City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Beech Mountain, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Beech Mountain - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

831
Residents
$89,934
Median income
$388,800
Median home
$1,005
Median rent (state)

Beech Mountain - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Beech Mountain lands in the 71st percentile for household income and the 81st percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

71st
percentile, household income
76th
percentile, home value
20th
percentile, median rent
81st
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Beech Mountain, NC

North Carolina's Beech Mountain is a small town, with 831 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $89,934 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.4%. Home values in Beech Mountain run a median of $388,800, and the median resident age is 62.1 years. 54.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 38.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 32 residential building permits were authorized in Beech Mountain (Building Boom), up 256% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Beech Mountain reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 609.7 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, North Carolina scores 94.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,005 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in North Carolina run around $215, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 47.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

831 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$89,934 /yr

Poverty 2.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Beech Mountain compare to other US cities?

Where Beech Mountain sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 71% higher than other cities
Home value 76% pricier than other cities
Median rent 20% pricier than other cities
Safety 81% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at North Carolina, Beech Mountain ranks #10 of 195 North Carolina cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Beech Mountain against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is Beech Mountain's strongest outlier among North Carolina cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Beech Mountain ranks #66 - the 91st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Beech Mountain only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#98 of 700
86th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#471 of 746
36th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#85 of 708
88th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#604 of 746
19th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#66 of 746
91st percentile in North Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

71stIncome percentile
81stSafety percentile

71st percentile nationally for median household income · 81st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Beech Mountain's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Beech Mountain's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 68 Avg. percentile National median
Beech Mountain's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Beech Mountain's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$388,800 24th percentile more affordable than 24% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Beech Mountain $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Beech Mountain, NC Beech Mountain, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Beech Mountain, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Beech Mountain, NC median $89,934/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Beech Mountain, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Beech Mountain, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 54.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 38.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
831
Median Income
$89,934
Median Home Value
$388,800
Median Age
62.1
Poverty Rate
2.4%
Labor force participation
38.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
54.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
609.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
152.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
457.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
655 residents660 residents665 residents670 residents 202020212022202320242025 664 residents 659 residents ▼ -0.8%
Beech Mountain's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
32
housing units authorized
Single-Family
32
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
38.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 9
2020 1
2021 30
2022 33
2023 36
2024 32

Permit volume increased 256% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
52.3%
Carpool
8.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.5%
Work from Home
31.4%
Other
4.0%

Based on 283 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Beech Mountain sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,005/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
47.5 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Faison
826 people
Cashiers
825 people
Richfield
839 people
Marshall
846 people
Newland
815 people
Blowing Rock
848 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Beech Mountain's 831 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Diamond City, AR
831 people
Point Arena, CA
831 people
Kinmundy, IL
831 people
Sioux Rapids, IA
831 people
Enterprise, KS
831 people
Hanover, KS
831 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Beech Mountain's $89,934 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Palestine, IN
$89,924 median income
Westminster, LA
$89,944 median income
Wiggins, CO
$89,948 median income
Winfield, WV
$89,917 median income
Richmond Hill, GA
$89,910 median income
Baltic, CT
$89,907 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Beech Mountain, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Beech Mountain, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.9% White 93.9% Black or African American 0.4% Asian 0.6% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.2% Two or more races 3.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Beech Mountain compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Beech Mountain (this city) 831 $89,934
Faison 826 $38,173
Cashiers 825 $73,455
Richfield 839 $80,536
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC FBI UCR Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Beech Mountain, NC?

What is the population of Beech Mountain, NC? +

Beech Mountain, NC counts 831 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Beech Mountain, NC? +

The median household income in Beech Mountain is $89,934 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Beech Mountain? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Beech Mountain; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

Is Beech Mountain, NC safe? +

Beech Mountain has a total crime rate of 609.7 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Beech Mountain, NC? +

Beech Mountain's median home value sits at $388,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.