Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Avery County, NC

Welcome to Avery County.

← Back to search

Avery County has a population of 17.7 thousand and a total area (land and water combined) of 247.5 square miles.

Total GDP for the county increased 27%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $757 million.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Avery County voted for Republican candidates six out of six times and never voted for a Democratic candidate.

The largest city in the county is Newland.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Burke County, Caldwell County, McDowell County, Mitchell County, Watauga County, Carter County, and Johnson County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
25.19%74.04%++
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
23.99%75.47%+++
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
27.42%71.52%++
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
24.26%74.31%++
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
20.48%76.35%+++
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
23.17%75.83%++
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

← Back to search

Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%27%
Government
Enterprises
16%12%
Private Industries84%30%
Agriculture1%2%
Mining<1%-41%
Utilities1%56%
Construction8%80%
Manufacturing1%-2%
– Durable1%34%
– Nondurable1%-33%
Trade9%42%
– Wholesale2%22%
– Retail7%48%
Transportation<1%0%
Information<1%-19%
Finance & Insurance4%15%
Real Estate26%0%
Professional &
Business Services
9%0%
Educational Services<1%0%
Healthcare &
Social Services
<1%0%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
7%55%
Accommodation &
Food Services
6%45%
Other Services23%19%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

← Back to search

Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
📺 Electronics & Appliance351
🛒 Grocery Stores659
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores352
⚕️ Health & Personal Care660
⛽ Gasoline Stations1166
👕 Clothing Stores340
👠 Shoe Stores
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry
🏸 Sporting Goods459
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers
🏬 Department Stores1076
💐 Florists
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies
🍺 Bars & Taverns
🍽️ Full-service restaurants3079
🍔 Limited-service restaurants1258
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers2477
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation1176
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

← Back to search

Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%119%$245,300 N/A
Top 20%48%$156,900 $160,500
Next highest 20%23%$75,900 $97,100
Middle 20%15%$49,300 $60,200
Second lowest 20%9%$30,200 $38,400
Bottom 20%4%$12,500 $22,500
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries62%$63,400
Self-Employment11%$27,300
Investment Income121%$19,600
Social Security45%$21,600
Supplemental Security5%Below $10,000
Public AssistanceLess than 1%Below $10,000
Retirement27%$25,500
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
<1%4%7%10%
$25K
– $49K
1%7%8%9%
$50K
– $99K
1%8%11%10%
$100K
– $199K
<1%3%8%7%
$200K
& more
<1%1%2%2%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

← Back to search

Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$36,700 $30,100
African-American$38,600
Hispanic$29,800 Below $10,000
Asian$29,000
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$31,900
Highschool & GED$35,800 $22,400
Some College to
Associate’s
$39,200 $32,500
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$52,500 $46,500
Graduate Degree$66,300 $62,300
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$51,800 $47,100
STEM2$80,200 $77,800
Gray-Collar3$39,300
Pink-Collar4$13,100
Sales5$38,400 $25,300
Blue-Collar6$36,900 $32,400
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

← Back to search

Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding
Cold Waves++$
Drought+
Earthquake+$
Hail+$
Heat Waves
Hurricane+$
Ice Storm+$
Landslide+$
Lightning+$
Riverine Flooding+$$
Strong Wind+$
Tornado+$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires+
Winter Weather+$
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

← Back to search

ZIP Codes in Avery County


Elk Park, NC 28622
Grandfather, NC 28646
Crossnore, NC 28616
Newland, NC 28657

ZIP codes are dynamically and randomly generated at no more than ten per click. Refresh to see more.

← Back to search