The Town FilesBoone, North Carolina
Town in Watauga County · population 19,092 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $411,100
- Household income
- $30,065
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 21.3
Boone is a town of 19,092 people in Watauga County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $411,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 100% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 99% of North Carolina towns.
How Boone 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 Boone is worth $411,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 13.7 times the median household income of $30,065, which is more affordable than 0% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,111 a month. 26.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Boone | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $411,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,111 | $969 |
| Median household income | $30,065 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 13.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 26.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Boone
| People | Boone | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 5.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 51.2% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 1.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 15.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Boone
July highs average 79.0°F and January lows 21.6°F. About 59.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.6 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Boone since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on September 25, 2024 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 25, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 2, 1998.
Severe weather in Watauga County since 1996
Watauga County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| September 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4617: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
Jobs and pay in Watauga County
Watauga County had 25,106 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,024 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Boone itself the ACS puts it at 12%.
Public schools in Boone
6 public schools with 3,525 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watauga High | 9-12 | 1,279 | 12.3 |
| Hardin Park Elementary | PK-8 | 859 | 11.2 |
| Parkway Elementary | PK-8 | 649 | 14.1 |
| Watauga Innovation Academy | 9-12 | 305 | — |
| Green Valley Elementary | PK-8 | 268 | 8.4 |
| Two Rivers Community School (charter) | K-8 | 165 | 12.7 |
Towns near Boone
- Lenoir, NC22.6 mi · 18,352 people · home $179,400
- Gamewell, NC24.5 mi · 3,702 people · home $170,100
- Cajah's Mountain, NC26.1 mi · 2,722 people · home $201,800
- Hudson, NC27.2 mi · 3,780 people · home $223,000
- Wilkesboro, NC27.7 mi · 3,687 people · home $223,700
- Sawmills, NC29.3 mi · 5,020 people · home $219,600
- North Wilkesboro, NC29.5 mi · 4,382 people · home $212,700
Boone questions
Is Boone, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Boone scores better for retirees than 10% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 1%. 7.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 21.3).
How much does a house cost in Boone?
The median owner-occupied home in Boone is valued at $411,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $30,065, so homes cost about 13.7 times income. Median rent is $1,111 a month.
What is the weather like in Boone?
July highs average 79.0°F and January lows 21.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.1 inches of precipitation a year and 25.6 inches of snow.
Does Boone get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Boone since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on September 25, 2024. 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)