The Town Files

Alexander County, North Carolina

36,412 people. The median home is worth $211,800 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $65,354.

Towns in Alexander County

Towns in Alexander County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Bethlehem4,491$327,000$87,79552.7

People and housing

Alexander CountyTypical North Carolina town
Median home value$211,800$228,900
Median rent$764$969
Median household income$65,354$60,458
Median age43.841.1
Bachelor's degree or higher16.7%24.5%
Below the poverty line12.6%14.3%

Jobs and pay

8,510 jobs in 2024, average pay $46,164 a year.

Largest industries in Alexander CountyManufacturing2,958 jobs · $48,341Retail756 jobs · $30,603Hotels & restaurants701 jobs · $18,213Administrative & support357 jobs · $52,787Construction316 jobs · $49,000Finance & insurance178 jobs · $56,598
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Alexander County0%4%8%12%16%2000200420082012201620202023 3.2%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 399 storm events in Alexander County from 1996 to 2026, with 8 deaths.

Storm events in Alexander County by type since 1996Hail56Drought37Tornado10High Wind13Ice Storm11Lightning8Heavy Snow25Flash Flood14Winter Storm11Winter Weather65
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Alexander County has been included in 19 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3637: Severe Winter Storm
September 28, 2024Tropical StormDR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene
September 26, 2024Tropical StormEM-3617: Hurricane Helene
October 1, 2022HurricaneEM-3586: Hurricane Ian
March 3, 2021Severe StormDR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta
August 2, 2020HurricaneEM-3534: Hurricane Isaias
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).