At a Glance
Median Income
$61,250
$43,072 per capita
Home Value
$171,300
Zillow: $248,816
Median Rent
$627/mo
20.8% of income on rent
Violent Crime
106/100K
1,977/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
37.9%
93.4% high school+
Unemployment
4.8%
4.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
34.7%
15.5% smoking rate
How Valdese Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Valdese's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Valdese a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.5 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Valdese residents earn a median household income of $61,250 , which is 18% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $43,072. The unemployment rate stands at 4.8% (33% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 4.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,725 business establishments, including 158 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Valdese is $171,300 , 39% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $248,816. Median rent is $627/month, with 20.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 94.3 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1970.
Safety & Crime
Valdese reports 106 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 72% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,977/100K.
Education
37.9% of adults in Valdese hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(12% above the national average).
93.4% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.0/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Valdese has an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C).
Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 47.1 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population4,689
Median Age53.2 yrs
Density597/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born5.4%
Veterans7.2%
Economy
B+
Median Income$61,250
Per Capita$43,072
Unemployment4.8%
Poverty4.7%
County GDP$3,724M
Avg Weekly Wage$942
Housing
A+
Home Value$171,300
Rent$627
Ownership76.0%
Zillow$248,816
Housing Units2,116
Rent Burden20.8%
Crime
F
Violent106/100K
Property1,977/100K
Health
Obesity34.7%
Diabetes9.6%
Smoking15.5%
Heart Disease5.6%
Premature Death11,521/100K
Climate
Avg Temp59°F
Rain47.1 in/yr
Elevation1,100 ft
Education
A
Bachelor's+37.9%
High School+93.4%
Graduate+17.2%
School Score6.0/10
Community
2024 VoteR 70% / D 29%
Commute26 min
Broadband87.1%
Internet Speed134 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries3
Did You Know?
The median home in Valdese was built in 1970.
The nearest airport is Foothills Regional (5 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.453 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
17.8% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 134 Mbps.
There are 158 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 12 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.