Signals
Elizabeth City
Shelbyville
Growth
80 · Top 6%
vs72 · Top 16%
Climate
80 · Top 6%
vs75 · Top 18%
Physical resilience
34 · Bottom 23%
vs36 · Bottom 25%
Housing affordability
87 · Bottom 30%
vs85 · Bottom 26%
Access
62 · Bottom 24%
vs81 · Top 40%
Economic stability
58 · Top 41%
vs74 · Top 20%
Measured values
| Metric | Elizabeth City | Shelbyville | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,834 | 52,237 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $66,589 | $67,225 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,719 | $32,163 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 180/sq mi | 110/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $234,600 | $281,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,170 | $1,051 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.5% | 71.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.6% | 17.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 12.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 237 | 382 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.8 | 7.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 58.0% | -14.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 33°F | 29°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.5" | 59.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 61 mi | 34 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 31.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.6 | 37.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Elizabeth City
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, coastal flooding.
Shelbyville
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Elizabeth City
67
Your Score
—
Area Score
Shelbyville
71
Your Score
—
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Elizabeth City, NC Micro Area · Shelbyville, TN Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology