Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC

Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA)

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2021 Population

148,684

1.75% 1-year decline

US Senator

Thom Tillis

Republican Party

US Senator

Ted Budd

Republican Party

2021 Median Age

44.9

0.222% 1-year decrease

2021 Poverty Rate

17.3%

2.33% 1-year increase

2021 Median Household Income

$47,531

7.25% 1-year growth

2021 Median Property Value

$137,200

4.65% 1-year growth

2021 Employed Population

59,708

2.47% 1-year decline

About

In 2021, Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC had a population of 149k people with a median age of 44.9 and a median household income of $47,531. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC declined from 151,330 to 148,684, a −1.75% decrease and its median household income grew from $44,317 to $47,531, a 7.25% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC are White (Non-Hispanic) (84.8%), White (Hispanic) (4.48%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (3.64%), Two+ (Hispanic) (2.45%), and Other (Hispanic) (2.11%).

8.12% of the households in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97.1% of the residents in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Wilkesboro High Country--Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC are Wilkes Community College (1,373 degrees awarded in 2021) and Surry Community College (703 degrees).

In 2021, the median property value in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC was $137,200, and the homeownership rate was 74.2%.

Most people in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 26.3 minutes. The average car ownership in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC was 2 cars per household.

Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC borders Watauga, Ashe, Yancey, Avery & Mitchell Counties PUMA, NC, Rockingham & Stokes Counties PUMA, NC, Kernersville Town & Clemmons Village PUMA, NC, Davie, Yadkin & Iredell (North) Counties PUMA, NC, Caldwell & Alexander Counties PUMA, NC, Mount Rogers Planning District Commission PUMA, VA, and West Piedmont Planning District Commission PUMA, VA.

United States North Carolina Virginia

Population & Diversity

Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC is home to a population of 149k people, from which 97.1% are citizens. As of 2021, 4.61% of Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC residents were born outside of the country (6.85k people).

In 2021, there were 18.9 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (126k people) in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 6.66k White (Hispanic) and 5.41k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

The most common non-English languages spoken as the primary langauge in households in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC are Spanish (9,698 households), German (405 households), and French (Incl. Cajun) (336 households).

Population & Diversity

Residents by Gender and Age

RACE/ETHNICITY

75,266

Women

50.6%

73,380

Men

49.4%

The resident population of United States in 2021 was 148,646 inhabitants, with 49.4% men, and 50.6% women.

The visualization shows the distribution of the residents by gender and age in the United States.

With the upper buttons you can add a filter by race.

Citizenship

97.1%

2021 Citizenship

96.9%

2020 Citizenship

As of 2021, 97.1% of Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2020, the percentage of US citizens in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC was 96.9%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC

White (Non-Hispanic)
126k ± 108
White (Hispanic)
6.66k ± 952
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
5.41k ± 334

9.18%

Hispanic Population

13.6k people

9.18% of the people in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC are hispanic (13.6k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

Most Common Origin

Mexico
4,074 ± 1,545 people
Honduras
400 ± 490 people
El Salvador
328 ± 444 people

In 2021, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC was Mexico, the natal country of 4,074 Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC residents, followed by Honduras with 400 and El Salvador with 328.

Foreign-Born Population

4.61%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

6.85k people

4.82%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

7.3k people

As of 2021, 4.61% of Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC residents (6.85k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2020, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC was 4.82%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Non-English Households

Most Common Non-English Languages

Spanish
9,698 households (6.87%)
German
405 households (0.287%)
French (Incl. Cajun)
336 households (0.238%)

8.12% of the households in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language, which is lower than the national average of 21.7%. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

In 2021, the most common non-English language spoken in households in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC was Spanish. 6.87% of the households in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC reported speaking Spanish at home as the primary shared language between all members living in the household.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
3,334 ± 432
Gulf War (1990s)
1,166 ± 338
Gulf War (2001-)
997 ± 253

Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.86 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC employs 59.7k people. The largest industries in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC are Construction (4,195 people), Elementary & secondary schools (3,701 people), and Restaurants & Food Services (3,178 people), and the highest paying industries are Industrial & miscellaneous chemicals ($271,537), Investigation & security services ($172,920), and Veneer, plywood, & engineered wood products ($131,458).

Males in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC have an average income that is 1.27 times higher than the average income of females, which is $42,058. The income inequality in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC (measured using the Gini index) is 0.434, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Workforce Diversity

Measure

RACE/ETHNICITY

28,604

Women

46.7%

32,613

Men

53.3%

The workforce of Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC in 2020 was 61,217 people, with 46.7% woman, and 53.3% men.

The visualization shows the distribution of the workforce by gender and age in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC.

With the upper buttons you can see the distribution of the average salary and add a filter by race.

Occupations

59.7k

2021 Value

−2.47%

1 Year decline

± −2.47%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC declined at a rate of −2.47%, from 61.2k employees to 59.7k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC, are Driver/sales workers & truck drivers (2,150 people), Cashiers (2,024 people), and Registered nurses (1,609 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

59.7k

2021 Value

−2.47%

1 Year decline

± −2.47%

From 2020 to 2021, employment in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC declined at a rate of −2.47%, from 61.2k employees to 59.7k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC, are Construction (4,195 people), Elementary & secondary schools (3,701 people), and Restaurants & Food Services (3,178 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC, though some of these residents may live in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$36,698

Median earning men ± $1,423

$27,993

Median earning women ± $1,555

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2021 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($58,750), Public Administration ($48,401), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($40,885).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2021 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($44,675), Construction ($39,542), and Wholesale Trade ($38,567).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

Y-Axis

2.75%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 155M people employed in North Carolina. This represents a 2.75% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in North Carolina.

