Live the Dream STAT - High Country gets a tad older
July 11, 2011, 8:21am
45.5, 42.3, 28.4 - The median age of the populations of, respectively, Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties, according to the 2010 US Census. All three High Country counties were above the state median age of 37.4. (not the average, but the data point in the middle of all recorded ages)

Avery County, home to Grandfather Mountain, went from a median age of 38.4 to 42.3 (3.9 years), while Ashe County increased by 3.4 years. Watauga County, home to Appalachian State University, understandably is the younger of the three, with a 1.5 year decrease in the median age since 2000.
Broken down by age groups, the High Country has a smaller under 18 population than the state as a whole, and trends higher with ages 45 and older.
Percent of population by age group
Under 18 | 18-24 | 25-44 | 45-64 | Over 65 | ||
Ashe County | 19.4 | 6.5 | 23.4 | 30.5 | 20.2 | |
Avery County | 17.2 | 9.8 | 26.7 | 29.0 | 17.4 | |
Watauga County | 13.8 | 31.8 | 19.4 | 22.5 | 12.4 | |
NC | 23.9 | 9.8 | 27.0 | 26.3 | 12.9 |