The Town FilesMount Airy, North Carolina
City in Surry County · population 10,676 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $181,900
- Household income
- $40,275
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 46.0
Mount Airy is a city of 10,676 people in Surry County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $181,900, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more walkable than 97% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 96% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 91% of North Carolina towns.
How Mount Airy 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 Mount Airy is worth $181,900, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $40,275, which is more affordable than 25% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $725 a month. 55.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mount Airy | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $181,900 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $725 | $969 |
| Median household income | $40,275 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 55.4% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Mount Airy
| People | Mount Airy | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.9% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 89.5% |
Weather in Mount Airy
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 24.8°F. About 50.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Airy since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on February 24, 2016 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 24, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 5, 1985.
Severe weather in Surry County since 1996
Surry County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Surry County
Surry County had 29,147 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,330 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Mount Airy itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Mount Airy
11 public schools with 4,876 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Surry High | 9-12 | 823 | 16.8 |
| Millennium Charter Academy (charter) | K-12 | 661 | 16.1 |
| Mount Airy High | 9-12 | 620 | 17.2 |
| Franklin Elementary | PK-5 | 468 | 13.8 |
| Bruce H. Tharrington Primary | PK-2 | 406 | 15.6 |
| Mount Airy Middle | 6-8 | 397 | 13.7 |
| J Sam Gentry Middle | 6-8 | 346 | 15.0 |
| Jones Intermediate | 3-5 | 338 | 14.1 |
| White Plains Elementary | PK-5 | 323 | 12.9 |
| Meadowview Magnet Middle | 6-8 | 312 | 11.1 |
| Flat Rock Elementary | PK-5 | 182 | 13.0 |
Towns near Mount Airy
- Hillsville, VA18.8 mi · 2,884 people · home $159,000
- Galax, VA19.9 mi · 6,720 people · home $141,300
- Elkin, NC21.3 mi · 4,122 people · home $226,900
- King, NC21.6 mi · 7,197 people · home $238,200
- Tobaccoville, NC24.2 mi · 2,578 people · home $234,200
- Yadkinville, NC26.2 mi · 2,995 people · home $183,800
- Rural Hall, NC26.4 mi · 3,351 people · home $189,600
- Lewisville, NC29.8 mi · 13,381 people · home $325,400
Mount Airy questions
Is Mount Airy, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mount Airy scores better for retirees than 50% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 49%. 25.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.0).
How much does a house cost in Mount Airy?
The median owner-occupied home in Mount Airy is valued at $181,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,275, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $725 a month.
What is the weather like in Mount Airy?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 24.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.5 inches of precipitation a year and 8.2 inches of snow.
Does Mount Airy get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Airy since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on February 24, 2016. 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)