Small-town market profile · North Carolina
North Wilkesboro, NC area market data
How the North Wilkesboro area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 66,233
- +0.6% since 2020
- Households
- 27,107
- Median household income
- $51,721
- +17.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $168,800
- Jobs located here
- 19,607
- Highest market score
- 83
- Insurance agencies, #38 of 537 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the North Wilkesboro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the North Wilkesboro area. 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
The North Wilkesboro area has an estimated 66,233 people and 27,107 households. Population estimates show the North Wilkesboro area grew 0.6% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the North Wilkesboro area is $51,721, 36% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 17.3%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the North Wilkesboro area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 142, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (48).
Of the business types scored in the North Wilkesboro area, insurance agencies (83), landscaping and lawn care companies (67) and real estate businesses (66) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #38 of 537 scored small-town markets.
The North Wilkesboro area is made up of one county, Wilkes County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for grocery stores (79% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (72% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the North Wilkesboro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the North Wilkesboro area with other small-town markets 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 small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 83 | #38 of 537 | 25 | 9.2 | $3M | 240 | 19 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 67 | #81 of 399 | 10 | 3.7 | $3.3M | 114 | 15 |
| Real estate | 66 | #74 of 536 | 29 | 10.7 | Index only | 279 | 15 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 65 | #99 of 481 | 16 | 5.9 | $2.1M | 124 | 24 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 65 | #136 of 536 | 19 | 7.0 | $2.2M | 173 | 4 |
| Roofing and gutters | 64 | #59 of 288 | 5 | 1.8 | $12.9M | 153 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 64 | #103 of 507 | 10 | 3.7 | $8.1M | 197 | 9 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 64 | #141 of 536 | 27 | 10.0 | $1.5M | 176 | 7 |
| Spas and skin care | 63 | #113 of 504 | 11 | 4.1 | $1.8M | 206 | 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 62 | #103 of 533 | 26 | 9.6 | Index only | 248 | 10 |
| Physical therapy | 62 | #112 of 400 | 5 | 1.8 | $5M | 209 | 7 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 62 | #147 of 538 | 191 | 70.5 | $427K | 115 | 87 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 61 | #143 of 529 | 14 | 5.2 | $5.8M | 157 | 9 |
| Nail salons | 59 | #131 of 387 | 5 | 1.8 | $4M | 238 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 59 | #179 of 538 | 59 | 21.8 | $439K | 99 | 22 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 58 | #129 of 387 | 9 | 3.3 | $2.9M | 93 | 6 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 56 | #161 of 476 | 10 | 3.7 | $6.5M | 136 | 22 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 56 | #201 of 538 | 105 | 38.7 | $776K | 117 | 36 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 56 | #202 of 538 | 76 | 28.0 | $261K | 123 | 9 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 55 | #219 of 526 | 16 | 5.9 | $1.6M | 160 | 14 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 54 | #206 of 458 | 13 | 4.8 | $1.9M | 109 | 16 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 53 | #179 of 400 | 7 | 2.6 | $3.6M | 115 | 5 |
| Auto repair and car care | 53 | #239 of 538 | 107 | 39.5 | $242K | 90 | 37 |
| Child care and preschools | 52 | #209 of 454 | 8 | 3.0 | $976K | 97 | 11 |
| Pizza | 52 | #232 of 520 | 18 | 6.6 | $4.5M | 89 | 42 |
| Gas stations | 52 | #251 of 536 | 49 | 18.1 | $1.8M | 74 | 44 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 51 | #273 of 537 | 30 | 11.1 | $2.7M | 89 | 42 |
| Hair salons | 50 | #279 of 538 | 50 | 18.4 | $397K | 92 | 4 |
| Car washes and detailing | 49 | #228 of 441 | 15 | 5.5 | $1.7M | 68 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 48 | #302 of 527 | 29 | 10.7 | $649K | 74 | 10 |
| Barbershops | 47 | #215 of 377 | 8 | 3.0 | $2.5M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 47 | #234 of 431 | 10 | 3.7 | $2.6M | 103 | 9 |
| Pet stores | 46 | #118 of 220 | 6 | 2.2 | $3.1M | 69 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 46 | #309 of 526 | 25 | 9.2 | $2.6M | 106 | 46 |
| Convenience stores | 46 | #320 of 529 | 25 | 9.2 | $5.8M | 73 | 7 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 44 | #242 of 387 | 13 | 4.8 | $1.4M | 57 | 4 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 44 | #352 of 535 | 25 | 9.2 | $515K | 78 | 4 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 42 | #353 of 538 | 167 | 61.6 | $151K | 99 | 47 |
| Gyms | 40 | #363 of 506 | 16 | 5.9 | $805K | 62 | 4 |
