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Boone, NC
Town in Watauga County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 28607.
Population
20,032
Land area
6.4sq mi
People per sq mi
3,137
ZIP codes
1
Boone and its ZIP codes
Boone at a glance
- Boone is about 14 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- It is the 49th most populous of 772 cities and towns in North Carolina.
- Households here earn a median of $30,065 a year, 58% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $411,100 (42% above North Carolina) and median rent is $1,111 a month.
Local data for Boone, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Boone, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$30,065
Poverty rate
51.2%
Median home value
$411,100
Median rent
$1,111/mo
Homeownership
26.2%
Bachelor's or higher
56.8%
Median age
21.3
Average commute
15.8 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (3,020), German Americans (2,923), Italian Americans (1,135).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Watauga County. PPP loans are for Boone.
Unemployment rate
3.7%
Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$51,186
24,591 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$56,442
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$337M
FY 2026, $6,223 per person
PPP loans
$66.9M
980 loans, 10,954 jobs reported
How people get to work
Boone, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone63.7%
- Carpooled8.1%
- Public transit4.2%
- Walked13.2%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
- Worked from home10.1%
Average one-way commute: 15.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Boone, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
667
Countywide, mostly high wind
Flood insurance policies
485
2.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
79° / 22°F
59.1 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone4 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Boone, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
32.0%
U.S. 33.3% -1.3 pts
Diabetes
5.4%
U.S. 12.1% -6.7 pts
Smoking
11.5%
U.S. 12.8% -1.3 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
11.8%
U.S. 11.1% +0.7 pts
ZIP codes in Boone
1 in or overlapping Boone. Population shown
Cities near Boone
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Blowing RockTown | 5.6 mi | 3.2 |
| Valle CrucisCensus-designated place | 6.3 mi | 4.4 |
| FoscoeCensus-designated place | 6.8 mi | 5.8 |
| Cove CreekCensus-designated place | 7.7 mi | 8.5 |
| Seven DevilsTown | 9.4 mi | 2.2 |
| Beech MountainTown | 12 mi | 6.5 |
| Banner ElkTown | 12 mi | 1.9 |
| Sugar MountainVillage | 12 mi | 2.5 |
| Grandfather VillageVillage | 12 mi | 1.5 |
| LinvilleCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 1.8 |
| NewlandTown | 16 mi | 0.7 |
| West JeffersonTown | 17 mi | 2.2 |
| Elk ParkTown | 17 mi | 0.7 |
| JeffersonTown | 19 mi | 2.1 |
| Mountain City, TNTown | 19 mi | 3.4 |
| CrossnoreTown | 19 mi | 0.4 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Boone, NC in?
- Boone is in Watauga County, North Carolina.
- What ZIP codes are in Boone, NC?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Boone include 28607.
- What is the population of Boone, NC?
- About 20,032 people live in Boone, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Boone?
- Nearby places include Blowing Rock (5.6 mi), Valle Crucis (6.3 mi), Foscoe (6.8 mi), Cove Creek (7.7 mi), Seven Devils (9.4 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023