Pilot Mountain is a small town of 1,667 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $42,045
and a 4.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Pilot Mountain stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Pilot Mountain is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Pilot Mountain 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: 90.5
Pilot Mountain's overall cost of living index is 90.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Pilot Mountain costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Pilot Mountain, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$156,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$755
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
52.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$42,045
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Pilot Mountain's violent crime rate is 167.2 per 100,000 residents
— 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
167.2 /100k
Property Crime
1089.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Pilot Mountain 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
Pilot Mountain, 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
20.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Pilot Mountain sees average highs of 47.0°F in January
and 86.3°F in July,
with 47.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 6.2 inches of snow per year.
Pilot Mountain's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Pilot Mountain roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $156,800 and median rent is $755/month.
Pilot Mountain's violent crime rate is 167.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1089.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Pilot Mountain 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. 20.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Pilot Mountain, NC has a population of 1,667, a median household income of $42,045, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%.
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.
Pilot Mountain averages 47.0°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.2 inches
with about 6.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Pilot Mountain, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 27041.
The population of Pilot Mountain, North Carolina is 1,667 with a median age of 42.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Pilot Mountain: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $156,800, median household income $42,045, crime index 47 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pilot Mountain side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
