Avery County Demographics

A map of Avery County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	15,152	15,549	85.7%	87.3%
Hispanic	1,070	987	6.1%	5.5%
Black	676	649	3.8%	3.6%
Multiracial	587	462	3.3%	2.6%
Native American/Other	121	103	0.7%	0.6%
Asian	74	56	0.4%	0.3%

Avery County, North Carolina has an estimated population of 17,680, a less than 1% change from the 17,806 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 85.7% White, 6.1% Hispanic, 3.8% Black, 3.3% Multiracial, 0.7% Native American/Other, and 0.4% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Avery County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Avery has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Avery County, that probability was 23.2% in 2020 and 25.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Avery County is ranked the 84th most populous county in North Carolina, out of 100 counties. Avery County was ranked the 85th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Avery County's White Population

15,152 residents of Avery County, or 85.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Avery County is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Avery County ranks 9th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Avery County's White population has declined by an estimated 2.6%. White residents' share of Avery County's population has decreased from 87.3% to 85.7%.

Avery County is more White than neighboring Burke County (79.1% White). Avery County is less White than neighboring Mitchell County (91% White), Watauga County (88.5% White), Carter County (92.8% White), and Johnson County (87.3% White).

Avery County's Black Population

676 residents of Avery County, or 3.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Avery County is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Avery County ranks 81st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Avery County's Black population has grown by an estimated 4.2%. Black residents' share of Avery County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.8%.

Avery County is more Black than neighboring Mitchell County (0.9% Black), Watauga County (1.6% Black), and Carter County (1.9% Black). Avery County is less Black than neighboring Johnson County (4.7% Black), and Burke County (6.1% Black).

Avery County's Asian Population

74 residents of Avery County, or 0.4% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Avery County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Avery County ranks 86th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Avery County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 32.1%. Asian residents' share of Avery County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Avery County is more Asian than neighboring Carter County (0.1% Asian), and Johnson County (0.3% Asian). Avery County is less Asian than neighboring Mitchell County (0.5% Asian), Watauga County (0.9% Asian), and Burke County (3.5% Asian).

Avery County's Hispanic Population

1,070 residents of Avery County, or 6.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Avery County is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Avery County ranks 64th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Avery County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 8.4%. Hispanic residents' share of Avery County's population has increased from 5.5% to 6.1%.

Avery County is more Hispanic than neighboring Mitchell County (5.6% Hispanic), Carter County (2.5% Hispanic), and Johnson County (3.2% Hispanic). Avery County is less Hispanic than neighboring Watauga County (6.2% Hispanic), and Burke County (8.5% Hispanic).

Avery County's Native American/Other Population

121 residents of Avery County, or 0.7% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Avery County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Avery County ranks 75th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Avery County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 17.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of Avery County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Avery County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Mitchell County (0.5% Native American/Other), Watauga County (0.2% Native American/Other), Carter County (0.2% Native American/Other), and Burke County (0.3% Native American/Other). Avery County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Johnson County (1% Native American/Other).

Avery County's Multiracial Population

587 residents of Avery County, or 3.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Avery County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Avery County ranks 91st statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Avery County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 27.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Avery County's population has increased from 2.6% to 3.3%.

Avery County is more Multiracial than neighboring Mitchell County (1.6% Multiracial), Watauga County (2.7% Multiracial), Carter County (2.5% Multiracial), and Burke County (2.5% Multiracial). Avery County is less Multiracial than neighboring Johnson County (3.5% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.