Town guide

Wilkesboro, North Carolina

Wilkesboro is a town in Wilkes County, North Carolina, home to about 3,646 people across 6.3 square miles. Its ZIP code is 28697.

Homes sold for a median of $171 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a balanced market.

Population3,646577 per sq mi
Median home value$223,700Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$171Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Sold over asking13%Latest 3 months

ZIP codes in Wilkesboro

1 ZIP code

Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Wilkesboro. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology

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We’re writing up Wilkesboro’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.

  • History
  • What it’s like to live there
  • Getting around
  • Things to do

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Around Wilkesboro

Distances

Nearest major airportCharlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)65 miles away
Closer regional airportConcord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA)57 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+Winston-Salem, NC50 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+Philadelphia, PA423 miles away

Straight-line distances from the center of Wilkesboro; driving is longer.

Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Who represents Wilkesboro

Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.

Population over time

Wilkesboro had 3,687 residents in the 2020 census, up 17% since 2000.

It’s the 227th largest of 771 towns in North Carolina by population.

Wilkes County grew from 26,872 residents in 1900 to 65,969 in 2020.

Wilkesboro population by census2000: 3,159, 2010: 3,413, 2020: 3,6873,15920003,41320103,6872020

Wilkes County, 1900–2020

Wilkes County population, 1900 to 20201900: 26,872, 1910: 30,282, 1920: 32,644, 1930: 36,162, 1940: 43,003, 1950: 45,243, 1960: 45,269, 1970: 49,524, 1980: 58,657, 1990: 59,393, 2000: 65,632, 2010: 69,340, 2020: 65,96927K’00’1033K’20’3043K’40’5045K’60’7059K’80’9066K’00’1066K’20

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).

Weather by month

Average highs peak around 87°F in summer, and winter lows average 27°F. About 51.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 6 inches of snow.

Average high and low temperature and precipitation by month near WilkesboroJan: high 48°F, low 27°F, 4.4 in; Feb: high 52°F, low 29°F, 3.3 in; Mar: high 60°F, low 36°F, 4.4 in; Apr: high 70°F, low 44°F, 4.7 in; May: high 77°F, low 53°F, 4.5 in; Jun: high 84°F, low 62°F, 4.9 in; Jul: high 87°F, low 66°F, 4.5 in; Aug: high 85°F, low 65°F, 5.1 in; Sep: high 79°F, low 58°F, 4.3 in; Oct: high 71°F, low 46°F, 3.8 in; Nov: high 60°F, low 35°F, 3.5 in; Dec: high 51°F, low 30°F, 4.4 in48°27°Jan4.452°29°Feb3.360°36°Mar4.470°44°Apr4.777°53°May4.584°62°Jun4.987°66°Jul4.585°65°Aug5.179°58°Sep4.371°46°Oct3.860°35°Nov3.551°30°Dec4.4Rain and melted snow, inches

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, N Wilkesboro, NC weather station (2 miles away).

Jobs in Wilkes County

19,772 jobs at 1,157 businesses in Wilkes County. The biggest industries by employees:

Largest industries in Wilkes CountyManufacturing: 5,084 jobs; Retail trade: 2,720 jobs; Health care and social assistance: 2,710 jobs; Company headquarters: 2,682 jobs; Hotels and restaurants: 1,890 jobs; Construction: 701 jobs; Administrative and support: 697 jobs; Other services: 617 jobsManufacturing 26% Retail trade 14% Health care and social assistance 14% Company headquarters 14% Hotels and restaurants 10% Construction 4% Administrative and support 4% Other services 3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).

Health care

99 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Wilkesboro.

Nearest hospitals

  • Wilkes Regional Medical CenterGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · North Wilkesboro1.6 miles
  • Hugh Chatham Memorial HospitalGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Elkin19.8 miles
  • Alleghany Memorial HospitalCritical access hospital · emergency room · Sparta25.9 miles

Providers with an office here

Primary care doctors4
Specialist doctors6
Dentists9
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants14
Mental health providers47
Physical and occupational therapists12
Optometrists1
Chiropractors6
Pharmacies4

Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.

Places in and around Wilkesboro

Parks (5 nearby)

  • Cub Creek Park · 22 acres1.0 mi
  • Westwood Park · 21 acres0.5 mi
  • North Wilkesboro Rotary Fairgrounds · 17 acres1.4 mi
  • Memorial Park · 11 acres1.7 mi
  • Cub Creek · 8 acres0.7 mi

Grocery stores (2 nearby)

  • Food Lion0.6 mi
  • Oakwoods Grocery and Gas0.9 mi

Pharmacies (3 nearby)

  • Walgreens1.5 mi
  • Rite Aid1.6 mi
  • CVS Pharmacy1.6 mi

Libraries (1 nearby)

  • Wilkes County Public Library1.7 mi

Museums (1 nearby)

  • Wilkes Heritage Museum0.9 mi

Theaters and performance venues (3 nearby)

  • Creekside Stage1.3 mi
  • Watson Stage1.3 mi
  • Walker Center1.5 mi

Counts are within about 2 miles of the center of town.

Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.

Colleges, teams and notable people

Established in 1800.

Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.

Schools in Wilkesboro

Public schools here are run by Wilkes County Schools. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.

Public schools (4)
SchoolGradesStudentsTypeDistance
Wilkesboro Elementary SchoolWilkesboroPre-K–5405Public1.1 mi
West Wilkes Middle SchoolWilkesboro6–8450Public5.2 mi
Wilkes Central High SchoolWilkesboro9–12719Public2.1 mi
Wilkes Early College High SchoolWilkesboro9–13265Public1.5 mi
Private schools (1)
SchoolGradesStudentsAffiliationDistance
Harvest Time Christian AcademyWilkesboroPre-K–1299Christian (no specific denomination)1.4 mi

Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.

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Where Wilkesboro is

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Towns near Wilkesboro

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Shares ZIP codes with Moravian Falls.

Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.