Banner Elk

Population: 1,338
Median household income: $67,917
Median home value: $422,900

Banner Elk is a community in Avery County, North Carolina, home to 1,338 residents. The median household income of $67,917 is above the Avery County median ($57,657).

Between 2019 and 2023, Banner Elk's population held roughly steady from 1,332 to 1,338, while its median home value rose 35.7% from $311,600 to $422,900.

Households average 1.80 people. The median gross rent is $879.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 1,338
Median age: 20.7 yrs
Median household income: $67,917
Median home value: $422,900
Median gross rent: $879
Housing units: 788
Homeownership rate: 62.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 44.8%
Unemployment rate: 5.6%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

1,3321,338

Median household income

$55,781$67,917

Median home value

$311,600$422,900

Median gross rent

$813$879

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	1,332	$55,781	$311,600	$813
2020	1,473	$53,750	$302,200	$821
2021	1,350	$58,333	$326,200	$816
2022	1,234	$66,607	$408,500	$890
2023	1,338	$67,917	$422,900	$879

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

Age distribution

Under 50.6%

5 to 175.9%

18 to 2454.1%

25 to 347.4%

35 to 446.5%

45 to 544.9%

55 to 645.1%

65 to 7410.3%

75 and over5.2%

	Count	Share
Under 5	8	0.6%
5 to 17	79	5.9%
18 to 24	724	54.1%
25 to 34	99	7.4%
35 to 44	87	6.5%
45 to 54	66	4.9%
55 to 64	68	5.1%
65 to 74	138	10.3%
75 and over	69	5.2%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	1,093	81.7%
Black or African American	103	7.7%
American Indian & Alaska Native	0	0.0%
Asian	28	2.1%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	0	0.0%
Two or more races	39	2.9%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	75	5.6%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma0.9%

High school graduate27.1%

Some college or associate's27.1%

Bachelor's degree21.3%

Graduate or professional degree23.5%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	5	0.9%
High school graduate	143	27.1%
Some college or associate's	143	27.1%
Bachelor's degree	112	21.3%
Graduate or professional degree	124	23.5%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 12 min

Drove alone64.5%

Carpooled6.6%

Public transit0.0%

Walked9.5%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home19.4%

Other means0.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	272	64.5%
Carpooled	28	6.6%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	40	9.5%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	82	19.4%
Other means	0	0.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	252	74.1%
15 to 29 min	62	18.2%
30 to 44 min	18	5.3%
45 to 59 min	0	0.0%
60+ min	8	2.4%

Households

Average household size: 1.80
Poverty rate: 16.0% (106 of 662)

	Count	Share
Family households	183	51.5%
Nonfamily households	172	48.5%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1997

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	355	45.1%
Vacant	433	54.9%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	223	62.8%
Renter-occupied	132	37.2%

1-unit, detached47.0%

1-unit, attached3.2%

2 to 4 units39.5%

5 to 19 units8.9%

20 or more units0.0%

Mobile home & other1.5%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	370	47.0%
1-unit, attached	25	3.2%
2 to 4 units	311	39.5%
5 to 19 units	70	8.9%
20 or more units	0	0.0%
Mobile home & other	12	1.5%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3703500
Type (LSAD): 43
Land area: 1.89 sq mi
Water area: 0 sq mi
Center point: 36.1589, -81.8678