Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC

Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA)

Add Comparison

2024 Population

133,542

US Senator

Thom Tillis

Republican Party

US Senator

Ted Budd

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

42.5

0.236% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

18%

0.537% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$55,750

4.95% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$275,600

10.7% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

54,097

0.148% 1-year decline

About

5.38% of the households in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

98.1% of the residents in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC are Appalachian State University (5,253 degrees awarded in 2023), Lees-McRae College (215 degrees), and Mayland Community College (206 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC was $275,600, and the homeownership rate was 72.8%.

Most people in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 23.4 minutes. The average car ownership in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC was 2 cars per household.

Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC borders Mount Rogers Planning District Commission PUMA, VA, Wilkesboro High Country--Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC, Caldwell & Alexander Counties PUMA, NC, Burke & McDowell Counties PUMA, NC, Buncombe County (Northwest) PUMA, NC, Haywood, Madison, Swain, Graham & Jackson (North) Counties PUMA, NC, and Washington (South) & Carter Counties--Elizabethton city PUMA, TN.

United States North Carolina Tennessee Virginia

Population & Diversity

Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC is home to a population of 134k people, from which 98.1% are citizens. As of 2024, 3.25% of Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC residents were born outside of the country (4.34k people).

In 2024, there were 38 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (119k people) in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 3.14k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) and 2.36k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

The most common non-English languages spoken as the primary language in households in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC are Spanish (5,017 households), Italian (268 households), and Russian (233 households).

Population & Diversity

Residents by Gender and Age

RACE/ETHNICITY

66,142

Women

49.9%

66,539

Men

50.1%

The resident population of United States in 2023 was 132,681 inhabitants, with 50.1% men, and 49.9% women.

The visualization shows the distribution of the residents by gender and age in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC.

With the upper buttons you can add a filter by race.

Citizenship

98.1%

2024 Citizenship

97.8%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 98.1% of Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC was 97.8%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC

White (Non-Hispanic)
119k ± 349
Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
3.14k ± 552
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
2.36k ± 308

6.02%

Hispanic Population

8.04k people

6.02% of the people in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC are hispanic (8.04k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

Most Common Origin

Mexico
1,773 ± 1,027 people
Korea
219 ± 363 people
Russia
185 ± 334 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC was Mexico, the natal country of 1,773 Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC residents, followed by Korea with 219 and Russia with 185.

Foreign-Born Population

3.25%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

4.34k people

3.44%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

4.57k people

As of 2024, 3.25% of Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC residents (4.34k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC was 3.44%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Non-English Households

Most Common Non-English Languages

Spanish
5,017 households (3.9%)
Italian
268 households (0.208%)
Russian
233 households (0.181%)

5.38% of the households in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language, which is lower than the national average of 22.3%. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

In 2024, the most common non-English language spoken in households in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC was Spanish. 3.9% of the households in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC reported speaking Spanish at home as the primary shared language between all members living in the household.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
3,153 ± 381
Gulf War (2001-)
1,102 ± 229
Gulf War (1990s)
970 ± 227

Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.86 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC.

Economy

The economy of Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC employs 54.1k people. In 2023, the largest industries in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC were Restaurants & Food Services (4,481 people), Construction (4,085 people), and Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (3,774 people), and the highest paying industries were Machinery manufacturing, n.e.c. or not specified ($237,822), Securities, commodities, funds, trusts & other financial investments ($171,481), and Insurance carriers ($143,451).

Males in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC have an average income that is 1.08 times higher than the average income of females, which is $55,744. The income inequality in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC (measured using the Gini index) is 0.484, which is higher than than the national average.

Employment

Workforce Diversity

Measure

RACE/ETHNICITY

25,506

Women

47.1%

28,591

Men

52.9%

The workforce of Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC in 2023 was 54,097 people, with 47.1% woman, and 52.9% men.

The visualization shows the distribution of the workforce by gender and age in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC.

With the upper buttons you can see the distribution of the average salary and add a filter by race.

