Even though some of the towns in the NC High Country are only 5 minutes apart, they can vary widely!  Use this list to help you understand the differences between all of our great towns.

Population

• Banner Elk: 1,093
• Beech Mountain: 319
• Blowing Rock: 1,235
• Boone: 17,774
• Jefferson: 1,594
• Newland: 698
• Sparta: 1,735
• West Jefferson: 1,299
• Wilkesboro: 3,426

Average Temperatures

• Banner Elk: July 77ºF (high), 57ºF (low); January 40ºF (high), 19ºF (low)
• Beech Mountain: July 77ºF (high), 57ºF (low); January 40ºF (high), 19ºF (low)
• Blowing Rock: July 78.9ºF (high), 58.1ºF (low); January 41.6ºF (high), 20.7ºF (low)
• Boone: July 78.9ºF (high), 58.1ºF (low); January 41.6ºF (high), 20.7ºF (low)
• Jefferson: July 81ºF (high), 58ºF (low); January 43ºF (high), 20ºF (low)
• Newland: July 84ºF (high), 63ºF (low); January 45.3ºF (high), 25.2ºF (low)
• Sparta: July 80ºF (high), 57ºF (low); January 42ºF (high), 19ºF (low)
• West Jefferson: July 81ºF (high), 51ºF (low); January 43ºF (high), 20ºF (low)
• Wilkesboro: July 87ºF (high), 65ºF (low); January 48ºF (high), 25ºF (low)

Average Snowfall

• Banner Elk: 38.7"
• Beech Mountain: 84"
• Blowing Rock: 34.6"
• Boone: 34.6"
• Jefferson: 13.26"
• Newland: 15.4"
• Sparta: 22"
• West Jefferson: 13.26"
• Wilkesboro: 14.93"

Median Age

• Banner Elk: 22
• Beech Mountain: 51
• Blowing Rock: 51
• Boone: 21
• Jefferson: 51
• Newland: 40
• Sparta: 44
• West Jefferson: 43
• Wilkesboro: 42

Income

• Banner Elk: $33,750
• Beech Mountain: $47,500
• Blowing Rock: $54,271
• Boone: $20,541 (factored in student population)
• Jefferson: $22,847
• Newland: $24,375
• Sparta: $22,474
• West Jefferson: $24,479
• Wilkesboro: $40,982

Cost of Living

• Banner Elk: $258,329
• Beech Mountain: $376,328
• Blowing Rock: $599,302
• Boone: $290,591
• Jefferson: $200,271
• Newland: $164,300
• Sparta: $124,039
• West Jefferson: $176, 436
• Wilkesboro: $205, 193

Most Common Industries

• Banner Elk: Educational Services, Arts/Entertainment/Recreation, Construction
• Beech Mountain: Retail Trade, Arts/Entertainment/Recreation, Accommodation/Food Service
• Blowing Rock: Real Estate/Rentals, Accommodation/Food Service, Professional/Scientific/Technical Services
• Boone: Accommodation/Food Service, Educational Service, Retail Trade
• Jefferson: Manufacturing, Construction, Retail Trade
• Newland: Construction, Manufacturing, Public Administration
• Sparta: Construction, Manufacturing, Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing/Hunting
• West Jefferson: Retail Trade, Public Administration, Construction
• Wilkesboro: Construction, Manufacturing, Accommodation/Food Service

Tax Rates

• Banner Elk: 0.42
• Beech Mountain: 0.64
• Blowing Rock: 0.5930
• Boone: 0.683
• Jefferson: 0.33
• Newland: 0.765
• Sparta: 0.71
• West Jefferson: 0.82
• Wilkesboro: 0.655

Healthcare

• Banner Elk: Cannon Memorial Hospital-15 minutes away in Linville
• Beech Mountain: Cannon Memorial Hospital-25 minutes away in Linville
• Blowing Rock: Watauga Medical Center-7 miles away in Boone; Cannon Memorial Hospital-15 miles away in Linville
• Boone: Watauga Medical Center-in town
• Jefferson: Ashe Memorial Hospital -in town
• Newland: Cannon Memorial Hospital-6 minutes away in Linville
• Sparta: Alleghany Memorial Hospital-in town
• West Jefferson: Ashe Memorial Hospital-7 minutes away in Jefferson
• Wilkesboro: Wilkes Regional Medical Center-in town