Avery County, North Carolina
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 18,110
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 18,110
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 17,811
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 17,809
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 17,814
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) 1.7%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) 0.0%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 17,806
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 17,797
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 3.7%
Persons under 18 years, percent 14.3%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 24.3%
Female persons, percent 45.8%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 92.6%
Black alone, percent(a) 4.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 0.9%
Asian alone, percent(a) 0.8%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.1%
Two or More Races, percent 1.3%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 6.9%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 86.7%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 1,271
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 4.2%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 14,597
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 83.0%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $265,800
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,273
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $404
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $773
Building Permits, 2025 151
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 6,791
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.24
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 86.7%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 4.8%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 92.1%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 85.2%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 87.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 25.0%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 11.8%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 14.7%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 47.1%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 47.6%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 87,509
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 70,757
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 19,132
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 275,021
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $15,679
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 23.7
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $61,428
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $35,831
Persons in poverty, percent 15.8%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 539
Total employment, 2023 5,509
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 224,117
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 4.4%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 1,777
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 494
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 72.0
Population per square mile, 2010 72.0
Land area in square miles, 2020 247.34
Land area in square miles, 2010 247.09
FIPS Code 37011