The Town FilesMcDowell County, North Carolina
44,817 people. The median home is worth $171,100 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $57,168.
Towns in McDowell County
| Town | People | Median home | Income | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion | 7,717 | $163,500 | $51,314 | 39.1 |
| Nebo | 1,790 | $129,800 | $50,139 | 52.3 |
| West Marion | 1,226 | $161,600 | $36,715 | 35.8 |
| Old Fort | 811 | $135,900 | $47,500 | 53.4 |
| Glenwood | 501 | — | $120,694 | 46.3 |
People and housing
| McDowell County | Typical North Carolina town | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $806 | $969 |
| Median household income | $57,168 | $60,458 |
| Median age | 44.3 | 41.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.8% | 14.3% |
Jobs and pay
15,350 jobs in 2024, average pay $47,365 a year.
Storms since 1996
NOAA recorded 653 storm events in McDowell County from 1996 to 2026, with 2 deaths.
Federal disaster declarations
McDowell County has been included in 21 FEMA declarations since 1953.
| 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 |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4487: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).