County profile · North Carolina
Ashe County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Ashe County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 27,514
- +3.5% since 2020
- Households
- 12,201
- Median household income
- $56,866
- +38.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $243,100
- Jobs located here
- 7,137
- Highest market score
- 83
- Insurance agencies, #163 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Ashe County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Ashe County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 27,514 people live in Ashe County, in 12,201 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Ashe County grew 3.5%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Ashe County is $56,866 a year, 30% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 38.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Ashe County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 139, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (55).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Ashe County are for insurance agencies (83), gas stations (79) and dentists and orthodontists (71). Ashe County ranks #163 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
For its number of households, Ashe County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pizza places (54% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (50% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Ashe County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Ashe County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 83 | #163 of 2,272 | 12 | 9.8 | $2.8M | 219 | 8 |
| Gas stations | 79 | #163 of 2,358 | 9 | 7.4 | $4.3M | 180 | 13 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 71 | #230 of 1,886 | 5 | 4.1 | $2.4M | 241 | 5 |
| Funeral homes | 65 | #368 of 1,472 | 5 | 4.1 | $432K | 64 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 65 | #388 of 1,889 | 7 | 5.7 | $5.6M | 135 | 4 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 62 | #511 of 2,088 | 7 | 5.7 | $937K | 141 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 62 | #647 of 2,222 | 11 | 9.0 | $3.6M | 117 | 19 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 59 | #705 of 2,385 | 35 | 28.7 | $270K | 127 | 5 |
| Auto repair and car care | 58 | #855 of 2,401 | 44 | 36.1 | $266K | 99 | 15 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 57 | #871 of 2,394 | 52 | 42.6 | $228K | 149 | 18 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 56 | #784 of 2,063 | 10 | 8.2 | $3.9M | 106 | 4 |
| Car washes and detailing | 54 | #632 of 1,451 | 5 | 4.1 | $2.3M | 93 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 53 | #956 of 2,200 | 13 | 10.7 | $714K | 81 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 52 | #1,120 of 2,378 | 29 | 23.8 | $404K | 91 | 11 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 48 | #915 of 1,656 | 9 | 7.4 | $1.3M | 74 | 7 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 48 | #1,272 of 2,405 | 102 | 83.6 | $385K | 104 | 48 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 44 | #1,095 of 1,771 | 11 | 9.0 | $1.4M | 85 | 23 |
| Hair salons | 44 | #1,483 of 2,339 | 24 | 19.7 | $394K | 91 | 5 |
| Convenience stores | 42 | #1,416 of 2,261 | 14 | 11.5 | $4.8M | 61 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 42 | #1,527 of 2,402 | 31 | 25.4 | $2.2M | 64 | 8 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 40 | #1,625 of 2,405 | 57 | 46.7 | $688K | 104 | 24 |
| Tire shops | 39 | #1,055 of 1,530 | 7 | 5.7 | $1.7M | 67 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 39 | #1,278 of 1,769 | 10 | 8.2 | $945K | 108 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 39 | #1,397 of 2,070 | 10 | 8.2 | $6.7M | 72 | 6 |
| Pizza | 39 | #1,496 of 2,090 | 15 | 12.3 | $2.6M | 51 | 19 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 39 | #1,556 of 2,210 | 26 | 21.3 | $769K | 87 | 8 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 38 | #1,282 of 1,707 | 9 | 7.4 | $3.4M | 71 | 11 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 38 | #1,476 of 2,087 | 19 | 15.6 | $1.1M | 83 | 8 |
| Real estate | 37 | #1,783 of 2,229 | 32 | 26.2 | Index only | 119 | 26 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 35 | #1,157 of 1,493 | 9 | 7.4 | $1.8M | 60 | 16 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 35 | #1,848 of 2,176 | 28 | 22.9 | Index only | 108 | 15 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 33 | #1,126 of 1,461 | 7 | 5.7 | $1.3M | 52 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 28 | #1,888 of 2,057 | 20 | 16.4 | $1.5M | 62 | 26 |
| Roofing and gutters | 24 | #1,087 of 1,177 | 7 | 5.7 | $4.3M | 51 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.3 | $1M | 104 | 6 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.3 | $3M | 124 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.3 | $7.6M | 63 | 15 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $2.2M | 168 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $2.2M | 108 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $3.1M | 68 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $5.9M | Too few | 4 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $7.9M | Too few | 7 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $5.9M | Too few | 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $5.9M | Too few | 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $4.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $20M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $20M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $9.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | 4 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $6.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Ashe County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $11.7M | $960 | 100 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $38.7M | $3,174 | 122 |
| Food away from home | $39.2M | $3,215 | 79 |
| Groceries | $67.3M | $5,513 | 87 |
| Personal care products and services | $9.4M | $774 | 77 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4.2M | $342 | 59 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $6.6M | $537 | 55 |
| Medical and dental services | $11.8M | $970 | 75 |
| Pets | $9.3M | $761 | 84 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $20M | $1,639 | 80 |
| Vehicle insurance | $33.1M | $2,710 | 139 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $30.3M | $2,487 | 82 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $15.8M | $1,291 | 91 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $164.6M | $13,488 | 81 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Ashe County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 27,514+3.5% since 2020
- Households
- 12,201
- Median age
- 49.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 79%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 426 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 63
- Median household income
- $56,866+38.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $73,848
- Median home value
- $243,100
- Jobs located here
- 7,137
- Daytime population
- 23,705Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Ashe County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Ashe County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
- Watauga County, NC55,123 people
- Alleghany County, NC11,174 people
- Wilkes County, NC65,935 people
- Avery County, NC17,680 people
- Caldwell County, NC80,536 people
- Alexander County, NC36,412 people
- Surry County, NC71,425 people
- Mitchell County, NC14,992 people
Questions
How fast is Ashe County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Ashe County at 27,514 people in 2025, up 3.5% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 12,201 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 38.8%, before inflation.
How much do households in Ashe County, NC spend?
Households in Ashe County spend about $164.6M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $67.3M on groceries and $39.2M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Ashe County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 139, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (55).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Ashe County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Ashe County, insurance agencies (83), gas stations (79) and dentists and orthodontists (71) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #163 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does Ashe County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Ashe County is $56,866, 30% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $243,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pizza places (54% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (50% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 34 of the 56 business types have a score in Ashe County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Ashe County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Ashe County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Ashe County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.