The Town FilesBurnsville, North Carolina
Town in Yancey County · population 1,614 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $243,500
- Household income
- $50,997
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 43.2
Burnsville is a town of 1,614 people in Yancey County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $243,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of North Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 83% of North Carolina towns.
How Burnsville 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 Burnsville is worth $243,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $50,997, which is more affordable than 20% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $862 a month. 48.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burnsville | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $243,500 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $862 | $969 |
| Median household income | $50,997 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 48.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.9% | — |
Who lives in Burnsville
| People | Burnsville | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Burnsville
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 26.5°F. About 45.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 96 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burnsville since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 7, 2023 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 10, 1969.
Severe weather in Yancey County since 1996
Yancey County has been included in 23 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 Yancey County
Yancey County had 4,648 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,951 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Burnsville itself the ACS puts it at 10.9%.
Public schools in Burnsville
7 public schools with 2,076 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Heritage High | 9-12 | 633 | 13.8 |
| Blue Ridge Elementary | PK-5 | 400 | 17.4 |
| Burnsville Elementary | PK-5 | 302 | 15.1 |
| East Yancey Middle | 6-8 | 257 | 13.5 |
| Micaville Elementary | K-5 | 198 | 15.2 |
| Cane River Middle | 6-8 | 180 | 10.6 |
| South Toe Elementary | K-5 | 106 | 15.1 |
Towns near Burnsville
- Spruce Pine, NC12.8 mi · 2,194 people · home $207,500
- Barnardsville, NC12.8 mi · 559 people · home $153,000
- Mars Hill, NC15.3 mi · 2,007 people · home $294,700
- Banner Hill, TN15.8 mi · 1,426 people · home $116,300
- Erwin, TN17.1 mi · 6,083 people · home $180,900
- Montreat, NC18.5 mi · 901 people · home $606,400
- Weaverville, NC20.8 mi · 4,567 people · home $463,700
- Old Fort, NC20.9 mi · 811 people · home $135,900
Burnsville questions
Is Burnsville, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burnsville scores better for retirees than 97% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 83%. 26.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Burnsville?
The median owner-occupied home in Burnsville is valued at $243,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,997, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $862 a month.
What is the weather like in Burnsville?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 26.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.9 inches of precipitation a year and 12.7 inches of snow.
Does Burnsville get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burnsville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 7, 2023. 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)