United States › North Carolina › Wilkesboro CITY
Wilkesboro North Carolina · 3,618 residents (2025 est.) · 6.59 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Wilkesboro is home to 3,646 people in North Carolina. The median age is 47.9, about 9 years above the US median. 48% of homes are owner-occupied. Households here earn about 43% less than in North Carolina as a whole. About 25% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The poverty rate is 22.6%, above the 12.5% national rate.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 3,159 in 2000
3,618 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
553 / sq mi
+16%since 2009
from 476 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 42.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 3K 3K 3K 4K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Wilkesboro Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $40,907
−45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,982 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $24,300 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.577 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 2.3%
Public administration 1.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
Transportation & warehousing 0%
Education & health services 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$223,700
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $106,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$764
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $433 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 57.4% in 2000
52.0% rent
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
1.99 people
−12%since 2009
from 2.25 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 49.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 4.1 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 82.7%(2,612)
Hispanic / Latino 4.1%(130)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 76%(2,771)
Hispanic / Latino 10.3%(374)
from 58 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data from 26.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 81.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 9.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 90.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 12.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 55.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 81.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 42.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 19.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 10.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 66.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 86.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 87.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 10.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 36.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 19.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 26.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 29.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 54.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 51.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 8.9%(28)
Share of the 314 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Wilkesboro Head to head
Compare Wilkesboro to nearby cities WILKESBORO VS
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WILKESBORO VS
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Boone
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WILKESBORO VS
Hickory
Income $64,576 +58%
Home value $278,400 +24%
Population 45,975 +1171%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Wilkesboro, North Carolina? Wilkesboro, North Carolina has about 3,646 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Wilkesboro, North Carolina? The typical household in Wilkesboro, North Carolina earns about $40,907 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Wilkesboro, North Carolina expensive? In Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $223,700, and the typical rent is about $764 a month.
How educated are people in Wilkesboro, North Carolina? About 24.5% of adults age 25 and over in Wilkesboro, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Wilkesboro, North Carolina? About 22.6% of people in Wilkesboro, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Wilkesboro, North Carolina grown since 1990? Yes, Wilkesboro, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,106 residents, a change of about 44 percent over that period.
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