| Electricians | 33 | #253 of 295 | 10 | 3.7 | $6.5M | 54 | 21 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 31 | #448 of 538 | 70 | 25.8 | $2.1M | 61 | 19 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 30 | #322 of 378 | 8 | 3.0 | $1.6M | 80 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 24 | #455 of 506 | 33 | 12.2 | $4.4M | 47 | 12 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.5 | $1.2M | 182 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.5 | $8.3M | 130 | 9 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.5 | $4.7M | 173 | 6 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | $8.4M | 350 | 5 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.7 | $12.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.7 | $16.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.7 | Index only | Too few | 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $41.7M | Too few | 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $41.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $12.9M | Too few | 4 |
| Home inspectors | 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 the North Wilkesboro area
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 | $25.9M | $955 | 100 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $87M | $3,208 | 124 |
| Food away from home | $81.5M | $3,005 | 74 |
| Groceries | $144.2M | $5,320 | 84 |
| Personal care products and services | $19.8M | $732 | 73 |
| Child care and other personal services | $7.8M | $288 | 50 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $12.9M | $475 | 48 |
| Medical and dental services | $25.2M | $928 | 72 |
| Pets | $18.8M | $695 | 76 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $41.7M | $1,540 | 75 |
| Vehicle insurance | $75.3M | $2,778 | 142 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $64.6M | $2,382 | 79 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $33.4M | $1,231 | 87 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $351M | $12,949 | 78 |
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 the North Wilkesboro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 66,233+0.6% since 2020
- Households
- 27,107
- Median age
- 45.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 74%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 754 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 87
- Median household income
- $51,721+17.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $66,361
- Median home value
- $168,800
- Jobs located here
- 19,607
- Daytime population
- 59,600Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the North Wilkesboro area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. 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 the North Wilkesboro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the North Wilkesboro area 1
- Wilkes County, NC65,935 people
Other markets based in North Carolina 12
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area2,768,407 people
- Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area1,487,302 people
- Greensboro-High Point, NC metro area786,419 people
- Winston-Salem, NC metro area689,766 people
- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area601,724 people
- Wilmington, NC metro area453,347 people
- Asheville, NC metro area414,711 people
- Fayetteville, NC metro area392,380 people
- Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area368,316 people
- Jacksonville, NC metro area207,906 people
- Greenville, NC metro area177,193 people
- Burlington, NC metro area176,893 people
Questions
How fast is the North Wilkesboro, NC area growing?
Population estimates put the North Wilkesboro area at 66,233 people in 2025, up 0.6% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 27,107 households. Median household income rose 17.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the North Wilkesboro, NC area spend?
Households in the North Wilkesboro area spend about $351M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $144.2M on groceries and $87M on gasoline and other fuels. Set against the U.S., households in the North Wilkesboro area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 142, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (48).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the North Wilkesboro, NC area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the North Wilkesboro area are for insurance agencies (83), landscaping and lawn care companies (67) and real estate businesses (66). The North Wilkesboro area ranks #38 of 537 scored small-town markets for insurance agencies.
How does the North Wilkesboro, NC area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the North Wilkesboro area is $51,721 a year, 36% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 0.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $168,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the North Wilkesboro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for grocery stores (79% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (72% 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. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. 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. 43 of the 56 business types have a score in the North Wilkesboro area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the North Wilkesboro area. 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.
All markets in North Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the North Wilkesboro area?
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The button opens the report at the center of the North Wilkesboro area. 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.