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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Watauga County

North Carolina · 51,079 residents · 312.44 sq mi
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The short version

Watauga County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $31,967. Population has grown 20% since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $215,800. At a median age of 28.4, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 24.8% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 30% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 28.4
US median: 37.2
More educated
37% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 33%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
51,079
+20%since 2000
from 42,695 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
163 / sq mi
+20%since 2000
from 137 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
28.4
−5%since 2000
from 29.9 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
35K41K46K51K57K1990201020202024Watauga County
202455K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$31,967
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,611 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,961
+21%since 2000
from $17,258 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
19.2%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
24.8%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 17.9% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.516
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information14.9%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade8.1%
US avg: 7.2%
Other services6.6%
US avg: 7%
Public administration3.4%
US avg: 4.9%
Retail trade2.9%
US avg: 10.9%
Finance & insurance2.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical1.9%
US avg: 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 3.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$215,800
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $128,200 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$740
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $548 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
33.8%
−29.2 ptssince 2000
from 62.9% in 2000
43.2% rent
Vacancy rate
31.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 31.6% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
27.9%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.4% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
66.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 64.1% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
6.8
+72%since 2000
from 3.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score8.9%(3,804)
2010
White, non-Hispanic92.5%(47,268)
Black1.7%(855)
Hispanic / Latino3.4%(1,713)
Asian0.9%(467)
Other1.9%(984)
Diversity Score18.6%(9,498)
Diversity Score
19
+109%since 2000
from 9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
37.1%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 33.2% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
86.9%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 81.6% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
16.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 14.5% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.6 min
+38%since 2000
from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
74.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 74.7% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
12.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
4.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
6.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
4.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
18.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
33.4%
−28.4 ptssince 2009
from 61.8% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
50.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
7.1%
−42.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Watauga County

Jackson County
Pop 54,281
Russell County
Pop 58,898
Jackson County
Pop 52,501
Jefferson County
Pop 62,987
Places similar to Watauga County
Head to head

Compare Watauga County to nearby counties

WATAUGA COUNTY VS
Avery County
Income$61,428+92%
Home value$265,800+23%
Population18,110−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATAUGA COUNTY VS
Johnson County
Income$53,129+66%
Home value$178,600−17%
Population18,718−66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATAUGA COUNTY VS
Ashe County
Income$56,866+78%
Home value$243,100+13%
Population27,514−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATAUGA COUNTY VS
Caldwell County
Income$56,425+77%
Home value$192,200−11%
Population81,105+48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Watauga County, North Carolina?

Watauga County, North Carolina has about 51,079 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Watauga County, North Carolina earns about $31,967 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 $215,800, and the typical rent is about $740 a month.

How educated are people in Watauga County, North Carolina?

About 37.1% 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 24.8% 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 14,127 residents, a change of about 38 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

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