County profile · North Carolina
Wilkes County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Wilkes County, each scored against other counties.
- 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
- 78
- Insurance agencies, #261 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Wilkes County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Wilkes 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 66,233 people live in Wilkes County, in 27,107 households. Population estimates put the population change in Wilkes County from 2020 to 2025 at +0.6%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Wilkes County is $51,721 a year, 36% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 17.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Wilkes County 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).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Wilkes County are for insurance agencies (78); landscaping and lawn care companies (62); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (62). Wilkes County ranks #261 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
Wilkes County is part of the North Wilkesboro area. For its number of households, Wilkes County 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).
All 56 business types in Wilkes County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Wilkes 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 | 78 | #261 of 2,272 | 25 | 9.2 | $3M | 240 | 19 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 62 | #423 of 1,493 | 10 | 3.7 | $3.3M | 114 | 15 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 62 | #424 of 1,771 | 16 | 5.9 | $2.1M | 124 | 24 |
| Spas and skin care | 62 | #440 of 1,769 | 11 | 4.1 | $1.8M | 206 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 62 | #458 of 1,889 | 10 | 3.7 | $8.1M | 197 | 9 |
| Real estate | 62 | #485 of 2,229 | 29 | 10.7 | Index only | 279 | 15 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 61 | #506 of 2,176 | 26 | 9.6 | Index only | 248 | 10 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 61 | #636 of 2,087 | 19 | 7.0 | $2.2M | 173 | 4 |
| Roofing and gutters | 60 | #357 of 1,177 | 5 | 1.8 | $12.9M | 153 | 3 |
| Physical therapy | 60 | #425 of 1,422 | 5 | 1.8 | $5M | 209 | 7 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 59 | #635 of 2,063 | 14 | 5.2 | $5.8M | 157 | 9 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 59 | #737 of 2,210 | 27 | 10.0 | $1.5M | 176 | 7 |
| Nail salons | 55 | #522 of 1,328 | 5 | 1.8 | $4M | 238 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 54 | #692 of 1,707 | 10 | 3.7 | $6.5M | 136 | 22 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 54 | #780 of 1,886 | 16 | 5.9 | $1.6M | 160 | 14 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 51 | #806 of 1,656 | 13 | 4.8 | $1.9M | 109 | 16 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 51 | #1,102 of 2,385 | 76 | 28.0 | $261K | 123 | 9 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 51 | #1,129 of 2,405 | 191 | 70.5 | $427K | 115 | 87 |
| Auto repair shops | 51 | #1,151 of 2,378 | 59 | 21.8 | $439K | 99 | 22 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 50 | #658 of 1,327 | 9 | 3.3 | $2.9M | 93 | 6 |
| Child care and preschools | 50 | #814 of 1,611 | 8 | 3.0 | $976K | 97 | 11 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 49 | #1,209 of 2,405 | 105 | 38.7 | $776K | 117 | 36 |
| Pizza | 46 | #1,179 of 2,090 | 18 | 6.6 | $4.5M | 89 | 42 |
| Hair salons | 46 | #1,384 of 2,339 | 50 | 18.4 | $397K | 92 | 4 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 45 | #788 of 1,302 | 7 | 2.6 | $3.6M | 115 | 5 |
| Pet businesses | 45 | #1,331 of 2,200 | 29 | 10.7 | $649K | 74 | 10 |
| Gas stations | 45 | #1,404 of 2,358 | 49 | 18.1 | $1.8M | 74 | 44 |
| Car washes and detailing | 44 | #892 of 1,451 | 15 | 5.5 | $1.7M | 68 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 44 | #1,474 of 2,401 | 107 | 39.5 | $242K | 90 | 37 |
| Barbershops | 43 | #871 of 1,356 | 8 | 3.0 | $2.5M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 43 | #1,347 of 2,057 | 25 | 9.2 | $2.6M | 106 | 46 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 43 | #1,400 of 2,222 | 30 | 11.1 | $2.7M | 89 | 42 |
| Convenience stores | 42 | #1,399 of 2,261 | 25 | 9.2 | $5.8M | 73 | 7 |
| Tire shops | 41 | #993 of 1,530 | 10 | 3.7 | $2.6M | 103 | 9 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 41 | #1,460 of 2,088 | 25 | 9.2 | $515K | 78 | 4 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 39 | #997 of 1,461 | 13 | 4.8 | $1.4M | 57 | 4 |
| Gyms | 37 | #1,336 of 1,792 | 16 | 5.9 | $805K | 62 | 4 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 35 | #1,891 of 2,394 | 167 | 61.6 | $151K | 99 | 47 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 30 | #1,951 of 2,402 | 70 | 25.8 | $2.1M | 61 | 19 |
| Pet stores | 26 | #834 of 974 | 6 | 2.2 | $3.1M | 69 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 25 | #1,200 of 1,334 | 8 | 3.0 | $1.6M | 80 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 24 | #1,801 of 2,070 | 33 | 12.2 | $4.4M | 47 | 12 |
| Electricians | 23 | #1,068 of 1,160 | 10 | 3.7 | $6.5M | 54 | 21 |
| 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 Wilkes 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 | $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 Wilkes County
- 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 Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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
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- Alleghany County, NC11,174 people
- Ashe County, NC26,950 people
- Yadkin County, NC37,574 people
- Caldwell County, NC80,536 people
- Watauga County, NC55,123 people
- Surry County, NC71,425 people
- Catawba County, NC163,573 people
Questions
How fast is Wilkes County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Wilkes County at 66,233 people in 2025, up 0.6% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 27,107 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 17.3%, before inflation.
How much do households in Wilkes County, NC spend?
Households in Wilkes County spend about $351M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $144.2M on groceries and $87M on gasoline and other fuels. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Wilkes County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 142, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (48).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Wilkes County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Wilkes County, insurance agencies (78); landscaping and lawn care companies (62); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (62) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #261 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does Wilkes County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Wilkes County is $51,721, 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. 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).
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. 43 of the 56 business types have a score in Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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.