The Town FilesHot Springs, North Carolina
Town in Madison County · population 520 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $179,200
- Household income
- $44,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 44.5
Hot Springs is a town of 520 people in Madison County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $179,200, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of North Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 95% of North Carolina towns, better for retirees than 89% of North Carolina towns.
How Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs is worth $179,200, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $44,688, which is more affordable than 44% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $521 a month. 51.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hot Springs | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $179,200 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $521 | $969 |
| Median household income | $44,688 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 51.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.2% | — |
Who lives in Hot Springs
| People | Hot Springs | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 13.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.9% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 14.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Hot Springs
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 28.5°F. About 46.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 82 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hot Springs since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 27, 2011 about 9.8 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 36 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 8, 2025.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| September 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4617: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 4,310 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,583 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Hot Springs itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Hot Springs
1 public school with 138 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs Elementary | K-5 | 138 | 11.5 |
Towns near Hot Springs
- Marshall, NC10.6 mi · 777 people · home $282,100
- Mars Hill, NC16.4 mi · 2,007 people · home $294,700
- Greeneville, TN19.0 mi · 15,479 people · home $227,400
- Tusculum, TN20.0 mi · 3,298 people · home $267,500
- Weaverville, NC20.4 mi · 4,567 people · home $463,700
- Newport, TN21.1 mi · 6,868 people · home $133,500
- Woodfin, NC21.8 mi · 7,936 people · home $366,700
- Mosheim, TN22.3 mi · 2,479 people · home $160,700
Hot Springs questions
Is Hot Springs, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hot Springs scores better for retirees than 89% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 78%. 14.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.5).
How much does a house cost in Hot Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Hot Springs is valued at $179,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,688, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $521 a month.
What is the weather like in Hot Springs?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 28.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.7 inches of precipitation a year and 6.1 inches of snow.
Does Hot Springs get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hot Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 27, 2011. 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)