City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Blowing Rock, NC

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

848
Residents
$120,865
Median income
$667,300
Median home
$1,177
Median rent (state)

Blowing Rock - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Blowing Rock places in the 87th percentile for household income and the 16th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

87th
percentile, household income
92nd
percentile, home value
35th
percentile, median rent
16th
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: Blowing Rock, NC

Blowing Rock is a small town in North Carolina, home to 848 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Blowing Rock households earn a median of $120,865 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Typical homes in Blowing Rock are valued around $667,300, and the median resident age is 60.9 years. About 59.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 58.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 17 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 31% from five years earlier. Blowing Rock's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 2969.6 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 49.8°F.

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,177 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $215 across North Carolina, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 71.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

848 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$120,865 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Blowing Rock compare to other US cities?

Blowing Rock measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 87% higher than other cities
Home value 92% pricier than other cities
Median rent 35% pricier than other cities
Safety 16% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to North Carolina alone, Blowing Rock ranks #111 of 195 North Carolina cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Blowing Rock 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

Poverty Rate places Blowing Rock near the bottom of North Carolina's cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Blowing Rock ranks #653 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Blowing Rock only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#29 of 700
96th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#335 of 746
55th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#10 of 708
99th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#653 of 746
0th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#45 of 746
94th 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.

87thIncome percentile
16thSafety percentile

87th percentile nationally for median household income · 16th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Blowing Rock's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Blowing Rock'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 47 Avg. percentile National median
Blowing Rock'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 Blowing Rock's home value compares nationally

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

$667,300 8th percentile more affordable than 8% 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%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Blowing Rock $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 - Blowing Rock, NC Blowing Rock, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Blowing Rock, 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 Blowing Rock, NC median $120,865/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%
Blowing Rock, 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 Blowing Rock, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 59.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.0%

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

Population
848
Median Income
$120,865
Median Home Value
$667,300
Median Age
60.9
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
58.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
59.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2969.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
148.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2821.1
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.

Climate

Avg Temperature
49.8°F
Annual Precipitation
N/A
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,300 residents1,320 residents1,340 residents1,360 residents1,380 residents1,400 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,372 residents 1,324 residents ▼ -3.5%
Blowing Rock's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
17
housing units authorized
Single-Family
17
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
20
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 13
2020 11
2021 16
2022 15
2023 16
2024 17

Permit volume increased 31% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.5%
Carpool
0.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
17.4%
Other
3.6%

Based on 437 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 Blowing Rock sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,177/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
71.9 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Pleasant Hill
849 people
Marshall
846 people
Prospect
850 people
Germanton
851 people
Richfield
839 people
Warrenton
859 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Blowing Rock's 848 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Jennings, FL
848 people
Elgin, IA
848 people
Spencer, NY
848 people
Bechtelsville, PA
848 people
Ridge Spring, SC
848 people
Cross Timber, TX
848 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Blowing Rock's $120,865 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

East Hampton, CT
$120,875 median income
Lake Ridge, VA
$120,844 median income
Kingsley, KY
$120,893 median income
Pinole, CA
$120,833 median income
Alleman, IA
$120,833 median income
North Star, OH
$120,833 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Blowing Rock, 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 Blowing Rock, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 92.9% Black or African American 3.7% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 3.4% 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 Blowing Rock 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
Blowing Rock (this city) 848 $120,865
Pleasant Hill 849 $67,768
Marshall 846 $53,125
Prospect 850 N/A
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Blowing Rock, NC?

What is the population of Blowing Rock, NC? +

Blowing Rock, NC counts 848 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Blowing Rock, NC? +

The median household income in Blowing Rock is $120,865 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Blowing Rock? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Blowing Rock; 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 Blowing Rock, NC safe? +

Blowing Rock has a total crime rate of 2969.6 per 100,000 residents, which is above 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 Blowing Rock, NC? +

The median home value in Blowing Rock is $667,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Blowing Rock? +

Climate normals put Blowing Rock's yearly average temperature at 49.8°F. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.