Watauga County, NC Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Watauga County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 56,115 | 10,790,063 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 179.2 | 200.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.51% | 0.90% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 32.6 | 37.6 | 37.1 |
| Households | 21,185 | 4,184,344 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Watauga County grew by 22.4% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 54,605 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Watauga County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Watauga County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,880 | $69,937 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.02% | 5.43% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 9.0% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Watauga County is about 26% lower than in North Carolina.
Housing
| Metric | Watauga County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $402,543 | $265,624 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,066 | $1,162 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 61.2% | 66.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Watauga County is about 31.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,066 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Watauga County spend about 35 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 145 hours, about 6.0 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Watauga County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 17.4 | 21.8 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 34.8 | 43.6 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 145 | 182 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,499 | $5,630 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 14.5% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 4,192 | 8,330 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 784 | 1,609 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
North Carolina:
Macon County (17.1 min), Dare County (17.2 min), Graham County (17.2 min).
Slowest:
Gates County (36.3 min), Currituck County (33.6 min), Franklin County (32.4 min).
The average commute time in Watauga County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in North Carolina.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Watauga County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Watauga County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.3% | 31.1% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.29 | 2.46 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
North Carolina:
Orange County (0.5), Wake County (0.4), Durham County (0.4).
Lowest:
Hyde County (0.2), Greene County (0.2), Tyrrell County (0.2).
Health
Watauga County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Watauga County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.3 | 77.1 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 11.9% | 16.8% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 15.8% | 20.7% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
North Carolina:
Orange County (0.8), Wake County (0.8), Watauga County (0.8).
Lowest:
Robeson County (0.8), Lenoir County (0.8), Halifax County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Watauga County, North Carolina.
What is the population of Watauga County, North Carolina?
The population of Watauga County, North Carolina is 56,115, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Watauga County, North Carolina?
The population density of Watauga County, North Carolina is 179.2 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Watauga County, North Carolina?
The median household income in Watauga County, North Carolina is $51,880, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Watauga County, North Carolina?
The median home price in Watauga County, North Carolina is $402,543, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Watauga County, North Carolina?
The unemployment rate in Watauga County, North Carolina is 9.0%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.