The Town FilesDobson, North Carolina
Town in Surry County · population 1,462 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $173,900
- Household income
- $43,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 35.8
Dobson is a town of 1,462 people in Surry County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $173,900, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 72% of North Carolina towns.
How Dobson 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 Dobson is worth $173,900, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $43,750, which is more affordable than 44% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $528 a month. 48.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dobson | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $173,900 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $528 | $969 |
| Median household income | $43,750 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 48.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Dobson
| People | Dobson | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.1% | 89.5% |
Weather in Dobson
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 24.8°F. About 50.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dobson since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 26, 2022 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 26, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 5, 1985.
Severe weather in Surry County since 1996
Surry County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Surry County
Surry County had 29,147 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,330 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Dobson itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Dobson
7 public schools with 2,528 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surry Central High | 9-12 | 668 | 16.3 |
| Central Middle | 6-8 | 484 | 14.7 |
| Rockford Elementary | PK-5 | 350 | 14.6 |
| Dobson Elementary | PK-5 | 346 | 15.0 |
| Surry Early College | 9-13 | 303 | 43.3 |
| Copeland Elementary | PK-5 | 258 | 12.3 |
| Surry Online Magnet School | K-12 | 119 | 29.8 |
Towns near Dobson
- White Plains, NC5.5 mi · 1,025 people · home $231,700
- Toast, NC8.7 mi · 1,423 people · home $104,800
- Mount Airy, NC10.0 mi · 10,676 people · home $181,900
- Boonville, NC11.0 mi · 1,185 people · home $165,400
- Flat Rock, NC11.2 mi · 1,326 people · home $95,400
- Elkin, NC11.3 mi · 4,122 people · home $226,900
- Jonesville, NC12.5 mi · 2,308 people · home $102,900
- Cana, VA13.4 mi · 1,243 people · home $129,700
Dobson questions
Is Dobson, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dobson scores better for retirees than 18% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 24%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Dobson?
The median owner-occupied home in Dobson is valued at $173,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,750, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $528 a month.
What is the weather like in Dobson?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 24.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.5 inches of precipitation a year and 8.2 inches of snow.
Does Dobson get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dobson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 26, 2022. 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)