The Town FilesBalfour, North Carolina
Community in Henderson County · population 1,335 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $292,600
- Household income
- $70,116
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 46.1
Balfour is a community of 1,335 people in Henderson County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $292,600, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 99% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 99% of North Carolina towns.
How Balfour 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 Balfour is worth $292,600, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $70,116, which is more affordable than 36% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $591 a month. 78.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Balfour | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $292,600 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $591 | $969 |
| Median household income | $70,116 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 78.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.8% | — |
Who lives in Balfour
| People | Balfour | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 10.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Balfour
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 26.5°F. About 59.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 88 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Balfour since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an F1, struck on August 17, 1977 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 7, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 1, 2012.
Severe weather in Henderson County since 1996
Henderson County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Henderson County
Henderson County had 44,207 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,106 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Balfour itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Balfour
- Mountain Home, NC1.4 mi · 3,490 people · home $400,000
- Hendersonville, NC2.7 mi · 15,137 people · home $317,000
- Laurel Park, NC3.0 mi · 2,250 people · home $433,100
- Barker Heights, NC4.1 mi · 1,249 people · home $190,300
- Valley Hill, NC4.1 mi · 2,207 people · home $353,100
- Horse Shoe, NC4.4 mi · 2,430 people · home $407,500
- Fruitland, NC4.9 mi · 2,257 people · home $133,100
- Fletcher, NC5.6 mi · 7,987 people · home $331,100
Balfour questions
Is Balfour, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Balfour scores better for retirees than 87% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 78%. 26.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.1).
How much does a house cost in Balfour?
The median owner-occupied home in Balfour is valued at $292,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,116, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $591 a month.
What is the weather like in Balfour?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 26.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.0 inches of precipitation a year and 6.7 inches of snow.
Does Balfour get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Balfour since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on August 17, 1977. 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)