COUNTY
Ashe County
North Carolina · 27,514 residents (2025 est.) · 426.264 sq mi
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The short version
Ashe County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $56,866. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $243,100. With a median age of 49.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 49.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 54%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth
PEP 2025 EST:27,514 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)
Population, 1990 – 2024
202427K
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54%(1,074)
5 to 94.2%(1,133)
10 to 144.9%(1,327)
15 to 195.6%(1,504)
20 to 244.6%(1,236)
25 to 3410.2%(2,746)
35 to 4410.9%(2,948)
45 to 5412.3%(3,316)
55 to 6416%(4,323)
65 to 7415.9%(4,283)
75 to 848.4%(2,271)
85 and over2.9%(789)
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy
$56,866
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,824 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Households earning $100K+
36.8%
+19.7 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15%
Information13.9%
Wholesale trade10%
Other services6%
Finance & insurance4.4%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
Public administration3.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.3%
Construction2.3%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
Education & health services0.8%
Manufacturing0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03
Housing
$243,100
+54%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
4.3
+9%since 2009
from 3.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
69
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ashe County on RentDataNow
Section 04
Race & ethnicity
2000
White, non-Hispanic96.1%(23,440)
Black0.6%(155)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(590)
Asian0.2%(57)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic90.8%(24,475)
Black0.9%(239)
Hispanic / Latino6%(1,630)
Asian0.4%(119)
Other1.8%(487)
21
+67%since 2009
from 13 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
15
−22%since 2020
from 19 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry
Hispanic origin
Mexican4.5%(1,212)
Puerto Rican0.5%(127)
Cuban0.4%(121)
South American0.3%(74)
Central American0.2%(60)
Honduran0.1%(36)
Dominican0.1%(33)
Chilean0.1%(31)
Colombian0.1%(25)
Guatemalan0.1%(22)
Ecuadorian0.1%(18)
Salvadoran0%(2)
Ancestry
American31.3%(8,423)
English15.3%(4,133)
Irish9.2%(2,480)
German9%(2,416)
Scottish3.5%(945)
Scotch-Irish3.3%(894)
Italian2.6%(690)
French1%(258)
Polish0.9%(251)
Welsh0.7%(190)
Norwegian0.7%(184)
Dutch0.7%(179)
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.6%(167)
Subsaharan African0.5%(129)
British0.3%(90)
Danish0.2%(61)
Russian0.2%(50)
Swiss0.1%(40)
Austrian0.1%(34)
Romanian0.1%(32)
French Canadian0.1%(27)
Lithuanian0.1%(26)
Hungarian0.1%(22)
Czech0.1%(20)
Greek0.1%(16)
Turkish0.1%(16)
West Indian0%(12)
Ukrainian0%(11)
Jamaican0%(1)
Section 05
Education
High school or higher
88.7%
+20.1 ptssince 2000
from 68.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Section 06
Commute & transportation
Section 07
Work & employment
Section 08
People & community
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.8%(2,837)
Married63.7%(7,297)
Widowed3.6%(409)
Divorced8%(918)
Women 15+
Never married17.6%(2,099)
Married56.5%(6,754)
Widowed12%(1,430)
Divorced14%(1,672)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper
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Compare Ashe County to nearby counties
ASHE COUNTY VS
Watauga County
Income$51,693−9%
Home value$358,900+48%
Population54,786+99%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ASHE COUNTY VS
Johnson County
Income$53,129−7%
Home value$178,600−27%
Population18,718−32%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ASHE COUNTY VS
Alleghany County
Income$47,172−17%
Home value$214,800−12%
Population11,479−58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ASHE COUNTY VS
Grayson County
Income$47,730−16%
Home value$150,100−38%
Population15,230−45%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Ashe County, North Carolina?
Ashe County, North Carolina has about 26,950 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Ashe County, North Carolina?
The typical household in Ashe County, North Carolina earns about $56,866 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Ashe County, North Carolina expensive?
In Ashe County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $243,100, and the typical rent is about $859 a month.
How educated are people in Ashe County, North Carolina?
About 25.9% of adults age 25 and over in Ashe County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Ashe County, North Carolina?
About 13.5% of people in Ashe County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Ashe County, North Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Ashe County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,741 residents, a change of about 21 percent over that period.
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9 census tracts
Census Tract 9704Census Tract 9707.01Census Tract 9705.01Census Tract 9705.02Census Tract 9702Census Tract 9703Census Tract 9707.02Census Tract 9708.02Census Tract 9708.0111 ZIP codes
ZIP 28694ZIP 28640ZIP 28643ZIP 28626ZIP 28684ZIP 28615ZIP 28617ZIP 28693ZIP 28631ZIP 28672ZIP 28629Up the hierarchy
All counties in North CarolinaDATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024