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Living in
Mount Airy.
About
Life in Mount Airy
Mount Airy is a community of 10,631 people in North Carolina. The median household income is $39,873, median rent runs about $725 per month, and median home values are around $181,900. Unemployment is low at 3.5%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Mount Airy at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
46.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
26.9%
Foreign-Born
8.9%
Broadband Internet
84.1%
of households
Population Growth
+0.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.9% foreign-born, most often from Honduras
Who lives in Mount Airy: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Mount Airy, the largest foreign-born group is from Honduras (39.7%), and 8.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.2%
of residents
65 and Older
25.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
43.4%
of households
Married Couples
30.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.11
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 41% below NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Mount Airy
In Mount Airy, rent runs 41% below the NC average, and home values are 37% below the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.2%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,379
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1967
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $220,968 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NC
Unemployment in Mount Airy
Unemployment in Surry County, which includes Mount Airy, is close to the NC average.
Unemployment rate
Mount Airy: Surry County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Surry County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Mount Airy Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.8 min avg
How Mount Airy residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Mount Airy, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 46 mi
Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)
Small hub1.0M passengers boarded in 2025
- 91 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 40% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Mount Airy runs 40% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
198.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,082.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Mount Airy Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
73.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Surry County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Surry County, which includes Mount Airy, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $36,500 |
| 2024 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $290,900 |
| 2023 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $426,000 |
| 2022 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $69,250 |
| 2021 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $99,500 |
| 2020 | 23 | Flash Flood | $827,000 |
| 2019 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $197,500 |
| 2018 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.5M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Surry County, county-wide
Air Quality7 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Carroll County, VA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 17 miles from Mount Airy) is typically good — 60 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
7
Good Days
60
per year
Moderate Days
0
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Carroll County, VA (17 mi away)
Climate85°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Mount Airy has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.5"
Annual Snowfall
8.2"
Hot Days/Year
24
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
111
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
137
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 25°F | 3.99" |
| Feb | 51°F | 27°F | 3.14" |
| Mar | 58°F | 33°F | 4.19" |
| Apr | 69°F | 41°F | 4.29" |
| May | 76°F | 50°F | 4.53" |
| Jun | 83°F | 59°F | 4.95" |
| Jul | 86°F | 63°F | 5.24" |
| Aug | 85°F | 62°F | 4.69" |
| Sep | 79°F | 56°F | 4.26" |
| Oct | 70°F | 43°F | 3.54" |
| Nov | 59°F | 33°F | 3.44" |
| Dec | 50°F | 28°F | 4.20" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Mount Airy
Mount Airy has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
10.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Northern Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Mount Airy
Mount Airy's student/teacher ratio is 15.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 23.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, 50 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Mount Airy
Mount Airy has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (50 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
50 mi awayBooker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
64 mi awayBluestone National Scenic River
National Scenic River
76 mi awayNew River Gorge National Park & Preserve
National Park & Preserve
96 mi awayPublic Libraries in Mount Airy
Mount Airy Public Library
145 Rockford St, Mount Airy
Cities Near Mount Airy
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Mount Airy?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Mount Airy FAQ
Is Mount Airy, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Mount Airy's median rent is $725/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $40,275/year. Median home value is $181,900.
Is Mount Airy, North Carolina safe?⌄
Mount Airy's violent crime rate was 199 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2083 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Mount Airy, North Carolina?⌄
Surry County, which includes Mount Airy, has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Mount Airy, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Mount Airy is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $725/month and median household income is $40,275/year. The median home value is $181,900. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Mount Airy, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Mount Airy is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from