What are the schools like in Mars Hill, NC?

Mars Hill is served primarily by Madison County Schools. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.2:1.

What is the median household income in Mars Hill?

The median household income in Mars Hill, NC is $80,833 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.2%.

What is the weather like in Mars Hill, NC?

Mars Hill has an average high temperature of 46.5°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 44.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 25.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Mars Hill, NC affordable or expensive?

Mars Hill's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Mars Hill is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $290,400 and the median rent is $939 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Mars Hill, NC?

Mars Hill has a violent crime rate of 46.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 551.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Mars Hill, NC a Good Place to Live?

Mars Hill is a small town of 2,843 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $80,833 and a 2.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Mars Hill stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.

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

All Mars Hill 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: 96.1

Mars Hill's overall cost of living index is 96.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Mars Hill costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Mars Hill, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$290,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$939	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$80,833	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Mars Hill's violent crime rate is 46.0 per 100,000 residents — 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

46.0 /100k

Property Crime

551.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Mars Hill is served primarily by Madison County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Mars Hill, NC	National Avg
School District	Madison County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	48.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Mars Hill sees average highs of 46.5°F in January and 85.1°F in July, with 44.6 inches of annual precipitation and 25.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Mars Hill, NC
Average High — January	46.5°F
Average High — July	85.1°F
Annual Precipitation	44.6"
Annual Snowfall	25.6"

Demographics

Metric	Mars Hill, NC	National Avg
Population	2,843	—
Median Age	27.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	17.1%	22.2%
65 and over	14.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Barnardsville, NC 6 mi Marshall, NC 8 mi Weaverville, NC 9 mi Woodfin, NC 13 mi Burnsville, NC 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Mars Hill

Mars Hill, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28754

Mars Hill vs Other Cities

Mars Hill, NC vs Barnardsville, NC Mars Hill, NC vs Marshall, NC Mars Hill, NC vs Weaverville, NC Mars Hill, NC vs Woodfin, NC Mars Hill, NC vs Burnsville, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mars Hill, NC affordable or expensive?

Mars Hill's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Mars Hill roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $290,400 and median rent is $939/month.

What is the crime rate in Mars Hill, NC?

Mars Hill's violent crime rate is 46.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 551.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Mars Hill?

Public schools in Mars Hill are operated by Madison County Schools. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1. 48.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Mars Hill, NC a good place to live?

Mars Hill, NC has a population of 2,843, a median household income of $80,833, and an unemployment rate of 2.2%. 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 Mars Hill?

Mars Hill averages 46.5°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.6 inches with about 25.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Mars Hill?

Mars Hill, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28754.

What is the population of Mars Hill?

The population of Mars Hill, North Carolina is 2,843 with a median age of 27.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Mars Hill?

Key numbers for living in Mars Hill: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $290,400, median household income $80,833, crime index 18 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mars Hill side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.