Watauga County Population

1850–2026

54,651

2026 projection

0.3% since 2020 (increase)

010K20K30K40K50K60K186018801900192019401960198020002020

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts and annual estimates. 2026 is a projection. Values between recorded years are interpolated.

Use the left and right arrow keys to inspect population observations.

Population by year

Population estimates for Watauga County. Annual change is shown as a percentage. Growth is the total change since the preceding observation.
202654,651-1350.25%
202554,786-1350.25%
202454,921-4410.80%
202355,362-10.00%
202255,363+610.11%
202155,302+8361.53%
202054,466-1,8053.21%
201956,271+660.12%
201856,205+9551.73%
201755,250+1,0741.98%

Showing 10 of 32 years.

Watauga County Demographics

31.4median age

Median age

Female30.9 yrs
Male31.6 yrs

Adults

48,447
9,435 seniors (65+) · 19% of adults39,012 other adults

Sex

Female 50.1% · 27,632Male 49.9% · 27,491

Population by age

MaleFemale85+ years, male: 26785+ years, female: 50080–84 years, male: 49580–84 years, female: 45575–79 years, male: 1,00175–79 years, female: 97870–74 years, male: 1,21570–74 years, female: 1,32965–69 years, male: 1,56465–69 years, female: 1,63160–64 years, male: 1,53960–64 years, female: 1,89955–59 years, male: 1,36655–59 years, female: 1,24150–54 years, male: 1,32650–54 years, female: 1,36345–49 years, male: 1,29145–49 years, female: 1,16840–44 years, male: 1,39040–44 years, female: 1,35835–39 years, male: 1,35335–39 years, female: 1,07530–34 years, male: 1,38530–34 years, female: 1,15525–29 years, male: 1,43325–29 years, female: 1,33220–24 years, male: 5,73620–24 years, female: 4,94415–19 years, male: 3,37415–19 years, female: 4,54810–14 years, male: 99310–14 years, female: 7675–9 years, male: 9685–9 years, female: 1,0970–4 years, male: 7950–4 years, female: 79285+80–8475–7970–7465–6960–6455–5950–5445–4940–4435–3930–3425–2920–2415–1910–145–90–42K2K4K4K

Hover or tap an age group to see exact counts. Use the up and down arrow keys to inspect age groups.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates · Table S0101

Race and ethnicity

Tap a square or a group below to highlight it.

Each square is about 1% of residents (roughly 551 people).

Hispanic or Latino residents can be of any race. All other groups exclude Hispanic residents.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates · Table B03002

Watauga County Income

$51,693median household income

Median household income

$51,693

Half of households earn more, half earn less

Median earnings

$40,800

Typical yearly pay for a worker 25 or older.

Poverty rate

25.5%

About 1 in 4 residents

U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates · Tables S1901, S1501, S1701

Watauga County Marital Status

38% of residents age 15 and older are married.

MarriedNever married
Overall
Male
Female
Marital status of residents age 15 and older
StatusOverallMaleFemale
Married38%40%35%
Never married48%49%48%
Divorced9%9%9%
Widowed4%1%7%
Separated1%1%2%

U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates · Table S1201

Sources

8 sources, all from the U.S. Census Bureau

Population

American Community Survey, 2024 5-year