Watauga County, North Carolina
NC · FIPS 37189 · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
| Metric | Value | vs National | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 55,123 | — | #945 / 3,222 | |
| Median Household Income | $51,693 | -31.2% | #2,679 / 3,222 | |
| Median Age | 31.4 years | -19.3% | #3,150 / 3,222 | |
| Median Home Value | $358,900 | +27.3% | #390 / 3,222 | |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,127 | -3.1% | #661 / 3,222 | |
| Poverty Rate | 25.5% | +102.0% | #3,007 / 3,222 | |
Demographics
Watauga County has a population of 55,123, making it the #945 most populous county in the US. The median age is 31.4 years, which is 19.3% below the national median.
Population Trend
Rankings →Year-over-Year Population Growth
Age & Sex Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Nativity
Household Type
Economy
The median household income in Watauga County is $51,693, ranking #2,679 out of 3,222 counties — 31.2% below the national median. The poverty rate is 25.5% and unemployment stands at 7.9%.
Median Household Income Trend
Rankings →Poverty Rate Trend
Rankings →Housing
The median home value in Watauga County is $358,900 (+27.3% vs national). Renters pay a median of $1,127/mo and the homeownership rate is 62.1%.
Median Home Value Trend
Rankings →Health
90.7% of residents in Watauga County have health insurance coverage, which is 1.1% below the national rate.
About Watauga County, North Carolina
Watauga County, North Carolina has a total population of 55,123, making it the 945th most populous county in the United States. The median age in Watauga County is 31.4 years, which is 19.3% below the national median of 38.9 years.
The median household income in Watauga County is $51,693, which ranks #2,679 of 3,222 counties nationwide. This is 31.2% below the national median of $75,149. The poverty rate is 25.5%, higher than the national rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate stands at 7.9%.
The median home value in Watauga County is $358,900, 27.3% above the national median. Renters in Watauga County pay a median gross rent of $1,127 per month. The homeownership rate is 62.1%, compared to the national rate of 64.4%.
In Watauga County, 48.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 42.7% above the national average of 33.7%. Health insurance coverage stands at 90.7% of the population. The average commute time for workers is 22.7 min.
Watauga County is a diverse community. The largest racial or ethnic group is White (non-Hispanic) at 88.5% of the population, followed by Hispanic or Latino (6.2%) and Two or More Races (2.7%).
All data for Watauga County, North Carolina comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. These figures are estimates based on survey sampling and are subject to margin of error. For the most detailed and up-to-date data, visit the Census Bureau's official data portal.