Watauga County, North Carolina Housing Market
In Watauga County, North Carolina, the median home value is $358,900, with a median monthly rent of $1,127. This places Watauga County at #389 nationally out of 3134 counties by median home value, and #12 within North Carolina.
📈 Price Trend (2017 → 2024)
📊 Recent Market Momentum (FHFA HPI)
FHFA House Price Index — All-Transactions, Annual (2000 = 100) · Latest: 2025
📍 Economic Snapshot
Employment & Wages
- Avg weekly wage: $918
- Establishments: 1,852
- BLS QCEW, 2025
Housing Supply
- Single-family: 238
- Multi-family: 298
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
Migration Patterns
- Inflow: 17,532 (avg $93,446)
- Outflow: 16,053 (avg $92,888)
- IRS Statistics of Income
📍 Sub-Market Activity
Top 2 active ZIP codes in Watauga County · Latest: 2025
| # | ZIP Code | HPI | YoY Change | Latest Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28692 | 269.7 | +15.31% | 2025 |
| 2 | 28607 | 291.1 | +7.54% | 2025 |
Source: FHFA HPI for Five-Digit ZIP Codes (All-Transactions Index, 2000 = 100).
This product uses FHFA Data but is neither endorsed nor certified by FHFA.
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💰 Mortgage Guide → 🧾 Property Tax Data →How Watauga County Compares
| Metric | Watauga County | North Carolina Average | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $358,900 | $235,312 | $227,706 |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,127 | $976 | $968 |
| Owner Occupancy Rate | 62.1% | 71.8% | 73.3% |
| Price/Rent Ratio | 26.5 | 19.8 | 18.7 |
Market Analysis
The median home value in Watauga County is 52.5% above the North Carolina state average and 57.6% above the U.S. national average. The median rent of $1,127/month is 15.5% above the state average.
With a price-to-rent ratio of 26.5, Watauga County is a strongly rent-favored market. Home prices are high relative to rents, meaning renting is typically far cheaper than owning in the near term.
Watauga County has an owner-occupancy rate of 62.1%, compared to 71.8% in North Carolina and 73.3% nationally. This indicates a more renter-heavy market than the U.S. average.
Similar Counties by Home Value
| County | State | Median Home Value | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wright County | Minnesota | $358,900 | $1,288 |
| Sanders County | Montana | $359,000 | $820 |
| Henrico County | Virginia | $359,200 | $1,541 |
| Whitman County | Washington | $359,600 | $1,049 |
| Owyhee County | Idaho | $359,800 | $821 |
Other Counties in North Carolina
| County | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Owner Occ. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabarrus County | $354,800 | $1,414 | 71.2% |
| Henderson County | $351,400 | $1,187 | 75.0% |
| Moore County | $351,400 | $1,254 | 76.4% |
| Brunswick County | $349,800 | $1,351 | 84.6% |
| Transylvania County | $373,600 | $967 | 74.7% |
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-Year Estimates (2017–2024). Variables: B25077 (Median Home Value), B25064 (Median Gross Rent), B25003 (Tenure). Data collected on 2026-10-14. The price-to-rent ratio is calculated as Median Home Value ÷ (Median Monthly Rent × 12).