Your life in Wilkes County, North Carolina

What stands out

Against every county in America, Wilkes County is unusual in one way: high-school completion is in the bottom 12% of American counties (81%). Within North Carolina it ranks 8th of 100 counties for high-school completion, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Wilkes County, North Carolina. 66,125 people live here with you. The population grew 0.3% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +467).

North Carolina has a flat income tax that is being cut each year, 3.99% for 2026 after 4.25% in 2025, with 3.49% scheduled for 2027 if revenue triggers are met, and it does not tax Social Security. Property taxes are moderate and reassessments happen every four to eight years by county. The Research Triangle and Charlotte have driven a decade of in-migration; the mountains and the Outer Banks are second-home markets with hurricane and flood exposure on the coast.

Money

The typical household here brings in $49,119 a year, lower than 81% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $48,003. Unemployment runs 3.8%, higher than 65% of American counties. 8% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 26 minutes each way.

North Carolina takes 4.0% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,960 a year.

Home

The median home costs $226K, cheaper than 53% of American counties, about 2.4 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $675 a month. Property tax is 0.69% of home value, roughly $1,005 a year on that median home, lower than 67% of American counties. 73% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.9 per 1,000 residents, higher than 53% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 27 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 74.5 years, shorter than 65% of American counties. There are 56 active physicians in the county, about 8.5 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.0 of 5 stars. 12.7% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.08 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 60% of American counties. 81% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 57 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 67% of eligible voters turned out. Under North Carolina law you can get a concealed-carry permit on request, abortion is legal with limits, and marijuana is illegal.

Weather and risk

The year averages 58°F, highs near 69 and lows near 46, warmer than 59% of American counties. About 43 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 55 out of 100, riskier than 55% of American counties; the county has had 22 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 200 Mbps down, faster than 50% of American counties. There are 2 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.6 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• North Carolina tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.