The Town FilesPilot Mountain, North Carolina
Town in Surry County · population 1,440 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $203,600
- Household income
- $49,200
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 42.0
Pilot Mountain is a town of 1,440 people in Surry County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $203,600, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better transit than 78% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 77% of North Carolina towns.
How Pilot Mountain 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 Pilot Mountain is worth $203,600, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $49,200, which is more affordable than 41% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $969 a month. 55.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pilot Mountain | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $203,600 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $969 | $969 |
| Median household income | $49,200 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 55.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Pilot Mountain
| People | Pilot Mountain | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Pilot Mountain
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 6.2 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
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pilot Mountain since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 24, 2017 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 26, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on June 1, 2002.
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 Pilot Mountain itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Pilot Mountain
4 public schools with 1,569 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Surry High | 9-12 | 599 | 18.2 |
| Pilot Mountain Middle | 6-8 | 406 | 15.0 |
| Pilot Mountain Elementary | PK-5 | 363 | 15.1 |
| Westfield Elementary | PK-5 | 201 | 12.6 |
Towns near Pilot Mountain
- Pinnacle, NC5.1 mi · 786 people · home —
- King, NC10.0 mi · 7,197 people · home $238,200
- Flat Rock, NC10.5 mi · 1,326 people · home $95,400
- White Plains, NC10.6 mi · 1,025 people · home $231,700
- Mount Airy, NC11.6 mi · 10,676 people · home $181,900
- East Bend, NC11.7 mi · 634 people · home $175,900
- Toast, NC11.9 mi · 1,423 people · home $104,800
- Tobaccoville, NC12.7 mi · 2,578 people · home $234,200
Pilot Mountain questions
Is Pilot Mountain, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pilot Mountain scores better for retirees than 37% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 42%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Pilot Mountain?
The median owner-occupied home in Pilot Mountain is valued at $203,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,200, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $969 a month.
What is the weather like in Pilot Mountain?
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 6.2 inches of snow.
Does Pilot Mountain get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pilot Mountain since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 24, 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)