The Town FilesAdvance, North Carolina
Community in Davie County · population 1,499 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $434,400
- Household income
- $115,391
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 41.1
Advance is a community of 1,499 people in Davie County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $434,400, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more of a college town than 91% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 86% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 77% of North Carolina towns.
How Advance ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Advance is worth $434,400, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $115,391, which is more affordable than 49% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $819 a month. 80.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Advance | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $434,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $819 | $969 |
| Median household income | $115,391 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 80.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.4% | — |
Who lives in Advance
| People | Advance | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 31.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Advance
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 24.8°F. About 46.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 116 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Advance since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 8, 2008 about 2.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 8, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 17, 2014.
Severe weather in Davie County since 1996
Davie County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| March 3, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta |
Jobs and pay in Davie County
Davie County had 13,854 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,139 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Advance itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Advance
2 public schools with 969 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shady Grove Elementary | PK-5 | 500 | 15.2 |
| William Ellis Middle | 6-8 | 469 | 14.7 |
Towns near Advance
- Bermuda Run, NC4.5 mi · 3,120 people · home $347,600
- Clemmons, NC6.0 mi · 21,163 people · home $335,800
- Welcome, NC8.2 mi · 4,131 people · home $200,800
- Midway, NC9.8 mi · 4,742 people · home $274,100
- Mocksville, NC10.0 mi · 5,900 people · home $240,700
- Tyro, NC10.1 mi · 3,753 people · home $191,800
- Lewisville, NC11.2 mi · 13,381 people · home $325,400
- Lexington, NC12.2 mi · 19,632 people · home $179,900
Advance questions
Is Advance, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Advance scores better for retirees than 49% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 63%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Advance?
The median owner-occupied home in Advance is valued at $434,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $115,391, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $819 a month.
What is the weather like in Advance?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 24.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.9 inches of precipitation a year and 4.5 inches of snow.
Does Advance get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Advance since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 8, 2008. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)