Blowing Rock

Population: 848
Median household income: $120,865
Median home value: $667,300

Blowing Rock is a community in Watauga County, North Carolina, home to 848 residents. At $120,865, its median household income sits above Watauga County's $51,367.

From 2019 to 2023, Blowing Rock's population declined 27.1% from 1,163 to 848, while its median home value rose 46.5% from $455,600 to $667,300.

Households average 1.89 people. The median gross rent is $877.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 848
Median age: 60.9 yrs
Median household income: $120,865
Median home value: $667,300
Median gross rent: $877
Housing units: 1,872
Homeownership rate: 74.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 59.9%
Unemployment rate: 0.7%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

1,163848

Median household income

$80,231$120,865

Median home value

$455,600$667,300

Median gross rent

$971$877

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	1,163	$80,231	$455,600	$971
2020	1,149	$83,333	$497,000	$1,183
2021	1,072	$99,306	$560,600	$1,140
2022	900	$116,731	$594,300	$1,250
2023	848	$120,865	$667,300	$877

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

Age distribution

Under 54.7%

5 to 175.4%

18 to 2410.1%

25 to 343.3%

35 to 4411.8%

45 to 545.4%

55 to 6420.4%

65 to 7425.7%

75 and over13.1%

	Count	Share
Under 5	40	4.7%
5 to 17	46	5.4%
18 to 24	86	10.1%
25 to 34	28	3.3%
35 to 44	100	11.8%
45 to 54	46	5.4%
55 to 64	173	20.4%
65 to 74	218	25.7%
75 and over	111	13.1%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	788	92.9%
Black or African American	31	3.7%
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	29	3.4%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	0	0.0%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma4.4%

High school graduate9.2%

Some college or associate's26.5%

Bachelor's degree26.8%

Graduate or professional degree33.1%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	30	4.4%
High school graduate	62	9.2%
Some college or associate's	179	26.5%
Bachelor's degree	181	26.8%
Graduate or professional degree	224	33.1%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 32 min

Drove alone78.5%

Carpooled0.5%

Public transit0.0%

Walked0.0%

Bicycle3.7%

Worked from home17.4%

Other means0.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	343	78.5%
Carpooled	2	0.5%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	0	0.0%
Bicycle	16	3.7%
Worked from home	76	17.4%
Other means	0	0.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	185	51.2%
15 to 29 min	114	31.6%
30 to 44 min	9	2.5%
45 to 59 min	0	0.0%
60+ min	53	14.7%

Households

Average household size: 1.89
Poverty rate: 1.8% (14 of 795)

	Count	Share
Family households	223	53.0%
Nonfamily households	198	47.0%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1984

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	421	22.5%
Vacant	1,451	77.5%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	314	74.6%
Renter-occupied	107	25.4%

1-unit, detached56.6%

1-unit, attached3.4%

2 to 4 units9.6%

5 to 19 units26.4%

20 or more units0.6%

Mobile home & other3.4%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	1,059	56.6%
1-unit, attached	64	3.4%
2 to 4 units	179	9.6%
5 to 19 units	494	26.4%
20 or more units	12	0.6%
Mobile home & other	64	3.4%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3706500
Type (LSAD): 43
Land area: 3.24 sq mi
Water area: 0.04 sq mi
Center point: 36.1292, -81.6663