Watauga County Demographics

1
Watauga CountyDemographics

• Sarah DHaem

2
Population

• According to the US Census, there are about
  42,695 people in Watauga
• About 21,273 males and 21,422 females
• 5,685 people 15 years and younger
• 13,151 people 16-24
• 10,001 people 25-44
• The average age is 35.44
• 9,175 people 45-65
• 4,683 people 65 and older

3
Race and Ethnicity
4
Households

• There are 4,374 households
• 9.6 of those had children under the age of 18
  living in them
• 21 of those households were married couples
• 5.6 were females with no husbands
• 71.7 were non families (think ASU)
• 9.2 of all households were below the poverty line

5
Watauga CountyStatistics

• Jessica Coggins

6
Population

• Total Population ---- 42,695
• White ---- 96.5
• Black ---- 1.6
• Other ---- 1.9

7
Education

• High School Graduates (age 25)
• 81.6
• Bachelors Degree or higher (age 25)
• 33.2

8
Housing

• Homeownership Rate
• 62.9
• Average Value of Housing Units
• 203,133
• Percent of Unaffordable Housing
• 26.3
• Percent of Substandard Housing
• 0.0

9
Income

• Median Household Income (for 2 people)
• 32,611
• Per Capita Income
• 17,258

10
Poverty

• Population in Poverty
• 6,761
• Poverty Rate
• 17.9
• Child Poverty Rate
• 11.5
• Elderly Poverty Rate
• 10.6
• Percent Receiving Food Stamps
• 3.7

11
Health

• Physicians Per Population
• 21.3
• Infant Mortality Rate
• 6.4
• Percent Uninsured
• 21.2

12
Miscellaneous

• Dropout Rate
• 4.1
• Unemployment Rate
• 3.5
• Crime Rate
• 31.9
• Voting Rate
• 57.6

13
Sources

• Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor
  Statistics, National Agricultural Statistics
  Service, National Center for Health Statistics,
  U.S. Census Bureau
• N.C. Rural Economic Development Center

14
Jobs and Income

• Kenneth Gehrig

15
Minimum Wage in Watauga County

• Minimum Wage- 5.15 (has not changed since 1997)
• Person must work 92 hours a week (before taxes)
  to meet a a standard of living

16
2000 Consensus

• Poverty line-Family of 1- 9,800 2- 13,200 3-
  16,600
• 18 live under the poverty line
• 7.2 of families (2 or more) live under poverty
  line.

17
Averages

• Males- 29,135
• Females- 22,006
• Per capita income- 17,258
• 25 of families make less than 25,000 a year

18
What is Available

• Roughly 30 jobs available through Jobster
• High School Diploma/ GED required
• Watauga Democrat- Jobs require experience,
  live-in, or are seasonal/part time.

19
References

• www.answers.com/topic/watauga-county-north-carolin
  a
• Watauga Democrat- 4/03/2006 Democrats Stress
  Pride
• www.wataugademocrat.com/topic.php?tid20sid4992
  
• www.jobster.com

20
High Price of Living in Watauga County

• Carter Garbutt

21
Low Incomes

• Median Household Incomes (2000)
• United States 42,148
• North Carolina 38,829
• Watauga County 32,611
• Watauga County median income is only 83.99 of
  what the median North Carolina household earns
• Average wage per job in Watauga County is 24,476
  versus North Carolina which is 32,995
• Per Capita Income 17,258

22
Cost of Housing

• Average single family home price is 203,133
  according to Northwestern Regional Housing
  Authority (NRHA) in 2002.
• Fourth highest housing costs in North Carolina
• It is practically impossible to own a home due to
  high price of housing and low wages
• Average Rent is 467 which is 32.47 of the per
  capita income, while one paying rent is also
  gaining no equity

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Taxes

• Sales Tax Rate 7
• Lodging Tax of 3 if located in Boone, Blowing
  Rock or Beech Mountain
• Property Taxes .35 for every 100.00 of value
  that the property has
• Additional Town Property Taxes per 100.00 of
  Value
• Boone .39
• Blowing Rock .295
• Beech Mountain .625
• Seven Devils .58

24
An Attempt at House Ownership

• An example of average family income of 32,611
  attempting to purchase an average priced single
  family home at 203,133
• Assuming they paid the average 20 down payment
  which would equal 40,626.60
• Does not include taxes,
• insurance, or closing costs

25
An Attempt at House Ownership cont.

• Standard Fixed Rate Mortgage
• Principle 162,506.40
• Interest Rate 7
• Term 30 Years
• Monthly Payment 1081.16
• This would equal 12,973.92 per
• year which comes out to be 39.8 of the median
  household income of 32,611.

26
References

• http//wataugaedc.org/qol1f.html
• http//www.city-data.com/county/Watauga_County-NC.
  html
• http//www.mountaintimes.com/mtweekly/2003/0417/st
  ate_of_county.php3
• http//www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locInde
  x19128

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Resources for the Poor

• Erika Copeland

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High Country United Way

• The High Country United Way is a community-based
  organization that develops human and financial
  resources to improve the quality of life in The
  High Country.

29
Hospitality House

• Provides daily community meals, short-term
  homeless shelter, sleeping place, winter shelter,
  Adult education classes (GED, JOB SKILLS)

30
Head Start

• Provides preschool education for low income
  families

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Department of Social Services

• Provides services such as adoption, foster care,
  protective services (adult and children), home
  maker, day care subsidy, medical transportation,
  family planning, and work permits for minors

32
Habitat for Humanity

• A group of volunteers that build houses for
  low-income families throughout the high country

33
Rams Rack

• Selling used clothing and other items that
  provide assistance for families and setting up
  households

34
The Hunger Coalition

• Serves the low income population by providing
  them with food, pharmacy trip when they have
  medications, disability advocacy assistance, and
  financial assistance for gas and electric in the
  summer and winter months

35
References

• http//www.act.appstate.edu/
• http//www.habitat.org/
• http//www.hungercoalition.com/
• http//www.acf.hhs.gov/
• http//www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/