Ashe County, North Carolina Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 73rd-largest in North Carolina

The population of Ashe County, North Carolina is 26,831 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 73rd-largest county in North Carolina. The median household income is $50,827, the median home value is $221,900, and the median age is 49.8.

The population of Ashe County has grown 0.1% since 2010 (27,226 → 27,266), a +0.01% annualized rate.

Ashe County within North Carolina · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

26,831

Population

+0.01%

Annual growth

People / sq mi

$50,827

Median Income

$221,900

Median Home Value

Ashe County covers 426 sq mi of land at 62.9 people per square mile.

About Ashe County, NC

Ashe County is a county in North Carolina with a population of 26,831. It ranks #73 among counties in North Carolina by population. The median age is 49.8, older than the national median. The population is 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

The median household income in Ashe County is $50,827, below the US median of $74,580. 9.4% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $221,900, with monthly rent averaging $774. The homeownership rate of 78.4% is higher than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Ashe County reflects 22.4% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 9.4% of workers primarily work from home, below the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 24.5 minutes each way.

Ashe County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Ashe County had a population of 27,226 in 2010 and 27,266 in 2024, a 0.1% growth over 14 years. The peak was 27,266 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 0.01%.

27,266

Population (2024)

27,226

Population (2010)

27,266

Peak (2024)

0.01%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	27,226	-	-	estimate
2011	26,983	-243	-0.89%	estimate
2012	26,921	-62	-0.23%	estimate
2013	26,837	-84	-0.31%	estimate
2014	26,761	-76	-0.28%	estimate
2015	26,625	-136	-0.51%	estimate
2016	26,595	-30	-0.11%	estimate
2017	26,795	+200	+0.75%	estimate
2018	27,122	+327	+1.22%	estimate
2019	27,215	+93	+0.34%	estimate
2020	26,590	-625	-2.30%	estimate
2021	26,766	+176	+0.66%	estimate
2022	27,062	+296	+1.11%	estimate
2023	27,068	+6	+0.02%	estimate
2024	27,266	+198	+0.73%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	94.0%
Black or African American	1.1%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.0%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

49.8

Median Age

50.7%

Female

49.3%

Male

26.9%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

3.9%

5–9

4.3%

10–14

5.2%

15–19

5.4%

20–24

4.4%

25–34

10.5%

35–44

10.6%

45–54

12.6%

55–59

6.6%

60–64

9.6%

65–74

15.7%

75–84

8.3%

85+

2.9%

Children (under 15): 13.4% · Seniors (65+): 26.9%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$50,827$-19,077 vs state
Mean household income	$68,596
Per-capita income	$31,486
Poverty rate	9.4%
Unemployment rate	2.8%
Employment-to-population	48.7%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

23.0%

Manufacturing

14.2%

Construction

11.6%

Finance & real estate

8.1%

Education & health care

5.9%

Information

5.7%

Arts, entertainment & food

4.9%

Retail trade

4.3%

The largest employment sector in Ashe County is professional & business services, accounting for 23.0% of workers.

How residents commute

0.1%

Drive alone

1.3%

Carpool

79.5%

Public transit

9.4%

Work from home

24.5 min

Avg commute

Housing

$221,900$-37,500 vs state

Median home value

$774

Median rent

78.4%

Homeownership rate

17,111

Total housing units

70.1%

Occupied

29.9%

Vacant

21.6%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

87.9%

With health insurance

88.3%

With broadband internet

28.8%

Foreign-born

6.5%

Veterans (18+)

19.2%

With a disability

94.6%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

87.5%

High School+

22.4%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in North Carolina

Charlotte (886,283)Raleigh (470,763)Greensboro (298,564)Durham (288,465)Winston-Salem (250,887)Fayetteville (209,692)Cary (176,686)Wilmington (118,578)High Point (115,263)Concord (106,518)All North Carolina cities →

Other counties in North Carolina

Wake County (1,151,009)Mecklenburg County (1,130,906)Guilford County (542,987)Forsyth County (386,740)Cumberland County (336,749)Durham County (329,405)Buncombe County (271,790)Union County (244,975)Gaston County (231,485)Cabarrus County (231,262)All North Carolina counties →

Part of North Carolina

North Carolina demographic profile All North Carolina data →

Metro areas in North Carolina

Charlotte (2,712,818)Virginia Beach (1,782,590)Raleigh (1,449,594)Greensboro (779,894)Winston (683,637)Durham (594,291)Wilmington (440,578)Asheville (410,817)All US metros →

County rankings

US Counties by Population Richest US Counties by Median Household Income Expensive US Counties by Home Value Educated US Counties Counties With Highest Poverty Rates Youngest US Counties by Median Age Oldest US Counties by Median Age Cheapest US Counties by Median Home Value Racially Diverse US Counties Counties With Largest Hispanic Population All rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Ashe County, North Carolina has a population of 26,831 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 73rd-largest county in North Carolina. Population density is 63 people per square mile.

The population of Ashe County has grown 0.1% since 2010 (27,226 → 27,266), a +0.01% annualized rate.

The median household income in Ashe County, North Carolina is $50,827, with mean (average) household income of $68,596 and per-capita income of $31,486. 9.4% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Ashe County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (94.0%), Black or African American (1.1%), Hispanic or Latino (1.0%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Ashe County, North Carolina is 49.8 years. Residents are 50.7% female and 49.3% male.

The median home value in Ashe County is $221,900 and median monthly rent is $774. 78.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 17,111 total housing units, 29.9% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Ashe County, North Carolina is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 23.0% of workers. The unemployment rate is 2.8%.

Charlotte is among the largest cities associated with Ashe County, North Carolina, with a population of 886,283.