Avery County Demographics

A map of Avery County's Population by Race

Avery County, North Carolina had a population of 17,806 in 2020. It was 87.3% White, 3.6% Black, 0.3% Asian, 5.5% Hispanic, 0.6% Native American/Other, and 2.6% Multiracial. This map presents the population of Avery County, with one dot drawn for each person counted in the 2020 Census, color-coded by race.

Avery County is the 85th most populous county of the 100 counties in North Carolina.

Avery County's White Population

15,549 residents of Avery County identify as White, or 87.3%. This makes the White share of the population of Avery County considerably larger than the White share of the population of North Carolina (60.5% White). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Avery County is ranked #9 in terms of White residents as a share of the population.

Avery County is more White than neighboring Watauga County (83.2% White), and Burke County (78.4% White). Avery County is less White than neighboring Mitchell County (90.7% White), Carter County (91.9% White), and Johnson County (89.8% White).

Avery County's Black Population

649 residents of Avery County identify as Black, or 3.6%. This makes the Black share of the population of Avery County less than the Black share of the population of North Carolina (20.2% Black). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Avery County is ranked #81 in terms of Black residents as a share of the population.

Avery County is more Black than neighboring Mitchell County (0.3% Black), and Carter County (1.2% Black). Avery County is less Black than neighboring Watauga County (3.9% Black), Johnson County (4% Black), and Burke County (5.4% Black).

Avery County's Asian Population

56 residents of Avery County identify as Asian, or 0.3%. This makes the Asian share of the population of Avery County roughly similar to the Asian share of the population of North Carolina (3.3% Asian). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Avery County is ranked #86 in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population.

Avery County is more Asian than neighboring Johnson County (0.2% Asian). Avery County is less Asian than neighboring Watauga County (1.7% Asian), Carter County (0.4% Asian), and Burke County (3.6% Asian).

Avery County's Hispanic Population

987 residents of Avery County identify as Hispanic, or 5.5%. This makes the Hispanic share of the population of Avery County slightly less than the Hispanic share of the population of North Carolina (10.7% Hispanic). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Avery County is ranked #64 in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population.

Avery County is more Hispanic than neighboring Mitchell County (4.7% Hispanic), Carter County (2.1% Hispanic), and Johnson County (2.9% Hispanic). Avery County is less Hispanic than neighboring Watauga County (6.5% Hispanic), and Burke County (8.2% Hispanic).

Avery County's Native American/Other Population

103 residents of Avery County identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other, or 0.6%. This makes the Native American/Other share of the population of Avery County roughly similar to the Native American/Other share of the population of North Carolina (1.5% Native American/Other). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Avery County is ranked #75 in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population.

Avery County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Mitchell County (0.4% Native American/Other), Carter County (0.5% Native American/Other), and Johnson County (0.3% Native American/Other). Avery County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Watauga County (1% Native American/Other).

Avery County's Multiracial Population

462 residents of Avery County identify as Multiracial, or 2.6%. This makes the Multiracial share of the population of Avery County roughly similar to the Multiracial share of the population of North Carolina (3.9% Multiracial). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Avery County is ranked #91 in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population.

Avery County is less Multiracial than neighboring Mitchell County (3.5% Multiracial), Watauga County (3.7% Multiracial), Carter County (3.9% Multiracial), Johnson County (2.8% Multiracial), and Burke County (3.7% Multiracial).

Source: 2020 Census State Redistricting Data and Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.