Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 39 min6:08 am – 8:47 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 41 min7:33 am – 5:14 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People7,626 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 50.63,678 householdsMedian household income $58,486Median home value $273,200Median rent $818 a month80% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,237 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting7.8% unemployment rate55% of adults are in the labour force, 3,444 employedMain industries: education and health care 27%, retail 16%, manufacturing 13%Average commute 21 minutes82% drive alone, 8% car-pool, 10% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages25% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher91% finished high school, 9% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 94%, Spanish 5%3% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 81°F, lows 58°FColdest month January: highs 43°F, lows 22°F51 in of rain a year, on about 83 dayswettest month May14 in of snow a year, on about 4 days2 days above 90°F, 136 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Jefferson 2 E station, 4 mi away
Nearby landmarksAshe Campus of Wilkes Community Collegecollege · 2.0 miFrenches Knobpeak · under a mileLake Ashelake · 1.7 miBald Mountainpeak · 5.1 miOLD VIRGINIA GROUP HORSE CAMPcampground · 5.1 miNorthwest Trading Post Mp 258.5trailhead · 5.4 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsMount Jefferson State Natural Areastate park · 1.7 mi · 1,176 acresAshe County Parkrecreation area · 4.7 mi · 67 acresNew River State Parkstate park · 7.6 mi · 3,194 acresThree Top Mountain Game Landstate conservation land · 5.9 mi · 3,456 acresElk Knob State Parkstate park · 9.6 mi · 4,437 acresAshe County Open Spacepark · 7.5 mi · 472 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes10 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19701 of magnitude 4+, 1 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 5.1 on 9 Aug 202023 mi away, near Sparta, North CarolinaMost recent: magnitude 5.1 on 9 Aug 202023 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowAshe County, NC, compared with all US countiesHighest-rated hazardsLandslide Relatively ModerateCold wave Relatively ModerateSource: 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, 46 mi away
Internet at home89% of households have a broadband subscription81% have cable, fibre or DSL5% rely on a mobile data plan alone11% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterTown of West Jeffersonserves 1,321 people from groundwater under influence of surface water1 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 serving the town
Elevation3,253 ft992 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalAshe Memorial Hospital4.0 miPost officeWest Jefferson Post Office3.0 miTown hallWest Jefferson Town Hall2.8 miPoliceWest Jefferson Police Department2.8 miFire stationWest Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department2.6 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 highHighAshe County High School1.9 miCollegeAshe Campus of Wilkes Community College2.0 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportTri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport TRI53 miMajor airportCharlotte Douglas International Airport CLT85 miInterstateI-8131 miUS highwayUS 221 Bus1.4 miAmtrakSalisbury, NC SAL74 miCoachBooneSunway Charters16 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 28694 ZIP area.