Occupations

54.1k

2023 Value

−0.148%

1 Year decline

± −0.148%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC declined at a rate of −0.148%, from 54.2k employees to 54.1k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC, are Driver/sales workers & truck drivers (1,573 people), Retail salespersons (1,558 people), and Postsecondary teachers (1,441 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

54.1k

2023 Value

−0.148%

1 Year decline

± −0.148%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC declined at a rate of −0.148%, from 54.2k employees to 54.1k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC, are Restaurants & Food Services (4,481 people), Construction (4,085 people), and Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (3,774 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC, though some of these residents may live in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$40,532

Median earning men ± $1,655

$31,233

Median earning women ± $1,485

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($53,750), Information ($51,929), and Public Administration ($49,995).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Wholesale Trade ($46,671), Public Administration ($45,053), and Manufacturing ($40,156).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Y-Axis

3.04%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 4.86M people employed in North Carolina. This represents a 3.04% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.9%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in North Carolina.

Education

In 2023, universities in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC awarded 5,687 degrees. The student population of Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 9,705 male students and 13,327 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC are White (4,718 and 83.5%), Hispanic or Latino (389 and 6.88%), Black or African American (218 and 3.86%), and Two or More Races (180 and 3.18%).

The largest universities in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC by number of degrees awarded are Appalachian State University (5,253 and 92.4%), Lees-McRae College (215 and 3.78%), and Mayland Community College (206 and 3.62%).

The most popular majors in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC are General Psychology (341 and 6%), Kinesiology & Exercise Science (286 and 5.03%), and General Business Administration & Management (282 and 4.96%).

The median tuition costs in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC are $28,790 for private four year colleges, and $4,242 and $21,238 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC, the percentage of applicants admitted was 88.1%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 19.5%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 23,032 (42.1% men and 57.9% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 23,032 students enrolled in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC, 42.1% men and 57.9% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 18,545 records, of which 57.4% were women and 42.6% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Kinesiology & Exercise Science
264 degrees awarded
Elementary Education & Teaching
207 degrees awarded
General Psychology
325 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC was Kinesiology & Exercise Science with 264 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Appalachian State University
5,253 degrees awarded
Lees-McRae College
215 degrees awarded
Mayland Community College
206 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Appalachian State University with 5,253 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 2,215 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC, which is 0.638 times less than the 3,472 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 4,718 degrees mean that there were 12.1 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 389 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($28,790) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($3,299) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($1,194) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Measure

In 2023, 0.894% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.564% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population of Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC in 2023 were Some college (31k), High School or Equivalent (30.1k), and Bachelors Degree (19k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC was $275,600 in 2024, which is 0.828 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $249,000 to $275,600, a 10.7% increase. The homeownership rate in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC is 72.8%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC have an average commute time of 23.4 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$275,600

Median Property Value 2024

±$9,345

$39,959

Median Property Taxes

±$1,446

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

72.8%

Homeownership

2024

69.9%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 72.8% of the housing units in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 71.6%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$55,750

Median Household Income

± $2,154

54.9k

Number of Households

± 1,770

In 2024, the median household income of the 54.9k households in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC grew to $55,750 from the previous year's value of $53,120.

The following chart displays the households in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the < $10k range.

Wage Distribution

0.484

2023 Wage GINI in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC

0.482

2022 Wage GINI in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC

In 2023, the income inequality in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC was 0.484 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.357% growth from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC was higher than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (76%)
Worked At Home (9.81%)
Carpooled (9.52%)

In 2024, 76% of workers in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (9.81%) and those who carpooled to work (9.52%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

23.4 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC have a shorter commute time (23.4 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.45% of the workforce in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

18% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC (22.3k out of 124k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Males 18 - 24, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Females 55 - 64.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC is White, followed by Hispanic and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

90.5% of the population of Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC has health coverage, with 39.9% on employee plans, 13.3% on Medicaid, 17.3% on Medicare, 18.5% on non-group plans, and 1.55% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in North Carolina see 1,413 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,413 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1634 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 299 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.5% were men and 50.5% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

1,413 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in North Carolina

Primary care physicians in North Carolina see an average of 1,413 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,413 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in North Carolina in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 17.7% under 18 years, 25% between 18 and 34 years, 34.9% between 35 and 64 years, and 22.4% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.5% were men and 50.5% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

9.51%

Uninsured

39.9%

Employer Coverage

13.3%

Medicaid

17.3%

Medicare

18.5%

Non-Group

1.55%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC declined by 14.5% from 11.1% to 9.51%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.