The Town Files

Mitchell County, North Carolina

14,992 people. The median home is worth $220,100 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $57,602.

Towns in Mitchell County

Towns in Mitchell County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Spruce Pine2,194$207,500$42,09848.6

People and housing

Mitchell CountyTypical North Carolina town
Median home value$220,100$228,900
Median rent$813$969
Median household income$57,602$60,458
Median age48.041.1
Bachelor's degree or higher24.2%24.5%
Below the poverty line12.9%14.3%

Jobs and pay

5,085 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,859 a year.

Largest industries in Mitchell CountyHealth care & social assistan…862 jobs · $50,868Retail756 jobs · $30,283Other services305 jobs · $35,592Construction223 jobs · $48,514Transportation & warehousing203 jobs · $54,648Wholesale trade187 jobs · $56,464
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Mitchell County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.6%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 601 storm events in Mitchell County from 1996 to 2026, with 2 deaths.

Storm events in Mitchell County by type since 1996Hail33Flood11Sleet8Drought35High Wind40Ice Storm13Heavy Snow105Flash Flood19Winter Storm18Winter Weather239
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Mitchell County has been included in 21 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3637: Severe Winter Storm
September 28, 2024Tropical StormDR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene
September 26, 2024Tropical StormEM-3617: Hurricane Helene
October 1, 2022HurricaneEM-3586: Hurricane Ian
September 8, 2021HurricaneDR-4617: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred
August 2, 2020HurricaneEM-3534: Hurricane Isaias
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).