±4.0 pts | 4.4% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 35.9% ±6.7 pts | 51.2% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 50.2% ±7.9 pts | 40.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±1.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±1.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.8% ±3.2 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.7% ±1.5 pts | 1.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.6% ±4.7 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 11.8% ±5.1 pts | 5.9% | – |
| With a disability | 17.8% ±4.6 pts | 19.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.8% ±3.6 pts | 7.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 78.2% ±5.6 pts | 84.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 14.3% ±4.6 pts | 16.7% | −7.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.6% ±2.6 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.3% ±6.6 pts | 91.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.0% ±1.2 pts | 1.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Williamston earn?
Half of Williamston's 2,364 households earn less than $38,738 a year (±$9,382), against $48,578 in Martin County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $45,175 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 36.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Williamston | Martin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $38,738 ±$9,382 | $48,578 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $51,118 ±$7,065 | $65,879 | – |
| Per capita income | $24,376 ±$3,646 | $29,355 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 36.3% ±9.5 pts | 20.4% | +14.8 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 67.7% ±17.0 pts | 29.2% | +38.7 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 34.8% ±8.4 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.0% ±4.6 pts | 91.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.3% ±5.8 pts | 83.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Williamston?
Owners occupy 50.5% of Williamston's occupied homes and renters 49.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $107,100 by its owner (±$21,710). The median renter pays $684 a month including utilities, and 49.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Williamston | Martin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $107,100 ±$21,710 | $109,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $684 ±$47 | $758 | −$120 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 49.1% ±15.3 pts | 36.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $947 ±$247 | $1,273 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 50.5% ±7.5 pts | 66.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 49.5% ±7.5 pts | 33.2% | – |
| Housing units | 2,809 ±236 | 11,058 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 5.0% ±5.8 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.5% ±4.5 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.7% ±6.7 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 22.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.6% ±1.3 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 11.6% ±7.1 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 17.2% ±6.8 pts | 8.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Williamston work and get to work?
65.4% of Williamston's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 20.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 9.8%.
| Measure | Williamston | Martin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.4% ±5.8 pts | 56.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 9.8% ±5.4 pts | 6.1% | −8.8 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 65.4% ±9.0 pts | 75.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 15.3% ±9.3 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 9.1% ±6.3 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.7% ±4.8 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.1 min ±4.3 | 26.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Williamston?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Williamston (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $38,655 (Tract 9703) to $49,762 (Tract 9702).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9703Martin County | 3,710 | $38,655 |
| Tract 9702Martin County | 4,038 | $49,762 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Williamston) · Census block assignment files
How does Williamston compare with other places in North Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Williamston is the 4,843rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 147th-most populous of 549 in North Carolina.
Williamston ranks 393rd of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 147th | 549 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 313th | 331 |
| Residents per square mile | 138th | 443 |
| Median household income | 393rd | 434 |
| Per capita income | 384th | 443 |
| Median home value | 416th | 438 |
| Median gross rent | 361st | 395 |
| Poverty rate | 18th | 341 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 369th | 421 |
| Median age | 125th | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 376th | 443 |
| Travel time to work | 357th | 439 |
Williamston's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare Williamston with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Williamston?
14 of the 57 figures for Williamston on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Williamston are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Williamston.