Boone, North Carolina Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Population: 13,472. Estimated population in July 2024: 13,192 (-2.1% change)
Males: 6,586 (48.9%), Females: 6,886 (51.1%)

Watauga County

Zip codes: 28607.

Demographics

Median resident age: 21.4 years
Median household income: $20,541
Median house value: $137,700

Population by Race

Races in Boone:

  • White Non-Hispanic (92.9%)
  • Black (3.4%)
  • Hispanic (1.6%)
  • Two or more races (0.6%)
  • American Indian (0.5%)

Ancestries: German (15.0%), English (12.3%), Irish (9.4%), United States (8.0%), Scotch-Irish (7.7%), Scottish (5.5%).

Elevation: 3266 feet

Land area: 5.8 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Boone

  • High school or higher: 86.3%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 46.5%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 23.3%
  • Unemployed: 19.0%
  • Mean travel time to work: 12.6 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Boone town

  • Never married: 66.4%
  • Now married: 25.2%
  • Separated: 0.9%
  • Widowed: 3.3%
  • Divorced: 4.2%

2.2% Foreign born (1.0% Asia, 0.7% Europe, 0.3% Latin America).

Population change in the 1990s: +398 (+3.0%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Boone:

  • WATAUGA MEDICAL CENTER (PO BOX 2600)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Boone:

  • BLOWING ROCK HOSPITAL (about 6 miles; BLOWING ROCK, NC)
  • CANNON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 17 miles; LINVILLE, NC)
  • JOHNSON COUNTY HEALTH CENTER (about 20 miles; MOUNTAIN CITY, TN)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Boone:

  • HICKORY REGIONAL (about 39 miles; HICKORY, NC; Abbreviation: HKY)
  • TRI-CITIES RGNL TN/VA (about 54 miles; BRISTOL/JOHNSON/KINGSPORT, TN; Abbreviation: TRI)
  • ASHEVILLE REGIONAL (about 81 miles; ASHEVILLE, NC; Abbreviation: AVL)

Other public-use airports nearest to Boone:

Colleges and Universities

College/University in Boone:

  • APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY (Full-time enrollment: 12,245; Public; Website: www.appstate.edu/; Offers Doctor’s degree)

Other colleges/universities with over 2000 students near Boone:

  • CATAWBA VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 41 miles; HICKORY, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,052)
  • EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (about 49 miles; JOHNSON CITY, TN; Full-time enrollment: 9,498)
  • NORTHEAST STATE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 54 miles; BLOUNTVILLE, TN; Full-time enrollment: 2,729)
  • SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 62 miles; RICHLANDS, VA; Full-time enrollment: 2,412)
  • GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY (about 66 miles; BOILING SPRINGS, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,563)
  • GASTON COLLEGE (about 70 miles; DALLAS, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,473)
  • UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE (about 74 miles; ASHEVILLE, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,759)

Schools

Public high school in Boone:

  • WATAUGA HIGH (Students: 1,517; Location: 400 HIGH SCHOOL DR; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high schools in Boone:

  • ANDERLEY ACADEMY (Students: 43; Location: 192 ROGERS DRIVE; Grades: KG – 12)
  • IDEAL GIRLS SCHOOL AT HEAVENLY (Students: 14; Location: PO BOX 2808; Grades: 9 – 12; Girls only)

Public primary/middle schools in Boone:

  • HARDIN PARK ELEMENTARY (Students: 736; Location: 361 JEFFERSON ROAD; Grades: PK – 08)
  • PARKWAY ELEMENTARY (Students: 553; Location: 160 PARKWAY SCHOOL DR; Grades: PK – 08)
  • GREEN VALLEY ELEMENTARY (Students: 387; Location: 189 BIG HILL ROAD; Grades: KG – 08)

Private primary/middle schools in Boone:

  • APPALACHIAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 97; Location: PO BOX 1369; Grades: KG – 8)
  • MOUNTAIN PATHWAYS SCHOOL (Students: 44; Location: 453 HOWARDS CREEK RD; Grades: PK – 6)