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Banner Elk, NC
Full City Profile · North Carolina · Avery County County
3.2
/5.0
B
Good
1,338
Population
708/sq mi density
$67,917
Median Income
$40,200 per capita
$422,900
Home Value
$566,987 Zillow
$879
Median Rent
35.3% income on rent
50°F
Avg Temperature
299 sunny days/yr
454
Violent Crime/100K
999 property/100K
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.0 / 5.0
$67,917 median income, 2.1% unemployment
B
Affordability
3.2 / 5.0
$422,900 home value, $879/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
454 violent crimes/100K (20% above avg)
A+
Education
4.6 / 5.0
44.8% bachelor's degree or higher
Banner Elk experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 299 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 53.8 inches. The area receives 31.4 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.
Temperature
31°F Jan (-0°C)
68°F Jul (20°C)
| Annual Average | 50.1°F |
| 7% below US avg | |
| January Average | 31°F (-0°C) |
| July Average | 68°F (20°C) |
| Sunny Days | 299 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 3,895 ft (1,187 m) |
| Area | 1.9 sq mi (4.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 708/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 36.1587°N, 81.8676°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Avery County County |
| Nearest Airport | Foothills Regional (MRN) 27 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 40.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0435 ppm |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 47.5 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 76.7 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 50.3 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | No Rating |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | No Rating |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F (-0°C) | 3.9 in | Coldest |
| February | 34°F (1°C) | 4.1 in | |
| March | 41°F (5°C) | 5.2 in | Wettest |
| April | 49°F (9°C) | 4.3 in | |
| May | 56°F (14°C) | 5.0 in | |
| June | 63°F (17°C) | 4.7 in | |
| July | 68°F (20°C) | 4.7 in | Warmest |
| August | 66°F (19°C) | 4.6 in | |
| September | 61°F (16°C) | 4.2 in | |
| October | 51°F (11°C) | 3.9 in | |
| November | 43°F (6°C) | 4.1 in | |
| December | 35°F (2°C) | 3.5 in | Driest |
Banner Elk has a seasonal temperature swing of 37°F / from 31°F in January to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 52.1 inches, with March being the wettest month (5.2") and December the driest (3.5").