CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Watauga County

North Carolina · 54,086 residents · 312.44 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Boone micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Watauga County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $46,453. Population has grown 27% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $246,000. At a median age of 29.4, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 24.5% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 29.4
US median: 38.8
More educated
43% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 28%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
54,086
+27%since 2000
from 42,695 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
173 / sq mi
+27%since 2000
from 137 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
29.4
−2%since 2000
from 29.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
35K41K46K51K57K1990201020202024Watauga County
202455K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,453
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,611 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,962
+62%since 2000
from $17,258 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
31.9%
+10.9 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
24.5%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 17.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information14.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services6%
US avg: 6.6%
Retail trade4.6%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance2.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 2%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$246,000
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $128,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$925
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $548 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
56.5%
−6.4 ptssince 2000
from 62.9% in 2000
43.5% rent
Afford Score
5.3
+35%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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic83.2%(44,986)
Black3.9%(2,101)
Hispanic / Latino6.5%(3,521)
Asian1.7%(938)
Other1.8%(975)
Diversity Score32.5%(17,551)
Segregation Score20.5%(11,088)
Diversity Score
32
+264%since 2000
from 9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
21
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
42.7%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 33.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
90.6%
+9.0 ptssince 2000
from 81.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
19.4%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 14.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.5 min
+53%since 2000
from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
74.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 74.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.7%
Unchangedsince 2011
from 8.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
59.7%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 62.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
38.4%
−23.5 ptssince 2009
from 61.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
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: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.1%
−76.6 ptssince 2013
from 86.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+32%
Home value$265,800+8%
Population18,110−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATAUGA COUNTY VS
Johnson County
Income$53,129+14%
Home value$178,600−27%
Population18,718−66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATAUGA COUNTY VS
Ashe County
Income$56,866+22%
Home value$243,100−1%
Population27,514−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATAUGA COUNTY VS
Caldwell County
Income$56,425+21%
Home value$192,200−22%
Population81,105+48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Watauga County, North Carolina?

Watauga County, North Carolina has about 54,086 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Watauga County, North Carolina earns about $46,453 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 $246,000, and the typical rent is about $925 a month.

How educated are people in Watauga County, North Carolina?

About 42.7% 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 24.5% 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 17,134 residents, a change of about 46 percent over that period.

Keep going

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
Up the hierarchy
All counties in North Carolina
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →