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Ashe County, NC
3 cities and towns and 12 ZIP codes in Ashe County, North Carolina.
Population
26,950
Land area
426sq mi
People per sq mi
63
ZIP codes
12
Cities and towns in Ashe County
Ashe County at a glance
- Ashe County is 71% less dense than North Carolina as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $56,866 a year, 21% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $243,100 (16% below North Carolina) and median rent is $859 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Jefferson (1,864), West Jefferson (1,436) and Lansing (165).
Local data for Ashe County, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Ashe County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$56,866
Poverty rate
13.5%
Median home value
$243,100
Prices +0.4% in a year
Median rent
$859/mo
Homeownership
79.4%
Bachelor's or higher
25.9%
Median age
49.8
Average commute
25.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (2,480), German Americans (2,416), Mexican Americans (1,212).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
2.6%
Sep 2026, -0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$49,652
7,503 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$51,489
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$206M
FY 2026, $7,762 per person
PPP loans
$32.7M
644 loans, 4,580 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$126K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Ashe County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.3%
- Carpooled10.0%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.4%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.2%
- Worked from home9.0%
Average one-way commute: 25.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Ashe County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
587
Most often high wind
Flood insurance policies
191
1.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
81° / 22°F
51.0 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone17 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Ashe County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
36.2%
U.S. 33.3% +2.9 pts
Diabetes
14.0%
U.S. 12.1% +1.9 pts
Smoking
15.5%
U.S. 12.8% +2.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.2%
U.S. 11.1% -0.9 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Ashe County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Ashe County, NC?
- Jefferson is the largest city or town in Ashe County, with about 1,864 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Ashe County?
- Ashe County includes 12 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 28615, 28617, 28626, 28629, 28631.
- What is the population of Ashe County, NC?
- About 26,950 people live in Ashe County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Ashe County?
- Ashe County borders Wilkes County, Watauga County, Johnson County, TN, Grayson County, VA, Alleghany County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023