West Jefferson

Population: 1,567
Median household income: $54,306
Median home value: $217,900

Located in Ashe County, North Carolina, West Jefferson is a community with a population of 1,567. At $54,306, its median household income sits above Ashe County's $50,827.

Between 2019 and 2023, West Jefferson's population grew 1.8% from 1,539 to 1,567, while its median home value rose 39.1% from $156,700 to $217,900.

75.1% of homes are single-family detached houses. The typical home was built around 1970.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 1,567
Median age: 43.6 yrs
Median household income: $54,306
Median home value: $217,900
Median gross rent: $517
Housing units: 724
Homeownership rate: 56.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 15.5%
Unemployment rate: 16.7%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

1,5391,567

Median household income

$29,417$54,306

Median home value

$156,700$217,900

Median gross rent

$574$517

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	1,539	$29,417	$156,700	$574
2020	1,767	$32,273	$144,700	$566
2021	1,446	$28,958	$164,400	$485
2022	1,508	$41,036	$190,900	$588
2023	1,567	$54,306	$217,900	$517

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 53.4%

5 to 1714.7%

18 to 246.1%

25 to 3414.9%

35 to 4413.7%

45 to 5414.0%

55 to 6411.4%

65 to 749.2%

75 and over12.7%

	Count	Share
Under 5	53	3.4%
5 to 17	230	14.7%
18 to 24	96	6.1%
25 to 34	233	14.9%
35 to 44	214	13.7%
45 to 54	219	14.0%
55 to 64	179	11.4%
65 to 74	144	9.2%
75 and over	199	12.7%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	1,333	85.1%
Black or African American	125	8.0%
American Indian & Alaska Native	0	0.0%
Asian	0	0.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	0	0.0%
Two or more races	47	3.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	62	4.0%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma12.5%

High school graduate38.8%

Some college or associate's33.2%

Bachelor's degree10.4%

Graduate or professional degree5.1%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	148	12.5%
High school graduate	461	38.8%
Some college or associate's	395	33.2%
Bachelor's degree	124	10.4%
Graduate or professional degree	60	5.1%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 18 min

Drove alone82.7%

Carpooled11.3%

Public transit0.0%

Walked2.0%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home4.0%

Other means0.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	534	82.7%
Carpooled	73	11.3%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	13	2.0%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	26	4.0%
Other means	0	0.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	332	53.5%
15 to 29 min	170	27.4%
30 to 44 min	57	9.2%
45 to 59 min	58	9.4%
60+ min	3	0.5%

Households

Average household size: 2.59
Poverty rate: 15.3% (229 of 1,500)

	Count	Share
Family households	314	55.4%
Nonfamily households	253	44.6%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1970

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	567	78.3%
Vacant	157	21.7%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	319	56.3%
Renter-occupied	248	43.7%

1-unit, detached75.1%

1-unit, attached0.0%

2 to 4 units10.1%

5 to 19 units9.4%

20 or more units2.8%

Mobile home & other2.6%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	544	75.1%
1-unit, attached	0	0.0%
2 to 4 units	73	10.1%
5 to 19 units	68	9.4%
20 or more units	20	2.8%
Mobile home & other	19	2.6%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3772540
Type (LSAD): 43
Land area: 2.15 sq mi
Water area: 0 sq mi
Center point: 36.3831, -81.4896