Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 1,348, settled in 1909.
West Jefferson’s best subject grades are an A− for cost of living and walkability; its weakest is a D− for incomes. West Jefferson’s property crime rate is 55.7 per 1,000 residents, above both North Carolina’s towns (21.8) and U.S. towns (9.9). Only 27 of North Carolina’s 448 towns score lower on incomes. West Jefferson's crime rate is higher than 95% of U.S. towns, with 1 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. Glendale Springs Inn and Elkland School Gymnasium is on the National Register of Historic Places. West Jefferson has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where West Jefferson beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Carolina), ordered by how far West Jefferson is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 462 in 1920, 1,279 in 2020. The archive holds 9 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 5 maps from 1889 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around West Jefferson. Close and well known come first.
7 mi ParkwayBlue Ridge Parkway16.5M visitors a year
26 mi MountainGrandfather Mountain
20 mi MountainMount Rogers17 mi Theme parkTweetsie Railroad
17 mi State parkGrayson Highlands State Park26 mi Theme parkLand of OzBlue Ridge Parkway: Ken Thomas, Public domain · Grandfather Mountain: Original uploader was KyleAndMelissa22 at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Mount Rogers: USDA-FS, Public domain · Grayson Highlands State Park: Ken Thomas, Public domain
Who provides power, water and the rest in West Jefferson, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in West Jefferson.
West Jefferson’s violent crime rate is 0.7 per 1,000 residents, below both the North Carolina town median (3.2) and the median of U.S. towns (1.6). West Jefferson reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 95% report less.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Its public schools are run by the Ashe County Schools. Its two schools are below. The largest public high school is Ashe County High, with 767 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westwood ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–6 | Grades K–6 | 451 | B |
| Ashe County HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 767 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduation
Most working residents leave West Jefferson for work: only 13% work in town. West Jefferson’s average trip to work is 16 minutes. Since 2013, West Jefferson has added 566 jobs, to 2,017 in 2023.
| West Jefferson | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 16 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 21% | 13% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $47,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 6.8% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
West Jefferson beats the North Carolina average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 11. 45% of adults have high blood pressure in West Jefferson.
| West Jefferson | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 38% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 15% | 16% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
| What stands out | West Jefferson | NC |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 82.4% | 76.7% |
| More adults with heart disease | 10.2% | 6.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The July high in West Jefferson is 79°F. West Jefferson has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 57% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 13 flood insurance claims have been paid out in West Jefferson.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Only 2 of the 278 North Carolina towns we compare have a lower median rent than West Jefferson. 54% of West Jefferson households own their home. Typical home values rose 4.8% in the year to September 2026.
| West Jefferson | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $484 a month | $1,085 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 54% | 67% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
0.5 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Paddy Mountain Park, at 22 acres.
| West Jefferson | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 2.5% | 3.4% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Paddy Mountain Park | 0.4 mi | 22 |
| 2. Bowie Seagrave Memorial Park | 0.1 mi | 8 |
| 3. Back Street Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of West Jefferson; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 West Jefferson residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.
Where West Jefferson’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in North Carolina, United States
West Jefferson is a resort town in Ashe County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,279 at the 2020 census. West Jefferson is a popular destination among tourists and retirees from Florida, as well as those from the lower elevations of the Carolinas and Georgia.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.
