Watauga County, North Carolina
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 54,086
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 54,786
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 54,997
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 54,079
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 54,079
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) 1.3%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) 1.7%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 54,086
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 51,079
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 2.7%
Persons under 18 years, percent 11.7%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 18.0%
Female persons, percent 50.1%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 93.5%
Black alone, percent(a) 2.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 0.5%
Asian alone, percent(a) 1.4%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.1%
Two or More Races, percent 1.9%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 6.3%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 88.7%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 2,150
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 3.5%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 34,391
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 62.1%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $358,900
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,668
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $449
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $1,127
Building Permits, 2025 536
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 21,198
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.29
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 75.4%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 5.9%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 95.2%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 90.7%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 92.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 48.1%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 8.7%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 12.3%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 58.9%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 53.7%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 272,832
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 1,682,227
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 15,137
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 1,187,939
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $21,594
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 21.2
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $51,693
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $34,167
Persons in poverty, percent 20.8%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 1,740
Total employment, 2023 20,781
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 898,651
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 2.8%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 5,136
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 259
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 31
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 173.1
Population per square mile, 2010 163.4
Land area in square miles, 2020 312.44
Land area in square miles, 2010 312.56
FIPS Code 37189