HomeNorth CarolinaAshe County
Ashe County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Ashe County, North Carolina had an estimated 27,266 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 26,586, across 426 square miles. County output reached $1.07 bn in 2024, 571 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 13 7(a) approvals worth $16.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Ashe County
How many people live in Ashe County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202426,950
- Households12,201
- Average household size2.21
- Median household income$56,866
- Median age49.8
- Median gross rent$859 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$243,100
- Home value to household income4.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher25.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over20,676
- Population under 184,547
- Share under 1816.9 percent
- Population 65 and over7,343
- Share 65 and over27.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6415,060
- Civilian labor force12,199
- Unemployment rate4.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over54.5 percent
- Rank by population among North Carolina counties73rd of 100
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1579th of 3,222
Ashe County is the 73rd largest of 100 North Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 4.3 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 27.2 percent against 16.9 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Ashe County
Is Ashe County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202427,266
- Census 2020 base population26,586
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.56 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024198
- Births, 2024199
- Deaths, 2024401
- Natural change, 2024-202
- Net domestic migration, 2024373
- Net international migration, 202428
- Total net migration, 2024401
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,483
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents994th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.56 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Ashe County
Where are people moving to Ashe County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving683
- People arriving, from those returns1,217
- Tax returns filed by households leaving501
- Net household movement182
- Adjusted gross income arriving$63.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$35.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$93,449
- Average income of a leaving household$56,778
- Largest single originWatauga County (89 households)
- Largest single destinationWatauga County (61 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watauga County | 89 | 160 | $5.7 m |
| Wake County | 39 | 70 | $5.6 m |
| Mecklenburg County | 31 | 54 | $6.9 m |
| Wilkes County | 26 | 45 | $917,000 |
Households arriving report $36,671 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Watauga County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Ashe County
What is the Ashe County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.07 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.01 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.0 percent
- GDP change over five years29.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Carolina areas BEA publishes76th of 100
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1793rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$39,679
Output grew 6.0 percent in the latest year and 29.5 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Ashe County
Employment by industry in Ashe County
- Covered employment, annual average7,486
- Establishments reporting772
- Average annual pay$48,252
- Average weekly wage$928
- Retail trade, employment1,198
- Retail trade, average annual pay$31,124
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,081
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$47,998
- Manufacturing, employment838
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$54,165
- Construction, employment801
- Construction, average annual pay$71,583
- Accommodation and food services, employment721
- Wholesale trade, employment479
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,198 | 110 | $31,124 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,081 | 62 | $47,998 |
| Manufacturing | 838 | 23 | $54,165 |
| Construction | 801 | 112 | $71,583 |
| Accommodation and food services | 721 | 64 | $19,754 |
| Wholesale trade | 479 | 27 | $78,362 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 293 | 52 | $38,260 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 170 | 74 | $66,782 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,198 jobs, 16.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Ashe County
How many businesses are in Ashe County?
- Establishments, all industries571
- Employment at those establishments6,441
- Annual payroll$288.2 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Ashe County
Building permits in Ashe County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024191
- Declared construction value permitted$73.3 m
- Single family units authorized191
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$383,844
- Units authorized per 1,000 households15.7
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Ashe County
SBA loans in Ashe County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded13
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$16.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$1,273,177
- Median 7(a) approval$989,000
- Largest single approval$4,200,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)198
- Jobs per approval15.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active10
- Distinct industries receiving approvals11
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer38.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms5
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter8
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals15.4 percent
- 504 approvals recorded1
- 504 gross approval dollars$261,000
- Average 504 approval$261,000
- Median 504 approval$261,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval3.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.5
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$16.8 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ashe County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Ashe County
Do SBA loans in Ashe County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full3
- Charged off1
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure6
- Status: Paid in full3
- Status: Cancelled3
Only 4 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ashe County
SBA lending by place in Ashe County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- West Jefferson, approvals6
- Jefferson, approvals4
- Old Fort, approvals1
- Creston, approvals1
- Warrensville, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| West Jefferson | 6 | $11,124,300 |
| Jefferson | 4 | $4,008,000 |
| Old Fort | 1 | $989,000 |
| Creston | 1 | $350,000 |
| Warrensville | 1 | $80,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ashe County
How large is Ashe County?
- Land area426 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Carolina counties57th of 100
- Width, east to west26 mi
- Height, north to south24 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land63
- Establishments per square mile1.34
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Ashe County
Flood risk in Ashe County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Ashe County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 370007
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Ashe County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Ashe County (community 370007), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Ashe County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Ashe County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Ashe County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202426,950
- Households12,201
- Average household size2.21
- Median household income$56,866
- Median age49.8
Common questions
Ashe County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Ashe County, North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 27,266 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 26,950, in 12,201 households, ranking 73rd of 100 North Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Ashe County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.56 percent since the 2020 census base of 26,586, to 27,266 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 199 births against 401 deaths, with net migration of 401. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Ashe County?
$56,866. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $243,100, which is 4.3 times income, and median gross rent is $859 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Ashe County?
571 establishments, employing 6,441 people with an annual payroll of $288.2 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Ashe County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,198 jobs, 16.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 7,486 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,252, or $928 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Ashe County?
13 7(a) approvals totaling $16.6 m since FY2020, across 10 lenders, with a median approval of $989,000, plus 1 504 approvals worth $261,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Ashe County?
191 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $73.3 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Ashe County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Ashe County come from?
The largest single origin is Watauga County, with 89 households. Arriving households report an average income of $93,449 against $56,778 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Ashe County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Ashe County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Ashe County
Cities and places in Ashe.
3 Census places lie wholly or partly in Ashe County. All 3 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson | town | 1,864 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| West Jefferson | town | 1,436 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Lansing | town | 165 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 3 of the county's 13 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Ashe County, the largest being Old Fort (1), Creston (1), Warrensville (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.