County · North Carolina

Watauga County, North Carolina

Watauga County, North Carolina. Watauga County had 54,786 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.3% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). It holds 7 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs and 3 census-designated) and 13 census tracts. GEOID 37189.

Watauga County is the county of the Boone, NC micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

54,786

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 54,086 · ACS 2020-2024: 55,123

Median household income

$51,693

±$3,285 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388

Median home value

$358,900

±$18,269 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900

Median gross rent

$1,127

±$85 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228

How many people live in Watauga County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 54,086 residents in Watauga County. The Census Bureau estimates 54,786 for July 1, 2025, up 1.3% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 55,123 over 312 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +836 (55,302)
2021→2022 +61 (55,363)
2022→2023 −1 (55,362)
2023→2024 −441 (54,921)
2024→2025 −135 (54,786)

Watauga County in North Carolina. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Watauga County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	55,123	10,730,404	+198
Households	21,198±594	4,282,345	no clear change
Average household size	2.29±0.06	2.44	no clear change
Housing units	33,355±69	4,895,668	−396

Watauga County's population since 2000

From 42,695 in 2000 to 54,786 in 2025: up 28.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 42,695
2005 (estimate) 46,390
2010 Census 51,079
2015 (estimate) 53,129
2020 Census 54,086
2025 (estimate) 54,786

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Watauga County?

Watauga County holds 7 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Boone with 19,929 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Watauga County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Boone	town	19,092	20,032±27	$30,065	$411,100	51.2%	100%
Foscoe	CDP	1,457	1,226±317	$49,243	$325,800	22.3%	100%
Blowing Rock	town	1,376	992±243	$120,938	$705,000	2.4%	93%
Cove Creek	CDP	1,068	1,629±465	$52,847	$295,700	22.6%	100%
Beech Mountain	town	675	987±152	$90,855	$443,500	6.4%	91%
Valle CrucisGEOID 3769600	CDP	436	242±160	not published	$463,800	6.2%	100%
Seven DevilsGEOID 3760505	town	313	425±152	$111,667	$426,900	3.3%	88%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Watauga County?

The median resident of Watauga County is 31.4 years old; 12.1% are under 18 and 17.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.2%. 3.5% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Watauga County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	31.4±0.6	39.1	no clear change
Under 18 years	12.1%	21.8%	–
65 years and over	17.1%±0.2 pts	17.2%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	6.2%	11.3%	+2.5 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	88.5%±0.3 pts	60.0%	−3.2 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	1.6%±0.4 pts	20.0%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.9%±0.3 pts	3.3%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.8%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.7%±0.4 pts	4.1%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	3.5%±0.7 pts	9.1%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	5.9%±0.9 pts	13.5%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	4.4%±0.7 pts	7.4%	–
With a disability	12.2%±1.3 pts	13.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	9.3%±1.4 pts	9.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	92.6%±1.4 pts	90.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	48.1%±3.2 pts	35.7%	+5.9 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	21.7%±2.4 pts	13.5%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	3.5%±1.0 pts	3.0%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Watauga County earn?

Half of Watauga County's 21,198 households earn less than $51,693 a year (±$3,285), against $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 the median was $58,490 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $6,797 after inflation. 25.5% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Watauga County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$51,693±$3,285	$72,388	−$6,797
Mean household income	$83,665±$5,648	$101,208	–
Per capita income	$34,167±$2,046	$41,385	no clear change
People below the poverty line	25.5%±2.1 pts	13.0%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	13.4%±4.4 pts	17.7%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	7.5%±1.5 pts	12.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	90.7%±1.7 pts	90.1%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Watauga County?

Owners occupy 62.1% of Watauga County's occupied homes and renters 37.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $358,900 by its owner (±$18,269). The median renter pays $1,127 a month including utilities, and 58.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Watauga County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$358,900±$18,269	$288,900	+$65,995
Median gross rent	$1,127±$85	$1,228	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	58.7%±4.8 pts	39.6%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,668±$84	$1,631	–
Owner-occupied homes	62.1%±2.4 pts	66.6%	no clear change
Housing units	33,355±69	4,895,668	−396
Homeowner vacancy rate	2.5%±1.4 pts	1.3%	–
Rental vacancy rate	2.7%±1.6 pts	7.1%	–
Single-family detached homes	63.6%±2.2 pts	65.3%	–
Mobile homes	7.8%±1.2 pts	11.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.9%±0.3 pts	3.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	3.4%±1.0 pts	4.9%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Watauga County building?

Builders took permits for 536 new housing units across Watauga County in 2025 (238 single-family), 9.8 per 1,000 residents.

2019 488 units
2020 217 units
2021 355 units
2022 540 units
2023 469 units
2024 296 units
2025 536 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Watauga County get to work?

72.5% of Watauga County's workers drive alone and 10.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.9%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Watauga County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	59.0%±1.7 pts	62.8%	–
Unemployment rate	7.9%±1.7 pts	4.7%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	72.5%±3.2 pts	71.5%	–
Carpooled	9.9%±1.9 pts	8.5%	–
Public transportation	1.7%±0.9 pts	0.7%	–
Walked	4.8%±1.3 pts	1.6%	–
Worked from home	10.4%±1.9 pts	16.3%	+2.5 pts
Mean travel time to work	21.2 min±1.1	25.1 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Watauga County's census tracts?

Watauga County is divided into 13 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $21,835 (Tract 9206.01) to $87,500 (Tract 9210).

Census tracts of Watauga County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 920137189920100	–	4,507	4,442±505	$71,298	$202,600	$976	5.2%
Tract 920237189920200	Cove Creek (22%)	3,843	4,155±508	$46,739	$258,000	$1,250	16.4%
Tract 920337189920300	–	2,360	2,070±322	$56,087	$357,000	$934	17.9%
Tract 920437189920400	Boone (44%)	8,327	8,426±957	$32,173	$391,400	$1,095	41.3%
Tract 920537189920500	Boone (93%)	8,429	8,477±528	$32,010	$441,200	$1,310	44.6%
Tract 9206.0137189920601	Boone (72%)	5,143	5,676±700	$21,835	$342,800	$996	59.8%
Tract 9206.0237189920602	Boone (12%)	2,549	3,021±515	$73,333	$551,100	$1,215	28.7%
Tract 9207.0137189920701	–	1,982	2,031±297	$65,396	$346,700	$994	7.0%
Tract 9207.0237189920702	–	2,905	2,826±526	$80,735	$395,000	$1,267	10.9%
Tract 9207.0337189920703	Boone (24%)	5,895	6,286±759	$69,564	$398,800	$1,291	19.9%
Tract 920837189920800	Blowing Rock (46%)	2,835	2,509±357	$83,319	$561,900	$1,107	3.1%
Tract 920937189920900	Foscoe (21%)	4,610	4,249±594	$59,432	$353,500	$952	14.4%
Tract 921037189921000	Beech Mountain (83%)	701	955±141	$87,500	$445,000	$1,137	6.1%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Watauga County compare with North Carolina's other counties?

Watauga County's rank among North Carolina's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	48th of 100
Growth 2020-2025	74th of 100
Residents per square mile	31st of 100
Median household income	80th of 100
Median home value	12th of 100
Median gross rent	26th of 100
Poverty rate	3rd of 100
Bachelor's degree or higher	6th of 100
Median age	99th of 100

Every county in North Carolina

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Watauga County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.