At a Glance
Median Income
$45,938
$27,880 per capita
Home Value
$258,700
Zillow: $513,072
Median Rent
$837/mo
25.8% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
22.3%
82.4% high school+
Unemployment
0.7%
16.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.5%
18.5% smoking rate
How Blue Ridge Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Blue Ridge's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Blue Ridge a Good Place to Live?
B
3.2 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Blue Ridge residents earn a median household income of $45,938 , which is 39% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $27,880. The unemployment rate stands at 0.7% (81% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 16.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 828 business establishments, including 70 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Blue Ridge is $258,700 , 8% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $513,072. Median rent is $837/month, with 25.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 96.3 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1985.
Education
22.3% of adults in Blue Ridge hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(34% below the national average).
82.4% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.5/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Blue Ridge has an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C).
Winters average 37°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 59.4 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population1,688
Median Age42.5 yrs
Density630/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born2.5%
Veterans4.7%
Economy
B
Median Income$45,938
Per Capita$27,880
Unemployment0.7%
Poverty16.5%
County GDP$1,298M
Avg Weekly Wage$859
Housing
B
Home Value$258,700
Rent$837
Ownership37.1%
Zillow$513,072
Housing Units741
Rent Burden25.8%
Health
Obesity39.5%
Diabetes11.9%
Smoking18.5%
Heart Disease6.5%
Premature Death12,245/100K
Climate
Avg Temp56°F
Rain59.4 in/yr
Elevation1,743 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+22.3%
High School+82.4%
Graduate+3.0%
School Score5.5/10
Community
2024 VoteR 82% / D 17%
Commute17 min
Broadband87.0%
Internet Speed36 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries1
Did You Know?
The median home in Blue Ridge was built in 1985.
The nearest airport is Richard B Russell Regional - J H Towers Field (59 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.491 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
20.1% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 7 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.