Population 55,123 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Watauga County
Household size in Watauga County
| Period | Watauga County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.08 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.28 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.24 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Watauga County are small: just 2.33 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.08, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Watauga County
| Period | Watauga County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.2 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.7 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.3 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.5 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 35.3, Watauga County is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has crept up from 34.7 in 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Of North Carolina's 100 counties, only three are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Watauga County
| Period | Watauga County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.0% of households in Watauga County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 1.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Few North Carolina counties have a lower share of single-parent households: only three of 100.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Watauga County
Renters in Watauga County
| Period | Watauga County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.9% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 42.6% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.9% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.9% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −8.0 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Watauga County than nationally: 37.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 52.3% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northwest. The renter share is down 8.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Watauga County
| Period | Watauga County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.0% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.1% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 28.2% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.1% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 27.1% of the housing in Watauga County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 3.2 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Watauga County
| Period | Watauga County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Watauga County are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1986, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Watauga County
| Period | Watauga County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $790 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $844 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $889 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,142 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$352 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Watauga County costs $1,142 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $352 a month from 2006–10, a 45% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 39.3% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the east; the most affordable are in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Watauga County
Bachelor's degrees in Watauga County
| Period | Watauga County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.1% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 40.4% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.7% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 52.3% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.2 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Watauga County is highly educated: just over half of adults 25 and older (52.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 10.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of North Carolina's 100 counties, only three have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Watauga County
| Period | Watauga County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.0% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.6% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.8% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.3% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Watauga County have finished high school (91.3%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of North Carolina. The share with a diploma has risen 2.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Watauga County
| Period | Watauga County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Watauga County: 7.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 0.6 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Watauga County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watauga County | 2.33 | 35.3 | 6.0% | 37.9% | 27.1% | 1986 | $1,142 | 52.3% | 91.3% | 7.7% |
| Carter County | 2.30 | 45.0 | 11.0% | 24.8% | 13.3% | 1976 | $755 | 21.1% | 89.9% | 6.1% |
| Wilkes County | 2.43 | 45.7 | 12.5% | 26.5% | 15.0% | 1979 | $728 | 16.7% | 81.6% | 5.5% |
| Unicoi County | 2.23 | 46.9 | 10.2% | 27.1% | 11.7% | 1975 | $824 | 20.8% | 86.9% | 4.5% |
| Washington County | 2.34 | 41.3 | 9.1% | 35.5% | 10.8% | 1984 | $1,008 | 34.9% | 91.3% | 4.7% |
| Yadkin County | 2.51 | 44.8 | 9.4% | 23.1% | 13.6% | 1983 | $844 | 17.9% | 86.5% | 5.0% |
| Greene County | 2.49 | 44.3 | 9.3% | 22.9% | 13.4% | 1983 | $763 | 19.5% | 88.3% | 5.9% |
| Stokes County | 2.33 | 47.5 | 7.9% | 20.8% | 9.6% | 1984 | $812 | 18.2% | 91.6% | 3.2% |
| Forsyth County | 2.43 | 39.7 | 12.8% | 36.4% | 9.7% | 1985 | $1,234 | 38.6% | 89.9% | 5.3% |
| Hamblen County | 2.55 | 40.3 | 14.5% | 30.2% | 7.6% | 1982 | $890 | 20.2% | 88.3% | 4.8% |
| Grainger County | 2.54 | 46.7 | 10.2% | 22.9% | 16.4% | 1991 | $872 | 16.2% | 85.9% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Clinton County, IA · Branch County, MI · Rio Grande Municipio, PR · Bryan County, GA · Bryan County, OK · Burnet County, TX · Coles County, IL · Stokes County, NC · Stevens County, WA · Stephenson County, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Watauga County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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