Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 38 min6:10 am – 8:48 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 41 min7:34 am – 5:16 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People2,454 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 45.3952 householdsMedian household income $65,246Median home value $287,100Median rent $1,014 a month88% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $969 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting3.7% unemployment rate65% of adults are in the labour force, 1,318 employedMain industries: education and health care 28%, professional and business services 19%, retail 15%Average commute 35 minutes73% drive alone, 12% car-pool, 16% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages35% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher89% finished high school, 17% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 92%, Spanish 7%, other Indo-European languages 1%3% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 79°F, lows 61°FColdest month January: highs 42°F, lows 24°F49 in of rain a year, on about 107 dayswettest month July48 in of snow a year, on about 27 days0 days above 90°F, 95 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Flat Springs 1e station, 4 mi away
Nearby landmarksPine Hillpeak · 2.4 miLaurel Creek Fallswaterfall · under a mileWatauga Fallswaterfall · under a mileLove Knobpeak · under a mileRosasco Lake Upperlake · 4.5 miDifferent Drum Lakelake · 5.3 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsBeech Creek State Natural Areastate park · 3.4 mi · 311 acresBear Paw State Natural Areastate park · 6.8 mi · 384 acresValle Crucis Scenic Overlookstate historic site · 5.5 mi · 64 acresBuckeye Creek Recreation Arearecreation area · 4.5 mi · 54 acresElk Knob State Parkstate park · 9.4 miElk Knob Game Landstate conservation land · 7.9 mi · 716 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes9 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19701 of magnitude 4+, 1 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 5.1 on 9 Aug 202045 mi away, near Sparta, North CarolinaMost recent: magnitude 5.1 on 9 Aug 202045 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowWatauga County, NC, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsLandslide Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality82% of days had good air in 2025291 of 357 days measured65 moderate, 1 unhealthy for sensitive groups daysMedian index 31, worst day 102main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Mitchell County, NC, 25 mi away
Internet at home88% of households have a broadband subscription75% have cable, fibre or DSL7% rely on a mobile data plan alone10% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterTown of Booneserves 19,811 people from surface waterNo health-based violations since 20212 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system in the county
Elevation3,037 ft926 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalWatauga Medical Center11.4 miPost officeSugar Grove Post Office2.9 miTown hallBeech Mountain Town Hall5.5 miPoliceBeech Mountain Police Department5.5 miFire stationBeaver Dam Volunteer Fire Department2.5 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportTri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport TRI35 miMajor airportCharlotte Douglas International Airport CLT88 miInterstateI-2627 miUS highwayUS 321under a mileCoachBooneSunway Charters10 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 28679 ZIP area.
