What are the schools like in High Shoals, NC?

School district data for High Shoals is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in High Shoals?

The median household income in High Shoals, NC is $47,857 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.1%.

What is the weather like in High Shoals, NC?

High Shoals has an average high temperature of 51.3°F in January and 88.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 5.6 inches.

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

Q: Is High Shoals, NC affordable or expensive?

High Shoals's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means High Shoals is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $124,600 and the median rent is $696 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in High Shoals, NC?

High Shoals has a violent crime rate of 463.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2260.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is High Shoals, NC a Good Place to Live?

High Shoals is a small town of 675 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $47,857 and a 3.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: High Shoals stands out for below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether High Shoals is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All High Shoals 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: 97.0

High Shoals's overall cost of living index is 97.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in High Shoals costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	High Shoals, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$124,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$696	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	55.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$47,857	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

High Shoals's violent crime rate is 463.2 per 100,000 residents — 22% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

463.2 /100k

Property Crime

2260.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	High Shoals, NC	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	10.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

High Shoals sees average highs of 51.3°F in January and 88.7°F in July, with 48.1 inches of annual precipitation and 5.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	High Shoals, NC
Average High — January	51.3°F
Average High — July	88.7°F
Annual Precipitation	48.1"
Annual Snowfall	5.6"

Demographics

Metric	High Shoals, NC	National Avg
Population	675	—
Median Age	30.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	84.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.5%	18.9%
Asian	3.1%	6.3%
Under 18	38.1%	22.2%
65 and over	10.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Alexis, NC 4 mi Dallas, NC 5 mi Iron Station, NC 5 mi Crouse, NC 6 mi Lincolnton, NC 6 mi

ZIP Codes in High Shoals

High Shoals, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28077

High Shoals vs Other Cities

High Shoals, NC vs Alexis, NC High Shoals, NC vs Dallas, NC High Shoals, NC vs Iron Station, NC High Shoals, NC vs Crouse, NC High Shoals, NC vs Lincolnton, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is High Shoals, NC affordable or expensive?

High Shoals's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes High Shoals roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $124,600 and median rent is $696/month.

What is the crime rate in High Shoals, NC?

High Shoals's violent crime rate is 463.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2260.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in High Shoals?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is High Shoals, NC a good place to live?

High Shoals, NC has a population of 675, a median household income of $47,857, and an unemployment rate of 3.1%. 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 High Shoals?

High Shoals averages 51.3°F in January and 88.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.1 inches with about 5.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in High Shoals?

High Shoals, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28077.

What is the population of High Shoals?

The population of High Shoals, North Carolina is 675 with a median age of 30.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in High Shoals?

Key numbers for living in High Shoals: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $124,600, median household income $47,857, crime index 116 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare High Shoals side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.