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Boone, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Watauga County County

2.3 /5.0
C Fair
19,534 Population 3,057/sq mi density
$28,633 Median Income $18,600 per capita
$373,600 Home Value $469,649 Zillow
$1,080 Median Rent 51.0% income on rent
50°F Avg Temperature 299 sunny days/yr
131 Violent Crime/100K 1,312 property/100K
C
Overall
2.3 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C
Economy
2.3 / 5.0
$28,633 median income, 8.0% unemployment
F
Affordability
1.0 / 5.0
$373,600 home value, $1,080/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
131 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
53.1% bachelor's degree or higher
Boone experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 299 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 59.1 inches. The area receives 25.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

32°F Jan (-0°C) 68°F Jul (20°C)
Annual Average50.2°F
7% below US avg
January Average32°F (-0°C)
July Average68°F (20°C)
Sunny Days299 days/yr

Geography

Elevation3,326 ft (1,014 m)
Area6.4 sq mi (16.6 km²)
Population Density3,057/sq mi
Coordinates36.2138°N, 81.6652°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyWatauga County County
Nearest AirportFoothills Regional (MRN)
27 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 59.1"
56% above US avg
Snowfall 25.6"
Wettest Month (Mar) 5.04"
Driest Month (Dec) 3.54"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score71.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability61.5 / 100
Community Resilience68.4 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave No Rating
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

41 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.4. Most recent: M2.7 on Aug 14, 2025.

Feb 12, 1994 10 km NNW of Abingdon, Virginia M3.4 72 km
Jun 26, 1995 6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia M3.4 62 km
Jun 4, 2023 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina M3.2 130 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 108 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 53 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 89 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 35 km
Jan 22, 1995 0 km WNW of Pulaski, Virginia M2.9 122 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 6 km
Aug 14, 2009 4 km ENE of Nickelsville, Virginia M2.9 87 km
Feb 15, 2005 12 km NNW of Raven, Virginia M2.8 111 km
Jul 4, 2009 3 km E of Narrows, Virginia M2.8 147 km
Mar 6, 2006 3 km W of Burnsville, North Carolina M2.8 69 km
Feb 12, 2021 8 km SW of Banner Hill, Tennessee M2.8 75 km
May 23, 2023 4 km N of West Canton, North Carolina M2.8 129 km
Jul 15, 2021 10 km S of Narrows, Virginia M2.8 137 km
May 12, 2017 6 km SSW of Narrows, Virginia M2.8 139 km
Aug 14, 2025 7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina M2.7 111 km
Jul 6, 2023 5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia M2.7 101 km
Nov 8, 1990 6 km WSW of Cumberland, Kentucky M2.7 149 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

2 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 1. Most recent: Fran (1996, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
1996 Fran Category 1 291 km
1989 Hugo Category 1 176 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

196 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 14 fatalities, 282 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 7, 1998 EF4 46 km 0
May 5, 1989 EF4 83 km 4
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 94 km 2
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 55 km 3
Jul 10, 1980 EF3 62 km 0
Apr 4, 1974 EF3 74 km 1
May 26, 2022 EF2 71 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 58 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 96 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 92 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 64 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 97 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 35 km 2
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 93 km 0
Oct 26, 2010 EF2 73 km 0
Oct 26, 2010 EF2 76 km 0
May 8, 2009 EF2 85 km 0
May 8, 2009 EF2 68 km 0
Nov 15, 2006 EF2 93 km 0
Jul 7, 2005 EF2 62 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BRUSHY RIDGE (12,405 ac, 2000).

Year Name Acres Distance
2000 BRUSHY RIDGE 12,405 44 km
2016 PARTY ROCK 8,572 98 km
2007 LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) 7,151 49 km
2016 CHESTNUT KNOB 6,418 66 km
1985 UNNAMED 4,610 57 km
2022 LOST BEAR RX FY2022 4,276 75 km
2017 WHITE CREEK 4,166 46 km
2016 CLEAR CREEK 3,493 68 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,976 39 km
2000 TIPTON HILL 2,661 56 km
2007 UNNAMED 2,242 42 km
2014 UNNAMED 2,194 79 km
2013 LOST BEAR EAST 2,167 74 km
2007 UNNAMED 2,026 78 km
2008 SUNRISE 1,906 46 km
2015 UNNAMED 1,879 57 km
2018 UNNAMED 1,812 65 km
2016 RAILROAD GRADE 2016 1,790 40 km
2013 CALIFORNIA CREEK 1,758 73 km
2016 TOMBSTONE 1,747 75 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 32°F (-0°C) 3.7 in Coldest
February 35°F (2°C) 4.1 in
March 42°F (6°C) 5.0 in Wettest
April 50°F (10°C) 4.3 in
May 58°F (14°C) 5.0 in
June 65°F (18°C) 4.7 in
July 68°F (20°C) 4.7 in Warmest
August 68°F (20°C) 4.5 in
September 63°F (17°C) 4.4 in
October 52°F (11°C) 4.4 in
November 44°F (6°C) 4.3 in
December 36°F (2°C) 3.5 in Driest

Boone has a seasonal temperature swing of 37°F / from 32°F in January to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 52.5 inches, with March being the wettest month (5.0") and December the driest (3.5").

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