The Town FilesIron Station, North Carolina
Community in Lincoln County · population 825 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,700
- Household income
- $77,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 43.4
Iron Station is a community of 825 people in Lincoln County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $158,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for families than 84% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of North Carolina towns, more of a college town than 74% of North Carolina towns.
How Iron Station 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 Iron Station is worth $158,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $77,083, which is more affordable than 97% of North Carolina towns. 91.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Iron Station | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | — | $969 |
| Median household income | $77,083 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 91.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1998 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Iron Station
| People | Iron Station | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 40.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 12.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 28.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Iron Station
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 30.1°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.9 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 76 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Iron Station since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 15, 2006 about 5.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 11, 2008.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 28,110 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,677 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Iron Station itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Iron Station
2 public schools with 1,110 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Lincoln Middle | 6-8 | 748 | 17.0 |
| Iron Station Elementary | PK-5 | 362 | 12.9 |
Towns near Iron Station
- Alexis, NC4.5 mi · 589 people · home $196,000
- Lincolnton, NC5.0 mi · 11,091 people · home $248,700
- High Shoals, NC5.2 mi · 595 people · home $230,400
- Stanley, NC7.7 mi · 3,963 people · home $270,200
- Lowesville, NC8.7 mi · 3,281 people · home $406,500
- Denver, NC8.9 mi · 2,697 people · home $296,300
- Dallas, NC9.5 mi · 5,927 people · home $254,000
- Maiden, NC10.4 mi · 3,736 people · home $233,800
Iron Station questions
Is Iron Station, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Iron Station scores better for retirees than 8% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 51%. 23.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.4).
How much does a house cost in Iron Station?
The median owner-occupied home in Iron Station is valued at $158,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,083, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Iron Station?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 30.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 3.9 inches of snow.
Does Iron Station get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Iron Station since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 15, 2006. 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)