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Avery County, NC
8 cities and towns and 8 ZIP codes in Avery County, North Carolina.
Population
17,680
Land area
247sq mi
People per sq mi
71
ZIP codes
8
Cities and towns in Avery County
Avery County at a glance
- Avery County is 68% less dense than North Carolina as a whole.
- The median household income is $61,428, 15% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $265,800 (8% below North Carolina) and median rent is $773 a month.
- Its largest cities are Banner Elk (1,473), Newland (866) and Elk Park (560).
Local data for Avery County, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Avery County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$61,428
Poverty rate
10.2%
Median home value
$265,800
Prices +1.6% in a year
Median rent
$773/mo
Homeownership
83.0%
Bachelor's or higher
25.0%
Median age
47.1
Average commute
23.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,992), Irish Americans (1,579), Scottish Americans (824).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.0%
Aug 2026, -0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$47,753
7,784 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$53,895
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$142M
FY 2026, $8,000 per person
PPP loans
$18.8M
240 loans, 3,397 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$131K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Avery County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone78.2%
- Carpooled8.9%
- Public transit0.5%
- Walked2.4%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
- Worked from home9.2%
Average one-way commute: 23.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Avery County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
672
Most often winter weather
Flood insurance policies
274
1.7% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
77° / 22°F
53.8 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone9 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Avery County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.1%
U.S. 33.3% +3.8 pts
Diabetes
12.9%
U.S. 12.1% +0.8 pts
Smoking
15.8%
U.S. 12.8% +3.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.8%
U.S. 11.1% about the same
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Avery County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Avery County, NC?
- Banner Elk is the largest city or town in Avery County, with about 1,473 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Avery County?
- Avery County includes 8 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 28616, 28622, 28646, 28652, 28653.
- What is the population of Avery County, NC?
- About 17,680 people live in Avery County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Avery County?
- Avery County borders Burke County, Caldwell County, Carter County, TN, Watauga County, McDowell County, Johnson County, TN, Mitchell County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023