Westglow · National Register of Historic Places
Blowing Rock’s story
170 years in pictures
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 1980.
7 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1856Blowing Rock is settled
Blowing RockNC
A town of 1,324, settled in 1856.
Flat Top Estate · Photo: Bill Russ photographer · Public domain
Population
1,324
2025 Census estimate · −3.6% since 2020
Typical home
$765K
+4.1% in a year
Household income
$121K
median
Median age
59.7
years
Jobs based here
1,730
A job hub
Is Blowing Rock a good place to live?
Blowing Rock’s best subject grades are an A− for health, schools, and incomes; its weakest is a D for cost of living. 64% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Blowing Rock, against 29% in North Carolina’s towns and 29% across U.S. towns. Only 23 of North Carolina’s 450 towns score lower on cost of living. Blowing Rock is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 78% of U.S. towns. Blowing Rock’s trail density is 1.0 miles per square mile, above both the North Carolina town median (0.2) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4). On civic life, just 19 of North Carolina’s 331 towns do better. Blowing Rock has 7 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Flat Top Estate and Westglow. Blowing Rock has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Blowing Rock stand out
Where Blowing Rock beats most towns.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here1,730
Residents who work437
Work
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 99% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
32 measures vs. North Carolina
17 better9 too close to call6 worse
| Widest gap | Blowing Rock | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 4.9% | 12.2% |
HealthA−
Healthier than 81% of U.S. towns
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
Watauga County Schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Blowing Rock Elementary | PK–8 | 409 |
SchoolsA−
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
Small town
1,324 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Blowing Rock grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Carolina), ordered by how far Blowing Rock is from typical.
Cost of livingDOpen →HealthHealthier than 80% of U.S. towns; Watauga Medical Center 4.7 miles awayA−Open →SchoolsA−Open →Jobs & incomeA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.2 of 20; 1.9% of households have no car; 3.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA−Open →SafetyCOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 28% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 5% conserved landB+Open →History4 notable people born hereBOpen →Civic life10.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateCold winters, 77° summer afternoons, 26″ of snow–Open →Housing market121 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 59.7–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 25 attractions →Blue Ridge Parkway and 14 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Blowing Rock. Close and well known come first.
in town ParkwayBlue Ridge Parkway16.5M visitors a year
8 mi MountainGrandfather Mountain3 mi Theme parkTweetsie Railroad13 mi Theme parkLand of Oz
37 mi MountainMount Rogers
2 mi MuseumMoses H. Cone Memorial ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Blue Ridge Parkway: Ken Thomas, Public domain · Grandfather Mountain: Original uploader was KyleAndMelissa22 at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Mount Rogers: USDA-FS, Public domain · Moses H. Cone Memorial Park: Bill Russ photographer, Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Blowing Rock: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Blowing Rock, and how to reach them.
PowerBlue Ridge Elec Member14.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTown of Blowing Rock water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers93% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Blowing Rock’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn North Carolina you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person with same-day registration during the early voting period, or by mail (postmarked 25 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereWatauga County Board of ElectionsWatauga County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2019
ZIP code2860528605 99%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Blowing Rock.
HousingCost of living grade D
A typical Blowing Rock home is worth about $765K
The typical Blowing Rock home is worth about $765,000, up 4.1% in a year, more than twice the North Carolina typical home. 83% of households own their home in Blowing Rock.
$765KZillow home value
| Blowing Rock | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 83% | 67% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,278 a month | $1,085 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Blowing Rock$765K
North Carolina$332K
Market temperature
121
days on market
96.8%
sale-to-list price
+4.1%
value change, 1 year
8
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsA−
Public schools in Blowing Rock beat 80% of North Carolina districts
Its public schools are run by the Watauga County Schools. Its one school is below.
80%of NC districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blowing Rock ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 409 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Blowing Rock has 4.0 jobs for every working resident, and 1,666 people commute in
Most working residents leave Blowing Rock for work: only 15% work in town. Blowing Rock’s median household income is $121,000. Jobs based in Blowing Rock grew to 1,730 in 2023, 270 more than in 2013.
15%work in town
| Blowing Rock | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $121,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 2.4% | 13% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 15% | 6.8% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Blowing Rock15%
Boone25%
Lenoir4%
Charlotte3%
Raleigh2%
7 mi
median commute distance
1,730
jobs based in Blowing Rock
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 78% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthA−
Blowing Rock stands out in North Carolina and nationally: a smaller share of its adults sleep under 7 hours
25% of Blowing Rock adults sleep under 7 hours. Blowing Rock beats the North Carolina average on 17 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 6. 12% of Blowing Rock adults binge drink.
81%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Blowing Rock | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 17% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 34% | 36% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 86% | 80% | 79% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 33% | 33% |
32 measures vs. North Carolina
17 better9 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Blowing Rock | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 4.9% | 12.2% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 3.3% | 8.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 15.6% | 7.9% |
Watauga Medical Center
4.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Low risk in Blowing Rock, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 72% of U.S. communities. Since 1989, 8 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Blowing Rock.
28risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
8
paid flood claims since 1989
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SafetyC
Blowing Rock sees more crime per resident than 67% of U.S. towns
The property crime rate in Blowing Rock is 25.6 per 1,000 residents.
33%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade
| Blowing Rock | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 25.6 per 1,000 residents | 21.8 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.5 per 1,000 residents | 3.2 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Blowing Rock1.5
North Carolina3.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Blowing Rock25.6
North Carolina18.1
U.S.15.5
33rd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
2
violent crimes reported in 2025
34
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Compared with most of North Carolina and the rest of the country, a typical July afternoon in Blowing Rock is cooler
No town among the 291 in North Carolina we compare has a lower July high than Blowing Rock. Blowing Rock has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain.
26″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter25–43°
Spring39–59°
Summer57–75°
Fall42–61°
Oct 21
typical first frost
Apr 25
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
5.2%conserved
5.2%
conserved · 109 of 2,095 acres
3.3 mi
of trails · 1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Blowing Rock Pool | — | 4 |
| 2. Pisgah National Forest | — | 3 |
| 3. Blowing Rock City Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Blowing Rock
20pages on Blowing Rock
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 80% of NC districts · 1 schoolSafetyC1.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than NC on 17 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD$765K typical home · up 4.1% in a yearWork & commuteA−$121K median household income · 1,730 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 28% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Blowing Rock
Appalachian State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Boone6 mi$7,579 in-state tuitionJung Tao School of Classical Chinese MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Sugar Grove11.4 miLees-McRae CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Banner Elk11.8 mi$33,250 tuition
About 4 of every 100 Blowing Rock residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.
A job hub
Every workday, about 1,666 people come to Blowing Rock for work
Where Blowing Rock’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,730jobs based in Blowing Rock
15%of working residents work in town
7 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
7 places in Blowing Rock on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous people from Blowing Rock
4 notable people were born in Blowing Rock.
About Blowing Rock
Town in North Carolina, United States
Blowing Rock is a town in Watauga and Caldwell counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 1,376 at the 2020 census. The Caldwell County portion of Blowing Rock is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Watauga County portion is part of the Boone Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1889
- Area
- 3.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 3,566 ft
- ZIP code
- 28605
- Area code
- 828
Questions about Blowing Rock
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Blowing Rock, NC expensive?
Yes. That is 14.8 years of the area's median household income ($51,693 across the Boone, NC area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.
What is Blowing Rock, NC known for?
4 notable people were born here, including Tom Robbins and Deanna Ballard.