The Town FilesStar, North Carolina
Town in Montgomery County · population 806 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $136,300
- Household income
- $38,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 35.8
Star is a town of 806 people in Montgomery County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $136,300, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 81% of North Carolina towns.
How Star 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 Star is worth $136,300, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $38,125, which is more affordable than 57% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $642 a month. 47.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Star | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $136,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $642 | $969 |
| Median household income | $38,125 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 47.4% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Star
| People | Star | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 35.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.5% | — |
| Work from home | 1.5% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 64.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Star
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 32.6°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Star since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 15, 1976 about 5.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 19, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 27, 1998.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 8,933 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,929 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Star itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Star
1 public school with 278 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Elementary | PK-5 | 278 | 14.6 |
Towns near Star
- Biscoe, NC2.8 mi · 1,848 people · home $128,700
- Troy, NC6.6 mi · 2,850 people · home $160,100
- Candor, NC7.7 mi · 813 people · home $164,900
- Robbins, NC11.5 mi · 1,168 people · home $99,100
- Seven Lakes, NC14.5 mi · 4,900 people · home $394,500
- Mount Gilead, NC17.8 mi · 1,171 people · home $157,300
- Badin, NC18.9 mi · 2,024 people · home $160,200
- Foxfire, NC19.7 mi · 1,288 people · home $386,700
Star questions
Is Star, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Star scores better for retirees than 10% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 9%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Star?
The median owner-occupied home in Star is valued at $136,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,125, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $642 a month.
What is the weather like in Star?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 32.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 2.2 inches of snow.
Does Star get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Star since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 15, 1976. 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)