The Town FilesDenver, North Carolina
Community in Lincoln County · population 2,697 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $296,300
- Household income
- $65,721
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 38.9
Denver is a community of 2,697 people in Lincoln County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $296,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 86% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 80% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 77% of North Carolina towns.
How Denver ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Denver is worth $296,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $65,721, which is more affordable than 25% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $869 a month. 55.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Denver | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $296,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $869 | $969 |
| Median household income | $65,721 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 55.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Denver
| People | Denver | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 16.3% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.1% | 89.5% |
Weather in Denver
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 31.3°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.0 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 53 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Denver since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 15, 2006 about 2.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 24, 1996.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 28,110 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,677 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Denver itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Denver
7 public schools with 6,315 students, about 17.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Charter School (charter) | K-12 | 2,272 | 16.5 |
| East Lincoln High | 9-12 | 1,090 | 21.4 |
| North Lincoln Middle | 6-8 | 751 | 19.3 |
| St James Elementary | PK-5 | 665 | 17.1 |
| Rock Springs Elementary | PK-5 | 647 | 15.8 |
| Catawba Springs Elementary | PK-5 | 531 | 16.1 |
| West Lake Preparatory Academy (charter) | K-8 | 359 | 23.9 |
Towns near Denver
- Lake Norman of Catawba, NC4.9 mi · 8,658 people · home $492,600
- Westport, NC5.1 mi · 5,705 people · home $580,000
- Lake Norman of Iredell, NC6.5 mi · 11,395 people · home $887,400
- Lowesville, NC8.7 mi · 3,281 people · home $406,500
- Cornelius, NC10.5 mi · 31,412 people · home $559,400
- Maiden, NC11.0 mi · 3,736 people · home $233,800
- Lincolnton, NC12.0 mi · 11,091 people · home $248,700
- Mooresville, NC12.5 mi · 50,193 people · home $390,900
Denver questions
Is Denver, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Denver scores better for retirees than 62% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 59%. 11.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Denver?
The median owner-occupied home in Denver is valued at $296,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,721, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $869 a month.
What is the weather like in Denver?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 31.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 4.0 inches of snow.
Does Denver get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Denver since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 15, 2006. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)