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Jefferson, NC
Town in Ashe County, North Carolina.
Population
1,864
Land area
2.1sq mi
People per sq mi
882
ZIP codes
0
Jefferson and its ZIP codes
Jefferson at a glance
- Jefferson is about 4 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $40,590 a year, 44% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $236,000 (18% below North Carolina) and median rent is $748 a month.
Local data for Jefferson, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Jefferson, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$40,590
Poverty rate
22.9%
Median home value
$236,000
Median rent
$748/mo
Homeownership
44.9%
Bachelor's or higher
11.9%
Median age
41.6
Average commute
19.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (138), Irish Americans (95), Mexican Americans (64).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Ashe County. PPP loans are for Jefferson.
Unemployment rate
2.9%
Aug 2026, -0.7 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
How people get to work
Jefferson, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone80.1%
- Carpooled9.9%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.3%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.4%
- Worked from home9.3%
Average one-way commute: 19.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Jefferson, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
587
Countywide, mostly 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 zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Jefferson, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.2%
U.S. 33.3% +1.9 pts
Diabetes
12.7%
U.S. 12.1% +0.6 pts
Smoking
14.8%
U.S. 12.8% +2.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.8%
U.S. 11.1% about the same
Cities near Jefferson
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| West JeffersonTown | 2 mi | 2.2 |
| LansingTown | 6.1 mi | 0.4 |
| BooneTown | 19 mi | 6.4 |
| Mountain City, TNTown | 19 mi | 3.4 |
| Troutdale, VATown | 20 mi | 3.1 |
| SpartaTown | 20 mi | 2.3 |
| Millers CreekCensus-designated place | 20 mi | 4.5 |
| Cove CreekCensus-designated place | 21 mi | 8.5 |
| MulberryCensus-designated place | 21 mi | 5.1 |
| Independence, VATown | 23 mi | 2.3 |
| CricketCensus-designated place | 23 mi | 3.5 |
| Damascus, VATown | 23 mi | 0.8 |
| Blowing RockTown | 23 mi | 3.2 |
| HaysCensus-designated place | 23 mi | 6.2 |
| Valle CrucisCensus-designated place | 23 mi | 4.4 |
| FairplainsCensus-designated place | 24 mi | 4.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Jefferson, NC in?
- Jefferson is in Ashe County, North Carolina.
- What is the population of Jefferson, NC?
- About 1,864 people live in Jefferson, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Jefferson?
- Nearby places include West Jefferson (2 mi), Lansing (6.1 mi), Boone (19 mi), Mountain City, TN (19 mi), Troutdale, VA (20 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023