Beech Mountain: Demographics & People
About 987 people live in Beech Mountain, in 515 households. Population grew 18.8% from 831 (2022) to 987 (2024). Median age 61.7 years. (30.3y older than Watauga County; 25.5y older than North Carolina). Children under 18 are 9% of the population. Population is 93% White (non-Hispanic) and 2% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.06). 64% of households are family-led. County is gaining 327 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 33% adult obesity, 17% smoke.
- 1.9 people per household (vs North Carolina avg 2.5).
- 36% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs North Carolina 42%).
- 97 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs North Carolina 64).
Population & Trend
Population grew 18.8% from 831 (2022) to 987 (2024) — about 31.3× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~1,180 (extrapolated at 9.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,474.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 17,806 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 18.8% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 831 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 987 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 987 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
| Population Estimate | 1,474 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 61.7y is 22.8 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 9% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 61.7 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 8.6% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 987 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 85 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 70.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 430.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 402 |
| Population under 18 | 85 |
| Median age | 61.7 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 987 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.06 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 780 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 3 |
| Asian residents | 5 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 16 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 5.8% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 97.0% |
| Asian population | 1.4% (vs North Carolina 3.2%) |
| Black population | 0.2% (vs North Carolina 26.0%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 2.3% (vs North Carolina 12.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 93.0% (vs North Carolina 51.1%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 2.6% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 3% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 150 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 778 |
| Share born in this state | 15.2% |
| Share born in another state | 84.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 78.8% |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.6% |
| Naturalized citizens | 3.3% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 30 |
| From Europe | 8 |
| From Africa | 8 |
Households & Family Composition
515 households. Averaging 2.1 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 64% are family households — near the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 293 families, 5% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 84 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 293 |
| Married couples with children | 16 |
| Single-parent households | 3 |
| Average household size | 2.08 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 15.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 15 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 2 |
| Family households | 328 households (vs North Carolina 17,226) |
| Households that are families | 63.7% (vs North Carolina 58.5%) |
| Total households | 515 households (vs North Carolina 25,235) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 17.5% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 327 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 17.5% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 14,744 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 14,417 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 327 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 50 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 6.3% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 5 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | NC-05 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 37011 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 37 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 011 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Avery |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 18.7% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 14.00 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 24.40 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 37011 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Avery County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 593 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 37011 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Avery County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 76.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 58.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 40.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 17,557 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 6.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 10 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 8.6% |
| Family Score · Rating | good |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 987, booming, retirement community, upper-middle, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 987 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
| Town Summary · County | Avery County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade