HomeNorth CarolinaWilkes County
Wilkes County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Wilkes County, North Carolina had an estimated 66,186 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 65,970, across 754 square miles. County output reached $3.23 bn in 2024, 1,157 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 60 7(a) approvals worth $32.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Wilkes County
How many people live in Wilkes County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202465,935
- Households27,107
- Average household size2.43
- Median household income$51,721
- Median age45.7
- Median gross rent$723 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$168,800
- Home value to household income3.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher16.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over47,784
- Population under 1813,159
- Share under 1820.0 percent
- Population 65 and over15,110
- Share 65 and over22.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6437,666
- Civilian labor force30,176
- Unemployment rate5.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over57.2 percent
- Rank by population among North Carolina counties40th of 100
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included831st of 3,222
Wilkes County is the 40th largest of 100 North Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 3.3 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 22.9 percent against 20.0 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.
Wilkes County
Is Wilkes County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202466,186
- Census 2020 base population65,970
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.33 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024169
- Births, 2024680
- Deaths, 2024938
- Natural change, 2024-258
- Net domestic migration, 2024315
- Net international migration, 2024114
- Total net migration, 2024429
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,286
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1710th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.33 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.
Wilkes County
Where are people moving to Wilkes County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,147
- People arriving, from those returns2,095
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,023
- Net household movement124
- Adjusted gross income arriving$60.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$9.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$53,110
- Average income of a leaving household$49,966
- Largest single originSurry County (115 households)
- Largest single destinationSurry County (116 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surry County | 115 | 232 | $5.0 m |
| Yadkin County | 86 | 169 | $3.5 m |
| Watauga County | 55 | 99 | $3.4 m |
| Iredell County | 54 | 107 | $3.4 m |
| Ashe County | 51 | 105 | $2.3 m |
| Catawba County | 43 | 76 | $1.9 m |
| Forsyth County | 40 | 67 | $1.5 m |
| Mecklenburg County | 30 | 50 | $2.6 m |
Households arriving report $3,144 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 Surry 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.
Wilkes County
What is the Wilkes County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.23 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.07 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.4 percent
- GDP change over five years29.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Carolina areas BEA publishes41st of 100
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes929th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$49,041
Output grew 5.4 percent in the latest year and 29.0 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.
Wilkes County
Employment by industry in Wilkes County
- Covered employment, annual average18,933
- Establishments reporting1,388
- Average annual pay$48,003
- Average weekly wage$923
- Manufacturing, employment3,412
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$53,756
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,143
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$56,965
- Retail trade, employment2,630
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,026
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,788
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,867
- Wholesale trade, employment825
- Construction, employment746
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 3,412 | 59 | $53,756 |
| Health care and social assistance | 3,143 | 174 | $56,965 |
| Retail trade | 2,630 | 221 | $33,026 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,788 | 102 | $19,867 |
| Wholesale trade | 825 | 61 | $73,221 |
| Construction | 746 | 151 | $54,266 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 586 | 68 | $34,909 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 520 | 109 | $60,885 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,412 jobs, 18.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Wilkes County
How many businesses are in Wilkes County?
- Establishments, all industries1,157
- Employment at those establishments19,772
- Annual payroll$819.1 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.5
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.
Wilkes County
Building permits in Wilkes County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024134
- Declared construction value permitted$43.0 m
- Single family units authorized134
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$321,061
- Units authorized per 1,000 households4.9
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.
Wilkes County
SBA loans in Wilkes County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded60
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$32.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$539,347
- Median 7(a) approval$300,000
- 10th percentile approval$36,950
- 90th percentile approval$1,092,400
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)323
- Jobs per approval5.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active20
- Distinct industries receiving approvals39
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer25.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms15
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter39
- Franchise loans3
- Franchise share of approvals5.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countNew Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (7)
- Most active lenderFirst Community Bank (30)
- 504 approvals recorded7
- 504 gross approval dollars$4.2 m
- Average 504 approval$605,286
- Median 504 approval$412,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval6.1
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.1
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$36.6 m
The average approval of $539,347 sits well above the median of $300,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 25.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
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.
Wilkes County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Wilkes County
Do SBA loans in Wilkes County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded15
- Paid in full14
- Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full14
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure30
- Status: Cancelled11
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed4
Only 15 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.
Wilkes County
SBA lending by place in Wilkes County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending11
- Wilkesboro, approvals21
- North Wilkesboro, approvals18
- Roaring River, approvals4
- Moravian Falls, approvals4
- Millers Creek, approvals4
- Ronda, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Wilkesboro | 21 | $16,811,900 |
| North Wilkesboro | 18 | $7,632,300 |
| Roaring River | 4 | $1,230,900 |
| Moravian Falls | 4 | $1,047,000 |
| Millers Creek | 4 | $1,000,000 |
| Ronda | 3 | $591,000 |
| Traphill | 2 | $3,090,000 |
| West Jefferson | 1 | $500,000 |
| 3 other borrower cities | 3 | $457,700 |
Wilkesboro accounts for 21 approvals against 18 in North Wilkesboro. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Wilkes County
How large is Wilkes County?
- Land area754 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Carolina counties13th of 100
- Width, east to west37.8 mi
- Height, north to south30.7 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary8
- Residents per square mile of land87
- Establishments per square mile1.53
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.
Wilkes County
Flood risk in Wilkes County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Wilkes County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 370256
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 8
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Wilkes 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 Wilkes County (community 370256), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 8, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Wilkes 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. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 8, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 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 Wilkes 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 Wilkes County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202465,935
- Households27,107
- Average household size2.43
- Median household income$51,721
- Median age45.7
Common questions
Wilkes County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Wilkes County, North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 66,186 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 65,935, in 27,107 households, ranking 40th of 100 North Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Wilkes County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.33 percent since the 2020 census base of 65,970, to 66,186 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 680 births against 938 deaths, with net migration of 429. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Wilkes County?
$51,721. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $168,800, which is 3.3 times income, and median gross rent is $723 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Wilkes County?
1,157 establishments, employing 19,772 people with an annual payroll of $819.1 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 Wilkes County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,412 jobs, 18.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 18,933 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,003, or $923 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Wilkes County?
60 7(a) approvals totaling $32.4 m since FY2020, across 20 lenders, with a median approval of $300,000, plus 7 504 approvals worth $4.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Wilkes County?
134 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $43.0 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Wilkes 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 Wilkes County come from?
The largest single origin is Surry County, with 115 households. Arriving households report an average income of $53,110 against $49,966 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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.
Wilkes County
Cities and places in Wilkes.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Wilkes County. All 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Wilkesboro | town | 4,421 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Wilkesboro | town | 3,646 | 21 | Wholly in this county |
| Cricket | CDP | 2,317 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mulberry | CDP | 2,037 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fairplains | CDP | 1,803 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Millers Creek | CDP | 1,689 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Moravian Falls | CDP | 1,285 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Hays | CDP | 1,053 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Pleasant Hill | CDP | 793 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ronda | town | 436 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
A further 9 of the county's 60 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Wilkes County, the largest being Roaring River (4), Traphill (2), West Jefferson (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.