Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 38 min6:07 am – 8:45 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 42 min7:31 am – 5:13 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People21,422 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 42.88,869 householdsMedian household income $50,280Median home value $159,300Median rent $708 a month68% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,006 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting6.1% unemployment rate55% of adults are in the labour force, 8,970 employedMain industries: education and health care 24%, retail 15%, manufacturing 15%Average commute 24 minutes77% drive alone, 12% car-pool, 2% walk or cycle, 9% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages18% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher77% finished high school, 7% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 90%, Spanish 8%3% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 87°F, lows 66°FColdest month January: highs 48°F, lows 27°F52 in of rain a year, on about 84 dayswettest month August6 in of snow a year, on about 3 days32 days above 90°F, 104 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, N Wilkesboro station, 4 mi away
Parks and public landsMulberry Mill Wildlife Conservation Areastate conservation land · 1.7 miWilkes County Open Spacepark · 2.6 mi · 1,775 acresVfw Parkpark · 3.3 miStone Mountain State Parkstate park · 10.8 mi · 13,501 acresThurmond Chatham Game Landstate conservation land · 9.6 mi · 6,348 acresBullhead Mountain State Natural Areastate park · 16.5 mi · 436 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes6 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19701 of magnitude 4+, 1 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 5.1 on 9 Aug 202018 mi away, near Sparta, North CarolinaMost recent: magnitude 5.1 on 9 Aug 202018 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively ModerateWilkes County, NC, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsIce storm Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality69% of days had good air in 2025239 of 347 days measured108 moderate daysMedian index 42, worst day 88main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Catawba County, NC, 38 mi away
Internet at home90% of households have a broadband subscription80% have cable, fibre or DSL9% rely on a mobile data plan alone9% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterWest Wilkes Wtr Association INCserves 12,573 people from surface water purchased1 health-based violation since 2021latest Oct 2024: lead and copper, treatment technique1 monitoring or reporting violation since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system in the county
Elevation1,226 ft374 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalWilkes Medical Center4.0 miPost officeHays Post Office2.9 miTown hallNorth Wilkesboro Town Hall3.9 miPoliceNorth Wilkesboro Police Department3.9 miFire stationMulberry - Fairplains Fire Department1.2 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 miNo schools listedCollegeWilkes Community College5.8 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportConcord-Padgett Regional Airport USA62 miMajor airportPiedmont Triad International Airport GSO68 miInterstateI-7718 miUS highwayUS 421 Bus3.5 miAmtrakSalisbury, NC SAL54 miCoachWilkesboroSunway Charters4.7 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 28659 ZIP area.
