Elm City: Demographics & People
Elm City is home to 1,292 people, in 537 households. Population grew 10.1% from 1,173 (2022) to 1,292 (2024). Median age 43.1 years. (2.5y older than Wilson County; 6.9y older than North Carolina). Children under 18 are 25% of the population. Population is 73% Black and 25% White (non-Hispanic). The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.49). 64% of households are family-led. County is gaining 1,264 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs North Carolina avg 2.5).
- 36% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs North Carolina 42%).
- 107 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs North Carolina 64).
Population & Trend
Population grew 10.1% from 1,173 (2022) to 1,292 (2024) — about 16.9× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~1,426 (extrapolated at 5.1%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,618.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 94,970 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 10.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,173 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,292 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 1,292 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
| Population Estimate | 1,618 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 43.1y is 4.2 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 25% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 43.1 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 25.1% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,292 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 324 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 257.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 366.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 345 |
| Population under 18 | 324 |
| Median age | 43.1 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 1,292 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.49 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 348 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 767 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 73 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 49.4% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 64.6% |
| Black population | 73.3% (vs North Carolina 26.0%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 1.0% (vs North Carolina 12.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 25.2% (vs North Carolina 51.1%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 1,056 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 232 |
| Share born in this state | 81.7% |
| Share born in another state | 18.3% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 18.0% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.3% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 63 |
| From Europe | 3 |
| From Africa | 15 |
Households & Family Composition
537 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 64% are family households — near the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 361 families, 21% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 183 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 361 |
| Married couples with children | 77 |
| Average household size | 2.24 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 13.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 24 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 17 |
| Family households | 342 households (vs North Carolina 17,226) |
| Households that are families | 63.7% (vs North Carolina 58.5%) |
| Total households | 537 households (vs North Carolina 25,235) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 10.8% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 1,264 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 10.8% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 87,478 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 86,214 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 1,264 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 106 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 9.2% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 2 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 37127 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 37 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 127 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Nash |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 22.9% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 20.30 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 25.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 37127 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Nash County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 4,011 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 37127 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Nash County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 79.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 62.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 35.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 94,298 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.30 |
| Family Score · Schools | 4 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 25.1% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,292, booming, established, working-class, blue collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,292 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
| Town Summary · County | Nash County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade