What are the schools like in Dobson, NC?

Dobson is served primarily by Surry County Schools. The district operates 11 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.4:1.

What is the median household income in Dobson?

The median household income in Dobson, NC is $54,236 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.9%.

What is the weather like in Dobson, NC?

Dobson has an average high temperature of 47.0°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 8.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Dobson, NC affordable or expensive?

Dobson's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Dobson is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $154,900 and the median rent is $704 per month.

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

Dobson has a violent crime rate of 216.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1443.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Dobson, NC a Good Place to Live?

Dobson is a small town of 1,812 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $54,236 and a 5.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Dobson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

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

All Dobson 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: 89.9

Dobson's overall cost of living index is 89.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dobson costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Dobson, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$154,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$704	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	47.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$54,236	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Dobson's violent crime rate is 216.5 per 100,000 residents — 43% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

216.5 /100k

Property Crime

1443.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Dobson is served primarily by Surry County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Dobson, NC	National Avg
School District	Surry County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	11	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	84.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dobson sees average highs of 47.0°F in January and 86.3°F in July, with 50.2 inches of annual precipitation and 8.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Dobson, NC
Average High — January	47.0°F
Average High — July	86.3°F
Annual Precipitation	50.2"
Annual Snowfall	8.2"

Demographics

Metric	Dobson, NC	National Avg
Population	1,812	—
Median Age	37.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	72.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	12.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.8%	18.9%
Asian	5.6%	6.3%
Under 18	12.8%	22.2%
65 and over	14.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

White Plains, NC 5 mi Toast, NC 9 mi Mount Airy, NC 10 mi Boonville, NC 11 mi Flat Rock, NC 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Dobson

Dobson, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

27017

Dobson vs Other Cities

Dobson, NC vs White Plains, NC Dobson, NC vs Toast, NC Dobson, NC vs Mount Airy, NC Dobson, NC vs Boonville, NC Dobson, NC vs Flat Rock, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dobson, NC affordable or expensive?

Dobson's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Dobson roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $154,900 and median rent is $704/month.

What is the crime rate in Dobson, NC?

Dobson's violent crime rate is 216.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1443.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Dobson?

Public schools in Dobson are operated by Surry County Schools. The district has 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1. 21.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Dobson, NC a good place to live?

Dobson, NC has a population of 1,812, a median household income of $54,236, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. 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 Dobson?

Dobson averages 47.0°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.2 inches with about 8.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Dobson?

Dobson, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 27017.

What is the population of Dobson?

The population of Dobson, North Carolina is 1,812 with a median age of 37.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Dobson?

Key numbers for living in Dobson: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $154,900, median household income $54,236, crime index 62 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dobson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.