The Town FilesKing, North Carolina
City in Stokes County · population 7,197 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $238,200
- Household income
- $57,817
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 42.3
King is a city of 7,197 people in Stokes County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $238,200, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 86% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 70% of North Carolina towns.
How King 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 King is worth $238,200, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $57,817, which is more affordable than 41% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $895 a month. 65.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | King | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $238,200 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $895 | $969 |
| Median household income | $57,817 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 65.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in King
| People | King | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in King
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 25.9°F. About 47.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of King since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 24, 2017 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 23, 2005.
Severe weather in Stokes County since 1996
Stokes County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 19, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4837: Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Stokes County
Stokes County had 7,708 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,766 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in King itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in King
6 public schools with 2,701 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Stokes High School | 9-12 | 776 | 15.5 |
| Chestnut Grove Middle School | 6-8 | 679 | 17.0 |
| Poplar Springs Elementary School | PK-5 | 461 | 15.9 |
| King Elementary School | PK-5 | 406 | 12.7 |
| Mount Olive Elementary School | K-5 | 310 | 17.2 |
| Meadowbrook Academy | 6-12 | 69 | 8.6 |
Towns near King
- Tobaccoville, NC3.4 mi · 2,578 people · home $234,200
- Rural Hall, NC4.8 mi · 3,351 people · home $189,600
- Lewisville, NC12.3 mi · 13,381 people · home $325,400
- Winston-Salem, NC13.0 mi · 249,545 people · home $233,800
- Walkertown, NC13.6 mi · 5,692 people · home $236,900
- Clemmons, NC16.8 mi · 21,163 people · home $335,800
- Bermuda Run, NC19.1 mi · 3,120 people · home $347,600
- Kernersville, NC19.3 mi · 26,449 people · home $290,700
King questions
Is King, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, King scores better for retirees than 51% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 70%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in King?
The median owner-occupied home in King is valued at $238,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,817, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $895 a month.
What is the weather like in King?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 25.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.3 inches of precipitation a year and 6.2 inches of snow.
Does King get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of King since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 24, 2017. 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)