The Town FilesLake Lure, North Carolina
Town in Rutherford County · population 1,365 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $627,000
- Household income
- $80,357
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 61.7
Lake Lure is a town of 1,365 people in Rutherford County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $627,000, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of North Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 95% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 92% of North Carolina towns.
How Lake Lure 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 Lake Lure is worth $627,000, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 7.8 times the median household income of $80,357, which is more affordable than 1% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $786 a month. 88.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Lure | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $627,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $786 | $969 |
| Median household income | $80,357 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 88.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 38.4% | — |
Who lives in Lake Lure
| People | Lake Lure | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 42.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 8.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.1% | — |
| Work from home | 29.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 39.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Lake Lure
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 27.6°F. About 59.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Lure since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on December 29, 2024 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 29, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 8, 2024.
Severe weather in Rutherford County since 1996
Rutherford County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 Rutherford County
Rutherford County had 17,994 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,125 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Lake Lure itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Lake Lure
2 public schools with 573 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Lure Classical Academy (charter) | K-12 | 449 | 16.6 |
| Sunny View Elementary School | PK-5 | 124 | 11.3 |
Towns near Lake Lure
- Edneyville, NC8.1 mi · 2,395 people · home $286,400
- Fairview, NC12.3 mi · 2,771 people · home $439,600
- Dana, NC12.6 mi · 3,683 people · home $249,700
- Old Fort, NC12.6 mi · 811 people · home $135,900
- Fruitland, NC12.8 mi · 2,257 people · home $133,100
- Hoopers Creek, NC13.1 mi · 1,074 people · home $345,900
- Black Mountain, NC13.4 mi · 8,426 people · home $358,900
- Columbus, NC13.6 mi · 1,060 people · home $265,700
Lake Lure questions
Is Lake Lure, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Lure scores better for retirees than 98% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 92%. 42.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.7).
How much does a house cost in Lake Lure?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Lure is valued at $627,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,357, so homes cost about 7.8 times income. Median rent is $786 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Lure?
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 27.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.3 inches of precipitation a year and 3.1 inches of snow.
Does Lake Lure get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Lure since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on December 29, 2024. 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)