What are the schools like in Boone, NC?

Boone is served primarily by Watauga County Schools. The district operates 9 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.9:1.

What is the median household income in Boone?

The median household income in Boone, NC is $28,242 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 16.6%.

What is the weather like in Boone, NC?

Boone has an average high temperature of 41.4°F in January and 79.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 59.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 25.6 inches.

Boone, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Boone, NC affordable or expensive?

Boone's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Boone is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $322,200 and the median rent is $1,071 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Boone, NC?

Boone has a violent crime rate of 89.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 908.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Boone, NC a Good Place to Live?

Boone is a small city of 19,368 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $28,242 and a 16.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Boone stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Boone is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Boone city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 96.8

Boone's overall cost of living index is 96.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Boone costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Boone, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$322,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,071	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	22.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$28,242	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Boone's violent crime rate is 89.9 per 100,000 residents — 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

89.9 /100k

Property Crime

908.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Boone is served primarily by Watauga County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Boone, NC	National Avg
School District	Watauga County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	9	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	46.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Boone sees average highs of 41.4°F in January and 79.0°F in July, with 59.1 inches of annual precipitation and 25.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Boone, NC
Average High — January	41.4°F
Average High — July	79.0°F
Annual Precipitation	59.1"
Annual Snowfall	25.6"

Demographics

Metric	Boone, NC	National Avg
Population	19,368	—
Median Age	21.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	16.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.1%	18.9%
Asian	2.3%	6.3%
Under 18	4.9%	22.2%
65 and over	4.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Blowing Rock, NC 6 mi Valle Crucis, NC 7 mi Foscoe, NC 8 mi Cove Creek, NC 8 mi Seven Devils, NC 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Boone

Boone, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28607

Boone vs Other Cities

Boone, NC vs Blowing Rock, NC Boone, NC vs Valle Crucis, NC Boone, NC vs Foscoe, NC Boone, NC vs Cove Creek, NC Boone, NC vs Seven Devils, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Boone, NC affordable or expensive?

Boone's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Boone roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $322,200 and median rent is $1,071/month.

What is the crime rate in Boone, NC?

Boone's violent crime rate is 89.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 908.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Boone?

Public schools in Boone are operated by Watauga County Schools. The district has 9 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 46.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Boone, NC a good place to live?

Boone, NC has a population of 19,368, a median household income of $28,242, and an unemployment rate of 16.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Boone?

Boone averages 41.4°F in January and 79.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.1 inches with about 25.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Boone?

Boone, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28607.

What is the population of Boone?

The population of Boone, North Carolina is 19,368 with a median age of 21.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Boone?

Key numbers for living in Boone: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $322,200, median household income $28,242, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Boone side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.