The Town FilesNebo, North Carolina
Community in McDowell County · population 1,790 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $129,800
- Household income
- $50,139
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 52.3
Nebo is a community of 1,790 people in McDowell County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $129,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 86% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 79% of North Carolina towns.
How Nebo 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 Nebo is worth $129,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $50,139, which is more affordable than 88% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,087 a month. 74.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nebo | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $129,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,087 | $969 |
| Median household income | $50,139 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 74.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Nebo
| People | Nebo | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 13.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 14.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 1.8% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in Nebo
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 28.3°F. About 56.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nebo since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 7, 1998 about 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 10, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 70 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 24, 2000.
Severe weather in McDowell County since 1996
McDowell County has been included in 21 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 |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in McDowell County
McDowell County had 15,350 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,365 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Nebo itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Nebo
1 public school with 334 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebo Elementary School | PK-5 | 334 | 13.9 |
Towns near Nebo
- Marion, NC5.6 mi · 7,717 people · home $163,500
- West Marion, NC7.4 mi · 1,226 people · home $161,600
- Glen Alpine, NC7.4 mi · 1,529 people · home $172,800
- Glenwood, NC7.9 mi · 501 people · home —
- Salem, NC12.0 mi · 2,356 people · home $159,100
- Morganton, NC12.1 mi · 17,474 people · home $221,700
- Old Fort, NC16.0 mi · 811 people · home $135,900
- Spruce Pine, NC16.2 mi · 2,194 people · home $207,500
Nebo questions
Is Nebo, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nebo scores better for retirees than 44% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 86%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.3).
How much does a house cost in Nebo?
The median owner-occupied home in Nebo is valued at $129,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,139, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,087 a month.
What is the weather like in Nebo?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 28.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.6 inches of precipitation a year and 7.1 inches of snow.
Does Nebo get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nebo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 7, 1998. 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)