West Jefferson town, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

West Jefferson town is a small community located in North Carolina, within Ashe County. The total population is 1,567. It ranks as the 373rd most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in West Jefferson town is 43.6 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 12.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in West Jefferson town is $54,306. This is 22% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 31% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.3%. This is 16% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 16.7%. This is 246% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $217,900. Housing costs are 16% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 56.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

West Jefferson town has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.1% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 8.0%. The Black or African American population (8.0%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.0%) is well below the state average of 10.9%.

Education

15.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 55% lower than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West Jefferson town, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.