Oak City, NC
4 miles northwest
Power from its own town system (Hassell: Edgecombe-Martin County EMC); 266 people, about 6 times Hassell's population
Attic insulation in Oak CityAttic Insulation in Hassell, NC
Blown-in attic insulation for Hassell, NC, 4 miles from Oak City, plus removal and air sealing.
About Hassell and Its Homes
Hassell, in western Martin County, got a depot when the Atlantic Coast Line's Kinston branch came through in 1890, and was incorporated in 1903. It takes its name from Sylvester Hassell, a Primitive Baptist elder, and little has been written about the houses inside its limits.
Hassell, in Martin County, fell from 48 people in 2020 to 47 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimates), on 0.27 square miles.
Hassell at a Glance
- County: Martin County
- Population: 47 (2025), 48 (2020), down 2.1%
- Land area: 0.27 square miles (174 people each)
- Housing units: about 25 (±27)
- Climate zone: 3 on both maps
- ENERGY STAR target for Hassell attics: R-49 from bare, R-38 over 3 to 4 inches (R-value guide)
Census Bureau estimates for Hassell, 2020 to 2024 (± margin of error).
Attic Insulation in Hassell
If the joists show above the insulation in a Hassell attic, ENERGY STAR says to add more insulation.
The Local Climate
Hassell's center sits about 80 feet above sea level, 14 miles from NOAA's Williamston 1 E station, the best match for Hassell. The station's 1991 to 2020 normals average about 3,030 heating and 1,770 cooling degree days a year, so at Hassell's station, heating needs outweigh cooling. Readings change over short distances around Hassell: NOAA's Tarboro 1 S station, 15 miles away, averages about 3,320 heating degree days.
Homes by Age: What It Means for the Attic
At about 25 housing units, give or take 27, Hassell is too small for the survey to date its houses. For Hassell, the nearest town with solid figures is Bethel, 9 miles off: median year built 1964 and about 60 percent of homes built before 1970.
Air Sealing and Duct Sealing in Hassell
In Bethel, the nearest town to Hassell with solid figures, about 75 percent of homes heat with electricity.
Air sealing in a Hassell attic covers wire and pipe holes, wall tops, the attic stair and bath fans.
Power, Gas and Rebates
Edgecombe-Martin County EMC, a member-owned cooperative, supplies Hassell's electricity. For gas, Hassell is in the Martin County franchise of Piedmont Natural Gas, whose mains may not reach every street in Hassell.
Program to ask about in Hassell: Free energy audit (Edgecombe-Martin County EMC), a free home energy audit for members. Before a job in Hassell, check its current terms; the Martin County page lists every program.
Attic Insulation Removal in Hassell
In a Hassell attic, only wet, moldy or animal-soiled insulation is vacuumed out (ENERGY STAR's test), once the cause is fixed, and after mice that Hassell attic is sanitized and deodorized; dry, clean insulation stays.
Also Serving Near Hassell
Nearest to Hassell first.
Hamilton, NC
5 miles northeast
297 people, about 6 times Hassell's population
Attic insulation in HamiltonRobersonville, NC
6 miles south
1,237 people, about 26 times Hassell's population
Attic insulation in RobersonvilleParmele, NC
7 miles south
Power from Dominion Energy North Carolina (Hassell: Edgecombe-Martin County EMC); 246 people, about 5 times Hassell's population
Attic insulation in ParmeleEveretts, NC
8 miles southeast
144 people, about 3 times Hassell's population
Attic insulation in Everetts
Hassell Insulation FAQs
Is my house in Hassell part of the Conoho Creek Historic District?
Not if it stands in town. The Conoho Creek district, listed in 1998, is a stretch of farm country next to the town. Its nomination explains that the town was left out because it lacks that rural character. Nothing inside the limits is on the National Register. Martin County also has no board on the roster of local commissions that the state kept in 2023. Either way, a listing would not restrict an owner insulating with private money.
How near can attic insulation come to an old brick chimney here?
Never right against it. The 1998 nomination for the surrounding countryside describes frame farmhouses with brick chimneys, so an older home in this area may have one rising through the ceiling. Following ENERGY STAR, the opening around the brick is capped with light aluminum and sealed with high-temperature caulk, then a sheet-metal dam goes up around it. The dam keeps loose insulation about 2 inches back from masonry.
Does attic insulation in Hassell need a permit?
Hassell Town Hall can say whether Martin County Building Inspections, the town itself or another office handles permits in Hassell; ask before work starts.
Helpful Guides
- An energy audit program from Edgecombe-Martin County EMC: home energy audits
Sources
Census Bureau figures for Hassell, NOAA normals for the Williamston 1 E station, Edgecombe-Martin County EMC (October 2026). Compiled by Insulation Pros. How the town pages are made.
Sources for the Hassell introduction and questions (read October 20, 2026):
- Hassell, in The North Carolina Gazetteer (William S. Powell, 2nd ed., UNC Press 2010), NCpedia
- Conoho Creek Historic District, National Register nomination (NC HPO)
- NC Listings in the National Register of Historic Places, NC State Historic Preservation Office
- Historic Preservation Commission Staff in North Carolina, listed by county, as of 2/20/2023 (NC HPO)
- What Is the National Register of Historic Places?, NC State Historic Preservation Office
- Furnace Flues Require Special Sealing Techniques, ENERGY STAR do-it-yourself guide
Hassell, NC
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Serving Hassell, NC
Insulation Pros is an insulation contractor serving North Carolina, Hassell and the rest of Martin County included.
Reach us
Send the square footage of your Hassell attic, or call (336) 870-3893.