1st Advantage MortgageWilkes County households have a median income of $51,721 and median rent of $723 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's North Carolina license first.
On this page
- Wilkes County, NC: the basics
- Household income in Wilkes County
- Employment and commuting in Wilkes County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Wilkes County
- Regional comparison for Wilkes County
- Wilkes County towns compared
- What a median Wilkes County budget can carry
- Reading the Wilkes County data as a borrower
- Wilkes County households compared
- North Carolina rules that apply in Wilkes County
- A Wilkes County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Wilkes County, NC: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Wilkes County's population at 65,935; only 39 of North Carolina's 100 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 754 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 87 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Wilkes County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 10 Census places inside Wilkes County, North Wilkesboro leads by population with about 4,421; 3 of the 10 are incorporated.
Household income in Wilkes County
Half of Wilkes County households take in less than $51,721 a year and half take in more, 29% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
| Households earning | Wilkes County | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.4% | +7.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.2% | +7.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.2% | -6.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.2% | -8.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 20% of Wilkes County households make $100,000 or more, and 30% make less than $35,000. 16.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.0%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.418 here. A household earning below the $51,721 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Wilkes County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 17%. Compared with North Carolina, the county leans toward manufacturing (17% against 12%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 79% drive to work alone and 16% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 5.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Wilkes County share | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.8% | -0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.6% | +5.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.8% | +3.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.2% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.0% | +0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.0% | -5.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rent, home values and ownership in Wilkes County
Renters in Wilkes County pay a median of $723 a month, 41% below the North Carolina figure of $1,228. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. With a median value of $168,800, a typical Wilkes County house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. 74% of Wilkes County households own their home and 26% rent. The median year built is 1980.
| Home costs | Wilkes County | North Carolina | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $723/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $168,800 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 24.5% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 13% | n/a |
Because most Wilkes County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Regional comparison for Wilkes County
Alleghany County is closest, 19 miles from center to center; the sixth, Surry County, is 30 miles off. Alexander County leads the group on income ($65,354), Alleghany County trails ($47,172), and Wilkes County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes County | - | $51,721 | $723/mo | 74% |
| Alleghany County, NC | 19 mi | $47,172 | $675/mo | 74% |
| Alexander County, NC | 20 mi | $65,354 | $764/mo | 81% |
| Ashe County, NC | 25 mi | $56,866 | $859/mo | 79% |
| Caldwell County, NC | 26 mi | $56,425 | $744/mo | 74% |
| Yadkin County, NC | 28 mi | $62,932 | $766/mo | 77% |
| Surry County, NC | 30 mi | $55,656 | $761/mo | 73% |
Wilkes County towns compared
10 Census places fall mainly inside Wilkes County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 19,480 residents, leaving about 70% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Millers Creek has the highest median household income on the list ($63,125) and North Wilkesboro the lowest ($38,474), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $599 in North Wilkesboro to $773 in Cricket. This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Wilkesboro | town | 4,421 | $38,474 | $599 | 3 mi |
| Wilkesboro | town | 3,646 | $40,907 | $764 | 5 mi |
| Cricket | CDP | 2,317 | $39,859 | $773 | 3 mi |
| Mulberry | CDP | 2,037 | $51,919 | $604 | 1 mi |
| Fairplains | CDP | 1,803 | $38,585 | $653 | 1 mi |
| Millers Creek | CDP | 1,689 | $63,125 | $695 | 4 mi |
| Moravian Falls | CDP | 1,285 | $47,548 | $700 | 7 mi |
| Hays | CDP | 1,053 | $55,035 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Pleasant Hill | CDP | 793 | $52,381 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Ronda | town | 436 | $48,393 | $875 | 12 mi |
What a median Wilkes County budget can carry
How much room does a median Wilkes County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,310 before taxes
- 17% goes to median rent ($723)
- $829: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,130 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $723, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Wilkes County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Wilkes County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 10% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 24% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Fixed incomes. Wilkes County's median age is 45.7. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
Wilkes County households compared
Degree holders: 17% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 10.5%, against 9.9% for North Carolina.
| Measure | Wilkes County | North Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.9% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.3% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.5% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.7% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.0% |
| 60+ min | 9.6% |
North Carolina rules that apply in Wilkes County
The North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks is the place to verify any lender's North Carolina license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the North Carolina state guide for the statewide picture.
A Wilkes County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Wilkes County residents:
- Price the Wilkes County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in North Carolina.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Wilkes County?
$51,721 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,388 for North Carolina. It ranks 79th of 100 in the state.
How much is rent in Wilkes County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $723 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Wilkes County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Wilkes County?
By population: North Wilkesboro, Wilkesboro, Cricket, Mulberry, Fairplains. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Are Wilkes County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.