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

Overall

2.3 / 5.0

Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education

Economy

2.3 / 5.0

$28,633 median income, 8.0% unemployment

Affordability

1.0 / 5.0

$373,600 home value, $1,080/mo rent

Safety

1.0 / 5.0

131 violent crimes/100K

A+

Education

5.0 / 5.0

53.1% bachelor's degree or higher

Income Overview

Median Household Income

$28,633

62% below

US avg: $75,149

Per Capita Income

$18,600

52% below

US avg: $39,052

Unemployment Rate

8.0%

122% above

US avg: 3.6%

Poverty Rate

13.7%

10% above

US avg: 12.4%

Income Comparison: Boone vs. U.S. Average

Each bar shows Boone’s value as a percentage of the national average (100% line = U.S. avg)

Median Household

US: $75,149

$28,633

38%

Per Capita

US: $39,052

$18,600

48%

IRS Avg AGI

US: $72,000

$81,568

113%

Avg Weekly Wage

US: $1,432

$924

65%

Thin line = U.S. average (100%)

Employment & Commute

Avg Weekly Wage

$924

35% below US avg ($1,432)

Mean Commute Time

15 min

46% below US avg (28 min)

Work From Home

10.4%

32% below US avg (15.2%)

Drive Alone

67.4%

8% below US avg (73.2%)

Public Transit

2.6%

49% below US avg (5.0%)

County GDP

$3,193M

County-level GDP (BEA 2024)

How Residents Get to Work

Drive Alone 67.4%

Public Transit 2.6%

Work From Home 10.4%

Other 19.6%

Average commute time

15 minutes

US avg: 28 min

Business Landscape

Total Establishments

2,018

Restaurants

180

Healthcare

167

Retail

304

Manufacturing

Tax & Financial

IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income

$81,568

13% above US avg ($72,000)

Avg Property Tax

$4,223

21% above US avg ($3,500)

Cost of Living Index

94.3

Below national average (100 = US avg)

Complete Economy Data

Income & Wages

Median Household Income	$28,633
Per Capita Income	$18,600
IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income	$81,568
Avg Weekly Wage	$924
County GDP	$3,193M

Hardship Indicators

Unemployment Rate	8.0%
Poverty Rate	13.7%
Gini Coefficient	0.509
Cost of Living Index	94.3

Commute

Mean Commute	15 minutes
Drive Alone	67.4%
Public Transit	2.6%
Work From Home	10.4%

Businesses

Total Establishments	2,018
Restaurants	180
Healthcare	167
Retail	304
Manufacturing	40

Tax

IRS Avg AGI	$81,568
Avg Property Tax	$4,223