The Town FilesLexington, North Carolina
City in Davidson County · population 19,632 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $179,900
- Household income
- $43,128
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 36.7
Lexington is a city of 19,632 people in Davidson County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $179,900, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 94% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 89% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 83% of North Carolina towns.
How Lexington 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 Lexington is worth $179,900, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $43,128, which is more affordable than 36% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $893 a month. 41.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lexington | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $179,900 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $893 | $969 |
| Median household income | $43,128 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 41.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Lexington
| People | Lexington | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.8% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in Lexington
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 28.0°F. About 45.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lexington since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on November 16, 2011 about 5.8 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 3, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 6, 1985.
Severe weather in Davidson County since 1996
Davidson County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| March 3, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta |
Jobs and pay in Davidson County
Davidson County had 46,653 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,593 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Lexington itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Lexington
27 public schools with 12,712 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Senior High School | 9-12 | 929 | 17.9 |
| North Davidson High | 9-12 | 904 | 17.4 |
| Central Davidson High | 9-12 | 867 | 18.1 |
| West Davidson High | 9-12 | 743 | 17.7 |
| North Davidson Middle | 6-8 | 714 | 17.9 |
| Central Davidson Middle | 6-8 | 662 | 17.0 |
| Welcome Elementary | PK-5 | 639 | 16.0 |
| Davidson Charter Academy (charter) | K-8 | 611 | 15.3 |
| Northwest Elementary | PK-5 | 607 | 16.9 |
| Southwood Elementary | PK-5 | 593 | 14.8 |
| Lexington Middle School | 6-8 | 591 | 16.0 |
| Tyro Middle | 6-8 | 545 | 16.5 |
Towns near Lexington
- Tyro, NC5.7 mi · 3,753 people · home $191,800
- Welcome, NC7.6 mi · 4,131 people · home $200,800
- Spencer, NC10.7 mi · 3,308 people · home $201,700
- Thomasville, NC12.3 mi · 27,183 people · home $179,300
- Midway, NC12.7 mi · 4,742 people · home $274,100
- Salisbury, NC15.2 mi · 35,540 people · home $242,500
- Trinity, NC15.8 mi · 7,006 people · home $216,600
- Granite Quarry, NC16.1 mi · 2,984 people · home $257,300
Lexington questions
Is Lexington, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lexington scores better for retirees than 3% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 8%. 15.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Lexington?
The median owner-occupied home in Lexington is valued at $179,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,128, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $893 a month.
What is the weather like in Lexington?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 28.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.5 inches of precipitation a year and 3.3 inches of snow.
Does Lexington get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lexington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on November 16, 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)