The Town Files

Watauga County, North Carolina

55,123 people. The median home is worth $358,900 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $51,693.

Towns in Watauga County

Towns in Watauga County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Boone19,092$411,100$30,06521.3

People and housing

Watauga CountyTypical North Carolina town
Median home value$358,900$228,900
Median rent$1,127$969
Median household income$51,693$60,458
Median age31.441.1
Bachelor's degree or higher48.1%24.5%
Below the poverty line25.5%14.3%

Jobs and pay

25,106 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,024 a year.

Largest industries in Watauga CountyHotels & restaurants4,300 jobs · $22,204Health care & social assistan…3,864 jobs · $65,945Retail3,504 jobs · $30,974Construction1,082 jobs · $52,752Arts & recreation922 jobs · $28,408Administrative & support911 jobs · $42,360
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Watauga County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 667 storm events in Watauga County from 1996 to 2026, with 4 deaths.

Storm events in Watauga County by type since 1996Hail65Flood64Drought31High Wind157Ice Storm11Heavy Rain40Heavy Snow46Debris Flow7Flash Flood86Winter Storm51
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Watauga County has been included in 24 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).