Elm City, NC · standard
ZIP Code 27822
Wilson County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 8,143
- 34/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $63,703
- Median income Near-median income area
- $165,600
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 19.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Elm City pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 36th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 32nd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 34
- people per sq mi
- 84%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 27822 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 27822 (Elm City, NC) fell -1.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 212.1 in 2023 to 209.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 27822 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Elm City, Wilson County, North Carolina, home to 8,143 residents across 236.7 square miles, a density of 34 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 27822 reports a modest median household income of $63,703 (8% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $31,979. The poverty rate is 17.0%, with unemployment at 4.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $165,600 (36% below the average North Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $862; owner occupancy is 83.6%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 19.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.2, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 5 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Wilson County, so 27822 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 27822
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Elm City, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 27822.
- Construction
Construction
22 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
18 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
12 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
11 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
11 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 27822, Elm City, NC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
8,143
Population
236.7
Area (sq mi)
34
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 27822?
44.2
Median Age
45.9%
Male
54.1%
Female
1.3%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$63,703
Median Household Income
-8% vs state ZIP avg
$31,979
Per Capita Income
17.0%
Poverty Rate
4.5%
Unemployment Rate
20.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 27822 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Elm City, NC household income vs. every North Carolina ZIP code
Median household income among 749 reporting North Carolina ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$63,703 48th percentile higher than 48% of 749 North Carolina ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more North Carolina ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
3,347housing units
3,347
Total Housing Units
3,093
Occupied Units
254
Vacant Units
2.53
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$165,600
Median Home Value
-36% vs state ZIP avg
$862
Median Rent
1987
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
-1.4%
YoY Change (2024)
209
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+109%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 27822 have decreased 1.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +109% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.5% | 133 |
| 2021 | +13.4% | 151 |
| 2022 | +13.4% | 171 |
| 2023 | +24.2% | 212 |
| 2024 | -1.4% | 209 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 107 business establishments in ZIP 27822, employing approximately 742 people with a combined annual payroll of $34,834,000.
107
Businesses
742
Employees
$34.8M
Annual Payroll
12
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 22 | 20.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 18 | 16.8% |
| Retail trade | 12 | 11.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 11 | 10.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 11 | 10.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 7 | 6.5% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 4.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 5 | 4.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 4 | 3.7% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 3 | 2.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 3 | 2.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 3 | 2.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 27822 vs 27878 →
ZIP 27822 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27893
Wilson (27893)
39,723 residents
- 27801
Rocky Mount (27801)
21,740 residents
- 27803
Rocky Mount (27803)
21,227 residents
- 27896
Wilson (27896)
20,130 residents
- 27822 8,143
Elm City (27822)
8,143 residents
- 27878 1,931
Sharpsburg (27878)
1,931 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 27822 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 27822 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27896
Wilson (27896)
$75,696 median income
- 27822
Elm City (27822)
$63,703 median income
- 27803
Rocky Mount (27803)
$60,124 median income
- 27878
Sharpsburg (27878)
$53,382 median income
- 27801
Rocky Mount (27801)
$44,884 median income
- 27893
Wilson (27893)
$42,810 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 27822 ranks #2 of 6 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 27822, both outside NC so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (8,143 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Wilson County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 27822 in?
ZIP code 27822 (Elm City) is located in Wilson County, North Carolina. Wilson County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/wilson-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 27822?
ZIP code 27822 in Elm City, NC has a population of 8,143 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 27822?
The median household income in ZIP 27822 is $63,703, which is 16% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 27822?
The median home value in ZIP 27822 is $165,600, which is 40% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 27822?
The largest racial group in ZIP 27822 is White at 61.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 27822?
ZIP code 27822 has 107 business establishments employing approximately 742 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 27822?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 27822 are: Construction (22), Other services (except public administration) (18), Retail trade (12). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 27822?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 27822 decreased by 1.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 109%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 27822?
In ZIP code 27822, 58.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 19.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 27822?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 27822 is 20.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 27822?
In ZIP code 27822, approximately 83.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 16.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 27822?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 27822 is 17.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 27822's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 27822 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Elm City, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.