The Town Files

Wilkes County, North Carolina

65,935 people. The median home is worth $168,800 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $51,721.

Towns in Wilkes County

Towns in Wilkes County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
North Wilkesboro4,382$212,700$38,47443.1
Wilkesboro3,687$223,700$40,90747.9
Mulberry2,275$172,400$51,91947.9
Fairplains2,029$140,200$38,58543.4
Cricket1,966$140,600$39,85928.2
Millers Creek1,931$227,200$63,12549.2
Moravian Falls1,712$218,800$47,54849.8
Hays1,595$183,800$55,03548.2
Pleasant Hill831$147,800$52,38156.8

People and housing

Wilkes CountyTypical North Carolina town
Median home value$168,800$228,900
Median rent$723$969
Median household income$51,721$60,458
Median age45.741.1
Bachelor's degree or higher16.9%24.5%
Below the poverty line16.7%14.3%

Jobs and pay

18,933 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,003 a year.

Largest industries in Wilkes CountyManufacturing3,412 jobs · $53,756Health care & social assistan…3,143 jobs · $56,965Retail2,630 jobs · $33,026Hotels & restaurants1,788 jobs · $19,867Wholesale trade825 jobs · $73,221Construction746 jobs · $54,266
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Wilkes County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 737 storm events in Wilkes County from 1996 to 2026, with 4 deaths.

Storm events in Wilkes County by type since 1996Hail124Flood21Drought29High Wind35Lightning18Heavy Rain17Heavy Snow19Flash Flood64Strong Wind9Winter Storm19
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Wilkes County has been included in 22 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
August 6, 2024Tropical StormEM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby
October 1, 2022HurricaneEM-3586: Hurricane Ian
March 3, 2021Severe StormDR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).