The Town FilesWalnut Cove, North Carolina
Town in Stokes County · population 1,586 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $217,300
- Household income
- $44,815
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 40.6
Walnut Cove is a town of 1,586 people in Stokes County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $217,300, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900).
How Walnut Cove 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 Walnut Cove is worth $217,300, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $44,815, which is more affordable than 20% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $674 a month. 54.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Walnut Cove | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $217,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $674 | $969 |
| Median household income | $44,815 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 54.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Walnut Cove
| People | Walnut Cove | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.7% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 2.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in Walnut Cove
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 28.6°F. About 47.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Walnut Cove since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 5, 1989 about 5.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 26, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 30, 2016.
Severe weather in Stokes County since 1996
Stokes County has been included in 25 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 |
| October 19, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4837: Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight |
| 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 Stokes County
Stokes County had 7,708 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,766 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Walnut Cove itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Walnut Cove
6 public schools with 1,649 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Stokes High School | 9-12 | 545 | 14.7 |
| Southeastern Stokes Middle School | 6-8 | 407 | 16.3 |
| Walnut Cove Elementary School | PK-5 | 270 | 15.0 |
| London Elementary School | K-5 | 188 | 15.7 |
| Stokes Early College High School | 9-13 | 142 | 17.8 |
| Pine Hall Elementary School | K-5 | 97 | 16.2 |
Towns near Walnut Cove
- Germanton, NC6.2 mi · 790 people · home $237,100
- Rural Hall, NC9.9 mi · 3,351 people · home $189,600
- Walkertown, NC10.1 mi · 5,692 people · home $236,900
- Stokesdale, NC10.2 mi · 5,924 people · home $379,100
- Madison, NC11.5 mi · 2,129 people · home $184,900
- Oak Ridge, NC11.7 mi · 7,474 people · home $529,300
- King, NC12.1 mi · 7,197 people · home $238,200
- Tobaccoville, NC13.0 mi · 2,578 people · home $234,200
Walnut Cove questions
Is Walnut Cove, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Walnut Cove scores better for retirees than 40% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 62%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in Walnut Cove?
The median owner-occupied home in Walnut Cove is valued at $217,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,815, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $674 a month.
What is the weather like in Walnut Cove?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 28.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.4 inches of precipitation a year and 7.2 inches of snow.
Does Walnut Cove get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Walnut Cove since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 5, 1989. 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)