Ashe County, North Carolina
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $14,300
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 27,514
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 27,266
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 26,584
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 26,586
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) 3.5%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) 2.6%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 26,577
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 27,281
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 3.7%
Persons under 18 years, percent 16.1%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 28.3%
Female persons, percent 50.2%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 96.3%
Black alone, percent(a) 1.1%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 0.6%
Asian alone, percent(a) 0.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.1%
Two or More Races, percent 1.3%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 6.4%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 90.6%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 1,482
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 2.8%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 17,665
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 79.4%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $243,100
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,337
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $396
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $859
Building Permits, 2025 195
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 12,201
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.17
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 93.2%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 4.9%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 90.4%
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 88.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 25.9%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 13.4%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 13.3%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 52.6%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 49.7%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 37,880
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 110,871
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) D
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 386,977
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $14,300
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 25.3
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $56,866
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $33,675
Persons in poverty, percent 15.5%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 571
Total employment, 2023 6,441
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 288,201
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 4.1%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 2,519
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 519
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 302
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 61
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 420
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 428
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 62.3
Population per square mile, 2010 64.0
Land area in square miles, 2020 426.26
Land area in square miles, 2010 426.14
FIPS Code 37009