The point maintains Exeter's unbeaten home record this season, but they will look back on two points lost after never really getting into top gear.
Northwich battled well and could easily have grabbed all three points themselves with better finishing.
They took a first-half lead through Paul Brayson, but City striker Lee Phillips levelled just after the break.
Both sides had chances after the break but were unable to break the stalemate.
Stuart Elliot had the first shot of the game in the first minute when he thumped the ball wide from 35 yards. But Exeter were soon of top. Phillips headed wide and Andy Taylor scuffed a shot past the post as Exeter pushed forward.
Adam Stansfield then scampered down the right and forced Phil Senior to punch awkwardly with a fierce strike.
Northwich should have taken the lead against the run of play midway through the half. Tony Gallimore set up Jonny Allan inside the box and he thumped the ball against the top of the crossbar from eight yards.
City looked increasingly dangerous from set-pieces and Taylor's corners in particular caused problems for a shaky looking Norwich defence.
Exeter created more than enough chances to open the scoring in the first half. Jon Challinor's fine ball put Stansfield clean through and the striker lashed a shot just past the post from 15 yards.
Rob Edwards glanced the post after connecting with another Taylor corner and Challinor couldn't find the target with the rebound.
At the other end Exeter survived a scare when Richard Battersby's cross found Allan and he headed the ball he post from six yards out.
Frustration began to creep around St James' Park as Exeter failed to turn possession into goals. Challinor tried his luck with a volley from 35 yards but the effort was comfortably saved by Senior.
Northwich rocked the Grecians with a goal three minutes before half-time. Louis Dodds drifted a long ball into the path of Brayson and he made no mistake with a low shot past Martin Rice.
The goal stunned the crowd and Exeter attempted to reply instantly. Taylor drilled a free-kick into the box and Edwards rose well but saw his glancing header well saved on the line by Senior.
Exeter looked shocked to be a goal down at the break, but could have complaints after failing to convert a string a chances.
Northwich started brightly after the break and Allan forced Rice into action with a low shot from the edge of the box.
But it took Exeter just three minutes to pull level after the restart. Rice's long kick deceived the Northwich defence who allowed it to bounce all the way through to Phillips and the striker calmly lobbed it over the advancing goalkeeper.
The goal strangely failed to lift Exeter and Northwich continued to pose a threat.
But Exeter eventually began to take control and Challinor twice went close midway through the half. First he headed just over the bar from a Billy Jones cross, then he struck a low shot inches past the post after twisting and turning inside the box.
Danny Woodards cut in from the right and struck a fine shot past the post as Exeter continued to probe.
Stansfield then forced Senior to tip the ball over the bar with a shot from 12 yards.
In the dying minutes Elliott could have grabbed a winner when he ran on to a loose ball and his low shot was saved by the feet of Rice.
Exeter forced a string of late corners but in the end both sides had to be content with a point.