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Sawmills, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Caldwell County County

2.9 /5.0
C+ Fair
5,027 Population 761/sq mi density
$56,534 Median Income $29,087 per capita
$180,500 Home Value $223,181 Zillow
$719 Median Rent 23.4% income on rent
59°F Avg Temperature 310 sunny days/yr
80 Violent Crime/100K 2,983 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.3 / 5.0
$56,534 median income, 5.1% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.9 / 5.0
$180,500 home value, $719/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
80 violent crimes/100K
C
Education
2.3 / 5.0
16.1% bachelor's degree or higher
Sawmills enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 310 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 47.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

40°F Jan (4°C) 78°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average59.0°F
9% above US avg
January Average40°F (4°C)
July Average78°F (25°C)
Sunny Days310 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,160 ft (354 m)
Area6.6 sq mi (17.1 km²)
Population Density761/sq mi
Coordinates35.8176°N, 81.4763°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyCaldwell County County
Nearest AirportHickory Regional (HKY)
7 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 47.2"
24% above US avg
Wettest Month (Mar) 4.80"
Driest Month (Nov) 3.58"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0447 ppm

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score67.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability45.0 / 100
Community Resilience30.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

31 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 M3.4 119 km
Jun 26, 1995 6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia M3.4 104 km
Jun 4, 2023 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina M3.2 129 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 69 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 82 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 55 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 66 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 42 km
Aug 14, 2009 4 km ENE of Nickelsville, Virginia M2.9 132 km
Mar 6, 2006 3 km W of Burnsville, North Carolina M2.8 78 km
Feb 12, 2021 8 km SW of Banner Hill, Tennessee M2.8 95 km
May 23, 2023 4 km N of West Canton, North Carolina M2.8 128 km
Aug 14, 2025 7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina M2.7 86 km
Jul 6, 2023 5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia M2.7 121 km
Mar 21, 2004 16 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M2.7 63 km
Aug 30, 2010 7 km ENE of Mountain City, Tennessee M2.7 78 km
Jun 10, 2018 2 km NE of Hays, North Carolina M2.7 60 km
Aug 17, 2021 6 km N of Morganton, North Carolina M2.7 19 km
Jul 8, 2023 Virginia-North Carolina border region M2.6 121 km
Feb 4, 2021 1 km SSW of Sparta, North Carolina M2.6 81 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Hurricane History

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

Year Name Category Closest
1996 Fran Category 2 261 km
1989 Hugo Category 2 129 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980-2026)

Tornado History

284 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 11 fatalities, 243 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 7, 1998 EF4 11 km 0
May 5, 1989 EF4 40 km 4
May 5, 1989 EF4 92 km 2
Mar 27, 1994 EF3 83 km 0
Jul 10, 1980 EF3 89 km 0
May 26, 2022 EF2 50 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 90 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 72 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 82 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 11 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 81 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 63 km 0
Mar 3, 2012 EF2 95 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 59 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 18 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 79 km 2
Oct 26, 2010 EF2 30 km 0
Oct 26, 2010 EF2 31 km 0
Mar 28, 2010 EF2 95 km 0
May 8, 2009 EF2 91 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 38 km
2016 PARTY ROCK 8,572 79 km
2007 LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) 7,151 40 km
2016 CHESTNUT KNOB 6,418 28 km
1985 UNNAMED 4,610 16 km
2022 LOST BEAR RX FY2022 4,276 68 km
2017 WHITE CREEK 4,166 37 km
2016 CLEAR CREEK 3,493 59 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,976 34 km
2000 TIPTON HILL 2,661 76 km
2007 UNNAMED 2,242 89 km
2013 LOST BEAR EAST 2,167 67 km
2007 UNNAMED 2,026 100 km
2008 SUNRISE 1,906 41 km
2015 UNNAMED 1,879 46 km
2018 UNNAMED 1,812 61 km
2016 RAILROAD GRADE 2016 1,790 73 km
2013 CALIFORNIA CREEK 1,758 96 km
2016 TOMBSTONE 1,747 38 km
2017 DOBSON KNOB 1,720 47 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 40°F (4°C) 3.9 in Coldest
February 41°F (5°C) 3.9 in
March 49°F (10°C) 4.8 in Wettest
April 57°F (14°C) 3.6 in
May 65°F (19°C) 4.5 in
June 73°F (23°C) 4.5 in
July 78°F (25°C) 4.3 in Warmest
August 75°F (24°C) 4.1 in
September 69°F (21°C) 4.2 in
October 58°F (15°C) 3.8 in
November 49°F (9°C) 3.6 in Driest
December 41°F (5°C) 3.7 in

Sawmills has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 40°F in January to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 48.8 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.8") and November the driest (3.6").

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