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COUNTY

Watauga County

North Carolina · 54,786 residents (2025 est.) · 312.44 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#71Youngest by median ageof 3,14431.4#125Most educatedof 3,14448.1%
The short version

Watauga County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,693. Population has grown 29% since 2000. 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $358,900. At a median age of 31.4, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 29% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 31.4
US median: 38.9
More educated
48% 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

Total population
55,123
+29%since 2000
from 42,695 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
176 / sq mi
+23%since 2009
from 143 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
31.4
+5%since 2000
from 29.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:54,786 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
35K41K46K51K57K1990201020202024Watauga County
202455K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 52.9%(1,587)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 93.7%(2,065)
US avg: 6%
10 to 143.2%(1,760)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1914.4%(7,922)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2419.4%(10,680)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.6%(5,305)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449.4%(5,176)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.3%(5,148)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411%(6,045)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.4%(5,739)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.3%(2,929)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.4%(767)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,693
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,611 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,167
+98%since 2000
from $17,258 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.6%
+15.7 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
25.5%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 17.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.539
+5%since 2010
from 0.516 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information15.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade4.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance2.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical2.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$358,900
+54%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $128,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,127
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $548 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
62.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 62.9% in 2000
37.9% rent
Vacancy rate
36.4%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 31.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.3%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 25.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
58.7%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 64.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.9
+18%since 2009
from 5.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
70
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Watauga County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.4%(40,744)
Black1.6%(673)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(622)
Asian0.6%(251)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.5%(48,766)
Black1.6%(873)
Hispanic / Latino6.2%(3,410)
Asian0.9%(487)
Other2.9%(1,587)
Diversity Score
27
+90%since 2009
from 14 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
17
−19%since 2020
from 21 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
Mexican3.2%(1,775)
Puerto Rican0.6%(342)
Cuban0.4%(239)
Venezuelan0.4%(193)
Colombian0.3%(170)
Chilean0.3%(160)
Honduran0.2%(137)
Spaniard0.1%(56)
Bolivian0.1%(42)
Salvadoran0.1%(40)
+ 7 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Chinese0.3%(172)
Korean0.2%(106)
Vietnamese0.1%(78)
Japanese0.1%(33)
Burmese0%(16)
Thai0%(16)
Filipino0%(15)
Hmong0%(7)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English20.2%(11,154)
German15%(8,289)
Irish13.9%(7,642)
American10.1%(5,574)
Scottish4.7%(2,600)
Italian4.4%(2,435)
Scotch-Irish4%(2,183)
Polish2%(1,117)
French2%(1,103)
Swedish1.2%(688)
Ukrainian0.8%(430)
Russian0.8%(427)
+ 34 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.7%(402)
Dutch0.6%(350)
British0.6%(331)
Welsh0.6%(322)
Hungarian0.5%(264)
Canadian0.4%(239)
Czech0.3%(176)
Arab0.3%(170)
Austrian0.3%(151)
Lithuanian0.2%(125)
Swiss0.2%(125)
Greek0.2%(93)
Egyptian0.1%(74)
West Indian0.1%(67)
Brazilian0.1%(62)
Danish0.1%(58)
Croatian0.1%(55)
Bulgarian0.1%(48)
Romanian0.1%(47)
Lebanese0.1%(46)
Macedonian0.1%(46)
Finnish0.1%(42)
Belgian0.1%(40)
Portuguese0.1%(34)
Slovene0.1%(30)
Jamaican0%(18)
Slovak0%(16)
Ethiopian0%(13)
Latvian0%(11)
Turkish0%(10)
Syrian0%(2)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
48.1%
+14.8 ptssince 2000
from 33.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.6%
+11.0 ptssince 2000
from 81.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
21.7%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 14.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.2 min
+57%since 2000
from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.5%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 74.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.9%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.4%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.8%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 8.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.0%
−3.6 ptssince 2011
from 62.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.8%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
40.4%
−21.4 ptssince 2009
from 61.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
3.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.4%
−45.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.2%
+3.0 ptssince 2012
from 9.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.3%
−77.4 ptssince 2013
from 86.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.7%
+12.0 ptssince 2017
from 78.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.1%
−1.5 ptssince 2016
from 95.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married48.8%(12,063)
Married41.4%(10,240)
Widowed1.2%(307)
Divorced8.6%(2,125)
Women 15+
Never married47.5%(11,858)
Married36.9%(9,205)
Widowed6.6%(1,638)
Divorced9.1%(2,275)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Watauga County to nearby counties

WATAUGA COUNTY VS
Avery County
Income$61,428+19%
Home value$265,800−26%
Population18,110−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATAUGA COUNTY VS
Johnson County
Income$53,129+3%
Home value$178,600−50%
Population18,718−66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATAUGA COUNTY VS
Ashe County
Income$56,866+10%
Home value$243,100−32%
Population27,514−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATAUGA COUNTY VS
Caldwell County
Income$56,425+9%
Home value$192,200−46%
Population81,105+48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Watauga County, North Carolina?

Watauga County, North Carolina has about 55,123 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Watauga County, North Carolina?

The typical household in Watauga County, North Carolina earns about $51,693 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Watauga County, North Carolina expensive?

In Watauga County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $358,900, and the typical rent is about $1,127 a month.

How educated are people in Watauga County, North Carolina?

About 48.1% of adults age 25 and over in Watauga County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Watauga County, North Carolina?

About 25.5% of people in Watauga County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Watauga County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Watauga County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 18,171 residents, a change of about 49 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

13 census tracts
Census Tract 9205Census Tract 9204Census Tract 9207.03Census Tract 9206.01Census Tract 9201Census Tract 9209Census Tract 9202Census Tract 9206.02Census Tract 9207.02Census Tract 9208Census Tract 9203Census Tract 9207.01Census Tract 9210
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 28607ZIP 28604ZIP 28692ZIP 28605ZIP 28679ZIP 28698ZIP 28618
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →