The Town FilesJefferson, North Carolina
Town in Ashe County · population 1,622 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $236,000
- Household income
- $40,590
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 41.6
Jefferson is a town of 1,622 people in Ashe County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $236,000, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 88% of North Carolina towns.
How Jefferson 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 Jefferson is worth $236,000, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 5.8 times the median household income of $40,590, which is more affordable than 8% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $748 a month. 44.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $236,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $748 | $969 |
| Median household income | $40,590 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 44.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.2% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson
| People | Jefferson | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.9% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Jefferson
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 21.9°F. About 51.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.4 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on October 8, 2017 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 8, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 24, 2011.
Severe weather in Ashe County since 1996
Ashe County has been included in 26 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 Ashe County
Ashe County had 7,486 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,252 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Jefferson itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Jefferson
1 public school with 549 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View Elementary | PK-6 | 549 | 13.4 |
Towns near Jefferson
- West Jefferson, NC2.8 mi · 1,279 people · home $232,400
- Boone, NC18.0 mi · 19,092 people · home $411,100
- Mountain City, TN19.0 mi · 2,415 people · home $216,300
- Cove Creek, NC20.0 mi · 1,068 people · home $295,700
- Sparta, NC20.0 mi · 1,834 people · home $209,600
- Millers Creek, NC20.5 mi · 1,931 people · home $227,200
- Mulberry, NC21.6 mi · 2,275 people · home $172,400
- Independence, VA22.8 mi · 1,011 people · home $122,400
Jefferson questions
Is Jefferson, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson scores better for retirees than 53% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 65%. 30.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Jefferson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson is valued at $236,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,590, so homes cost about 5.8 times income. Median rent is $748 a month.
What is the weather like in Jefferson?
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 21.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.0 inches of precipitation a year and 14.4 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on October 8, 2017. 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)