Boone, NC

Census Place

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2023 Population

19,534

0.857% 1-year growth

US Senator

Thom Tillis

Republican Party

US Senator

Ted Budd

Republican Party

2023 Median Age

21.5

0.467% 1-year increase

2023 Poverty Rate

52.1%

6.86% 1-year decrease

2023 Median Household Income

$28,633

1.38% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$373,600

16% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

8,597

3.79% 1-year growth

About

In 2023, Boone, NC had a population of 19.5k people with a median age of 21.5 and a median household income of $28,633. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Boone, NC grew from 19,368 to 19,534, a 0.857% increase and its median household income grew from $28,242 to $28,633, a 1.38% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Boone, NC are White (Non-Hispanic) (83.6%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (3.16%), Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) (2.85%), White (Hispanic) (2.49%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (2.01%).

None of the households in Boone, 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.

96.4% of the residents in Boone, NC are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Boone, NC are Appalachian State University (5,253 degrees awarded in 2023).

In 2023, the median property value in Boone, NC was $373,600, and the homeownership rate was 23.7%.

Most people in Boone, NC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 14.9 minutes. The average car ownership in Boone, NC was 2 cars per household.

United States North Carolina Watauga County, NC Boone, NC Boone High Country--Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC

Population & Diversity

Boone, NC is home to a population of 19.5k people, from which 96.4% are citizens. As of 2023, 4.86% of Boone, NC residents were born outside of the country (949 people).

In 2023, there were 26.4 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (16.3k people) in Boone, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 618 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 557 Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

96.4%

2023 Citizenship

97.9%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 96.4% of Boone, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Boone, NC was 97.9%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Boone, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Boone, NC

White (Non-Hispanic)
16.3k ± 419
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
618 ± 165
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
557 ± 213

7.79%

Hispanic Population

1.52k people

7.79% of the people in Boone, NC are hispanic (1.52k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Boone, NC as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for North Carolina.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
224,963 ± 11,520 people
India
83,219 ± 7,055 people
Honduras
48,247 ± 5,380 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of North Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 224,963 North Carolina residents, followed by India with 83,219 and Honduras with 48,247.

Foreign-Born Population

4.86%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

949 people

3.3%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

640 people

As of 2023, 4.86% of Boone, NC residents (949 people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Boone, NC was 3.3%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Boone, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
103 ± 91
Gulf War (1990s)
26 ± 48
Gulf War (2001-)
15 ± 36

Boone, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 3.96 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Boone, NC employs 8.6k people. In 2023, the largest industries in Boone, NC were Educational Services (1,855 people), Accommodation & Food Services (1,685 people), and Retail Trade (1,467 people), and the highest paying industries were Finance & Insurance ($250,001), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($81,058), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting ($81,058).

Employment

Occupations

8.6k

2023 Value

± 976

3.79%

1 Year growth

± 15.4%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Boone, NC grew at a rate of 3.79%, from 8.28k employees to 8.6k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Boone, NC, are Sales & Related Occupations (1,683 people), Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (1,374 people), and Education Instruction, & Library Occupations (1,323 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Boone, 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

8.6k

2023 Value

± 976

3.79%

1 Year growth

± 15.4%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Boone, NC grew at a rate of 3.79%, from 8.28k employees to 8.6k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Boone, NC, are Educational Services (1,855 people), Accommodation & Food Services (1,685 people), and Retail Trade (1,467 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Boone, NC, though some of these residents may live in Boone, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$15,316

Median earning men ± $2,145

$12,092

Median earning women ± $3,181

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($55,135), Information ($48,656), and Public Administration ($45,313).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Information ($55,489), Wholesale Trade ($43,483), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($34,000).

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, NC awarded 5,253 degrees. The student population of Boone, NC in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 9,033 male students and 12,220 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Boone, NC are White (4,366 and 83.6%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (370 and 7.09%), Black or African American (202 and 3.87%), and Two or More Races (177 and 3.39%).

The largest universities in Boone, NC by number of degrees awarded are Appalachian State University (5,253 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Boone, NC are General Psychology (333 and 6.34%), Kinesiology & Exercise Science (277 and 5.27%), and General Business Administration & Management (255 and 4.85%).

The median tuition cost in Boone, NC for a public four year colleges is $4,242 for in-state students and $21,238 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Boone, NC, the percentage of applicants admitted was 88.6%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 19.9%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 21,253 (42.5% men and 57.5% 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 21,253 students enrolled in Boone, NC, 42.5% men and 57.5% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 17,109 records, of which 57% were women and 43% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Kinesiology & Exercise Science
255 degrees awarded
General Marketing & Marketing Management
204 degrees awarded
General Psychology
317 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Boone, NC was Kinesiology & Exercise Science with 255 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Boone, NC according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Appalachian State University

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

5,253 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, 2,042 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Boone, NC, which is 0.636 times less than the 3,211 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 4,366 degrees mean that there were 11.8 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 370 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

Public, 4-year or above ($4,242) 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, 4-year or above ($800) 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

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

Measure

In 2023, 0.995% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.855% of women were in the same situation.

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

Educational Attainment

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

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2023 were High School or Equivalent (2.18M), Some college (1.81M), and Bachelors Degree (1.69M).

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, NC was $373,600 in 2023, which is 1.23 times larger than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $322,200 to $373,600, a 16% increase. The homeownership rate in Boone, NC is 23.7%, which is lower than the national average of 65%.

People in Boone, NC have an average commute time of 14.9 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Boone, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$373,600

Median Property Value 2023

±$46,093

$1,395

Median Property Taxes

±$284

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, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the $2k - $3k range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Boone, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

23.7%

Homeownership

2023

64.2%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 23.7% of the housing units in Boone, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 22.9%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Boone, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

The following map shows all of the places in Boone, NC colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

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

$28,633

Median Household Income

± $3,395

5.87k

Number of Households

± 712

In 2023, the median household income of the 5.87k households in Boone, NC grew to $28,633 from the previous year's value of $28,242.

The following chart displays the households in Boone, 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

The closest comparable wage GINI for Boone, NC is from North Carolina.

0.467

2023 Wage GINI in North Carolina

0.47

2022 Wage GINI in North Carolina

In 2023, the income inequality in North Carolina was 0.467 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.639% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for North Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in North Carolina in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in North Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (67.4%)
Walked (10.7%)
Worked At Home (10.4%)

In 2023, 67.4% of workers in Boone, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who walked to work (10.7%) and those who worked at home (10.4%).

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

14.9 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Boone, NC have a shorter commute time (14.9 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 0.747% of the workforce in Boone, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Boone, 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, NC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Boone, NC have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

52.1% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Boone, NC (7.16k out of 13.7k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Males 18 - 24, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Females 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Boone, NC is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

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

93% of the population of Boone, NC has health coverage, with 60.9% on employee plans, 5.75% on Medicaid, 6.22% on Medicare, 18.9% on non-group plans, and 1.17% 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 317 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 46.8% were men and 53.2% were women.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 17.9% under 18 years, 61.5% between 18 and 34 years, 14.3% between 35 and 64 years, and 6.28% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 46.8% were men and 53.2% were women.

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

Uninsured People

7.04%

Uninsured

60.9%

Employer Coverage

5.75%

Medicaid

6.22%

Medicare

18.9%

Non-Group

1.17%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Boone, NC grew by 26.5% from 5.57% to 7.04%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Boone, NC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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