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Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in North Carolina went to Donald J. Trump with 49.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (48.6%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (0.881%).

Thom Tillis and Ted Budd are the senators currently representing the state of North Carolina. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

North Carolina is currently represented by 14 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC. Showing the available data for North Carolina.

2020 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (49.9%)
Republican Party
Joseph R Biden Jr. (48.6%)
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen (0.881%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in North Carolina went to Donald J. Trump with 49.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (48.6%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (0.881%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in North Carolina for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from North Carolina

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Thom Tillis

Senator from North Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Ted Budd

Senator from North Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2023

Thom Tillis and Ted Budd are the senators currently representing North Carolina.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in North Carolina over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from North Carolina

North Carolina is currently represented by 14 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for North Carolina have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2021, universities in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC awarded 2,076 degrees. The student population of Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC in 2021 is skewed towards women, with 2,021 male students and 3,143 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC are White (1,651 and 80%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (276 and 13.4%), Black or African American (50 and 2.42%), and Two or More Races (41 and 1.99%).

The largest universities in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC by number of degrees awarded are Wilkes Community College (1,373 and 66.1%) and Surry Community College (703 and 33.9%).

The most popular majors in Wilkesboro High Country--Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC are Liberal Arts & Sciences (340 and 16.4%), General Business Administration & Management (197 and 9.49%), and Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians. (103 and 4.96%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2021 there were 5,164 students enrolled in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC, 39.1% men and 60.9% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 3,842 records, of which 59.9% were women and 40.1% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Liberal Arts & Sciences
340 degree-majors awarded
Registered Nursing
76 degree-majors awarded
General Business Administration & Management
46 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Wilkesboro High Country--Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 340 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Wilkesboro High Country--Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Wilkes Community College
1,373 degrees awarded
Surry Community College
703 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Wilkes Community College with 1,373 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2021, 998 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC, which is 0.926 times less than the 1,078 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 1,651 degrees mean that there were 5.98 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 276 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 2-year ($2,491) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2021.

Public, 2-year ($127) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2021.

Public, 2-year ($1,700) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Measure

In 2021, 1.23% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.868% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population of Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC in 2021 were High School or Equivalent (36.3k), Some college (28.4k), and Secondary Education (23.3k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC was $137,200 in 2021, which is 0.56 times smaller than the national average of $244,900. Between 2020 and 2021 the median property value increased from $131,100 to $137,200, a 4.65% increase. The homeownership rate in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC is 74.2%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.6%.

People in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC have an average commute time of 26.3 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC is $47,531. In 2021, the PUMA with the highest Median Household Income in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC was Apex & Holly Springs Towns PUMA, NC with a value of $128,604, followed by Raleigh City (Northwest) & Morrisville Town PUMA, NC and Indian Trail & Stallings Towns PUMA, NC, with respective values of $120,640 and $112,051.

Housing

Property

$137,200

Median Property Value 2021

±$3,523

$44,969

Median Property Taxes

±$1,517

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

74.2%

Homeownership

2021

64.7%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2021

In 2021, 74.2% of the housing units in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 74.4%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

In 2021, the PUMA with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC was Apex & Holly Springs Towns PUMA, NC with a value of $128,604, followed by Raleigh City (Northwest) & Morrisville Town PUMA, NC and Indian Trail & Stallings Towns PUMA, NC, with respective values of $120,640 and $112,051.

The following map shows all of the PUMAs in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$47,531

Median Household Income

± $1,636

60.6k

Number of Households

± 1,806

In 2021, the median household income of the 60.6k households in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC grew to $47,531 from the previous year's value of $44,317.

The following chart displays the households in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

0.434

2021 Wage GINI in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC

0.415

2020 Wage GINI in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC

In 2021, the income inequality in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC was 0.434 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 4.6% growth from 2020 to 2021, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2021

Drove Alone (83%)
Carpooled (10.6%)
Worked At Home (4.82%)

In 2021, 83% of workers in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (10.6%) and those who worked at home (4.82%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

26.3 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC have a shorter commute time (26.3 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.8 minutes). Additionally, 3.67% of the workforce in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

17.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC (25.3k out of 147k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.6%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 45 - 54, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Females 55 - 64.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC is White, followed by Hispanic and Black.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

87.4% of the population of Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC has health coverage, with 37.1% on employee plans, 17.9% on Medicaid, 16.9% on Medicare, 14.4% on non-group plans, and 1.13% on military or VA plans.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2021, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 22% under 18 years, 17.2% between 18 and 34 years, 39.6% between 35 and 64 years, and 21.1% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.3% were men and 51.7% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

12.6%

Uninsured

37.1%

Employer Coverage

17.9%

Medicaid

16.9%

Medicare

14.4%

Non-Group

1.13%

Military or VA

Between 2020 and 2021, the percent of uninsured citizens in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC grew by 6.26% from 11.8% to 12.6%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Surry, Wilkes & Alleghany Counties PUMA, NC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.