Avery County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Avery County, North Carolina has a population of 17,680, the 84th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $61,428 and the median home value is $265,800. The poverty rate is 10.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Avery County Quick Facts
How Avery County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,643 | 17,680 | +0.2% |
| Median household income | $57,657 | $61,428 | +6.5% |
| Median home value | $233,200 | $265,800 | +14.0% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Avery County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banner Elk | 1,473 | $86,382 | 13.0% | $458,100 |
| Newland | 866 | $46,006 | 22.3% | $241,700 |
| Elk Park | 560 | $41,583 | 33.4% | $160,400 |
| Sugar Mountain | 539 | $96,094 | 6.3% | $343,800 |
| Linville | 291 | $75,833 | 0.0% | N/A |
| Crossnore | 115 | N/A | 0.0% | $314,300 |
| Grandfather Village | 14 | $191,875 | 0.0% | $1,312,500 |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Avery County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 17,680. It is the 84th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Avery County is 47.1 years. This is 20% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 14.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Avery County is $61,428. This is 15% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.2%. This is 22% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. This is 3% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $265,800. Housing costs are 8% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 83.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Avery County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.0%. The Black or African American population (3.8%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
25.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Avery County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Avery County, North Carolina?
Avery County has a population of 17,680, making it the 84th most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Avery County?
The median household income in Avery County is $61,428 with a poverty rate of 10.2%.
How many cities are in Avery County, North Carolina?
Avery County contains 7 Census-designated places.