Johnston County Courthouse · National Register of Historic Places
Smithfield’s story
249 years in pictures
9 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1777Smithfield is settled
SmithfieldNC
A town of 12,116, settled in 1777. Public schools that outperform most of North Carolina.
Population
12,116
+3% since 2010
Typical home
$291K
−0.3% in a year
Household income
$43K
median
Median age
44.9
years
Jobs based here
13,696
A job hub
What makes Smithfield stand out
The 3 things Smithfield does most differently from other towns.
B−School Grade
Schools
Better than 53%
of NC districts
School Grade B−.
100 U.S. towns● Smithfield
Health
84% of U.S. towns are healthier
on CDC estimates
Better than NC on 2 measures, worse on 17.
Johnston County CourthouseHistory
Settled in 1777
9 places on the National Register
Archive photos and papers going back 249 years.
College town
Johnston Community College calls Smithfield home
College Scorecard · IPEDS
Smithfield’s report card
SchoolsB−Beats 53% of NC districtsHealthC−Healthier than 16% of U.S. townsCommute26 miHalf of commuters travel lessOutdoors3 miof trails · 5.8% conservedSafetyDLess crime than 9% of U.S. townsHousing$291K13% below the NC typical homeClimate91°/32°Summer high · winter low · 1″ snowHazards37/100Low risk of storm & flood damage
Now in Smithfield
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Smithfield is #9 of 284 in NC for “Cheapest rent”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Smithfield’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →79°
Mostly Cloudy
H 82° · L 59°
Local news
All →- S'field- Selma vs Fuquay-Varina - Girls Varsity Basketball 01/08/2027 | Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 27
- S'field- Selma vs Overhills - Girls Varsity Flag Football 09/28/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 26
- Wilson's Mill vs South Johnston - Boys Varsity Basketball 01/06/2027 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 26
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Smithfield. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Smithfield’s public schools outperform 53% of North Carolina districts
The public schools Smithfield’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 53% of North Carolina’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
B−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Smithfield Elementary | PK–5 | 450 | C− |
| Smithfield Middle | 6–8 | 573 | C− |
| The Innovation Academy at South Campus | 6–8 | 263 | B+ |
| Smithfield-Selma High | 9–12 | 1,548 | C |
| Johnston Co Early College Academy | 9–13 | 251 | A+ |
| Johnston County Schools Career Technical | 9–13 | 241 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduationAll 9 schools →
Health
Healthier than 16% of U.S. towns
Smithfield beats the North Carolina average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 17.
C−Health Grade
32 measures vs. North Carolina
2 better13 too close to call17 worse
| What stands out | Smithfield | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 11.8% | 14.7% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.3% | 76.7% |
| More uninsured adults | 16.9% | 10.4% |
Johnston Health
2.6 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
19th
percentile among NC towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Work & commute
About one in six working residents works right in Smithfield
Most working residents leave Smithfield for work: only 17% work in town. The top destinations are Raleigh (16%), Durham (4%) and Garner (3%). Half commute less than 26 miles.
17%work in town
Where working residents work
In Smithfield17%
Raleigh16%
Durham4%
Garner3%
Clayton3%
26 mi
median commute distance
13,696
jobs based in Smithfield
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Outdoors
5.8% of Smithfield is conserved land
3.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves.
5.8%conserved
5.8%
conserved · 474 of 8,125 acres
3.2 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
#89
most conserved land in NC
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Smithfield Recreation Area | 2.4 mi | 43 |
| 2. Town Commons Park | — | 19 |
| 3. Talton Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 9% of U.S. towns
Smithfield reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 91% report less.
DSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Smithfield2.9
North Carolina3.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Smithfield38.7
North Carolina18.1
U.S.15.5
9th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
28th
percentile among NC towns
38
violent crimes reported in 2025
511
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Housing
A typical Smithfield home is worth about $291K
The typical Smithfield home is worth about $291,000, about the same as a year ago, 13% below the North Carolina typical home.
$291KZillow home value
Typical home value
Smithfield$291K
North Carolina$335K
Market temperature
60
days on market
97.6%
sale-to-list price
−0.3%
value change, 1 year
22
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Climate
Mild winters, hot summers
Smithfield has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 91°, a January night drops to 32°, and snow is almost unheard of.
91°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter33–55°
Spring48–73°
Summer68–89°
Fall50–73°
Nov 5
typical first frost
Mar 29
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
91°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 37% of U.S. communities.
37risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHurricanes
135
paid flood claims since 1980
8
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
A job hub
Every workday, about 12,904 people come to Smithfield for work
Where Smithfield’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
13,696jobs based in Smithfield
17%of working residents work in town
26 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
9 places in Smithfield on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Smithfield
Town in and county seat of Johnston County, North Carolina
Smithfield is a town in and the county seat of Johnston County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 11,292. The town is located near North Carolina's Research Triangle and is about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of downtown Raleigh. The Raleigh-Durham-Cary combined statistical area has a population over 2 million residents. Smithfield is home to the Ava Gardner Museum, Wild Bill's Western Town named Shadowhawk, and is situated along the Neuse River, where visitors enjoy the annual Ham & Yam Festival, walks along the Buffalo Creek Greenway, and the historic downtown district.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1777
- Population
- 11,292
- Area
- 12 sq mi
- Elevation
- 148 ft
- ZIP code
- 27577
- Area code
- 919
Smithfield’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Smithfield.
SelmaSmithfield