The Town FilesWilkesboro, North Carolina
Town in Wilkes County · population 3,687 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $223,700
- Household income
- $40,907
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 47.9
Wilkesboro is a town of 3,687 people in Wilkes County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $223,700, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better transit than 88% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 80% of North Carolina towns.
How Wilkesboro 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 Wilkesboro is worth $223,700, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $40,907, which is more affordable than 10% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $764 a month. 48.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wilkesboro | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $223,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $764 | $969 |
| Median household income | $40,907 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 48.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wilkesboro
| People | Wilkesboro | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.6% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 11.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Wilkesboro
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 27.0°F. About 51.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.6 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilkesboro since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 11, 2024 about 0.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 11, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 21, 2018.
Severe weather in Wilkes County since 1996
Wilkes County has been included in 22 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 Wilkes County
Wilkes County had 18,933 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,003 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Wilkesboro itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Wilkesboro
4 public schools with 1,830 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes Central High School | 9-12 | 737 | 15.4 |
| West Wilkes Middle School | 6-8 | 450 | 15.5 |
| Wilkesboro Elementary School | PK-5 | 389 | 16.2 |
| Wilkes Early College High School | 9-13 | 254 | 28.2 |
Towns near Wilkesboro
- North Wilkesboro, NC3.0 mi · 4,382 people · home $212,700
- Elkin, NC20.2 mi · 4,122 people · home $226,900
- Bethlehem, NC23.5 mi · 4,491 people · home $327,000
- Lenoir, NC25.3 mi · 18,352 people · home $179,400
- St. Stephens, NC26.7 mi · 8,852 people · home $213,300
- Hudson, NC26.7 mi · 3,780 people · home $223,000
- Granite Falls, NC27.6 mi · 4,965 people · home $202,400
- Boone, NC27.7 mi · 19,092 people · home $411,100
Wilkesboro questions
Is Wilkesboro, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wilkesboro scores better for retirees than 68% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 49%. 30.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.9).
How much does a house cost in Wilkesboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Wilkesboro is valued at $223,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,907, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $764 a month.
What is the weather like in Wilkesboro?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 27.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.7 inches of precipitation a year and 5.6 inches of snow.
Does Wilkesboro get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilkesboro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 11, 2024. 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)