City

Purlear, NC

1 ZIP code  ·  Wilkes County  ·  North Carolina

👥2,708Population
💰$42,347Median HH Income▼ 45% below avg
🎂47.6Median Age
🏠$165,900Median Home Value▼ 40% below avg
🎓23.3%College Grads▼ 40% below avg
📊4.8%Unemployment≈ Avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 46.1% Female 54.0% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 95%Hispanic: 3.4%Black: 0.8%Other: 0.8%Race
White95.0%
Hispanic3.4%
Black0.8%
Other0.8%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
7%
5–17
7%
18–24
7%
25–44
26%
45–64
34%
65+
8%

Key Indicators

Median Age47.6 yrs
Avg HH Size2.53
Below Poverty20.9% ▲ 109% above avg
College Grads23.3% ▼ 40% below avg
Unemployment4.8% ≈ Avg
HS Graduate738 (43.4%)
Some College230 (13.5%)
Associates336 (19.8%)
Bachelors168 (9.9%)
Graduate Degree228 (13.4%)

Education

HS Grad: 43.4%Some College: 13.5%Associates: 19.8%Bachelors: 9.9%Graduate: 13.4%Edu
HS Grad43.4%
Some College13.5%
Associates19.8%
Bachelors9.9%
Graduate13.4%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 80.1%Renter: 19.9%Tenure
Owner80.1%
Renter19.9%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
10%
$50k–$100k
19%
$100k–$150k
16%
$150k–$200k
17%
$200k–$300k
19%
$300k–$500k
12%
Over $500k
7%

Financials

Median HH Income$42,347 ▼ 45% below avg
Median Home Value$165,900 ▼ 40% below avg
Home/Income Ratio3.9x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Median Rent$620/mo
Total Housing Units1,556
Vacant Units484

Income Distribution

Under $25k
27%
$25k–$50k
31%
$50k–$75k
14%
$75k–$100k
11%
$100k–$150k
13%
$150k–$200k
4%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
81%
Walked
1%
Work From Home
17%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
26%
15–30 min
31%
30–45 min
17%
Over 45 min
25%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
1%
1940s–1950s
4%
1960s–1970s
19%
1980s–1990s
24%
2000+
52%
About Purlear, NC

Purlear is a city in North Carolina, located in Wilkes County. The city spans 1 ZIP code and is home to approximately 2,708 residents. It is a mature city, with a median age of 47.6 years.

Economically, Purlear is a working-class community. The median household income of $42,347 is below the national average. Approximately 20.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 4.8%, near the national average.

The real estate market in Purlear is an affordable housing market. Median home values stand at $165,900, which is below the national average. Renters typically pay around $620 per month. Homeownership is high at 80.1%, typical of suburban and family-oriented communities.

The population of Purlear is less-educated. 23.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average. The community is primarily White (94.98%).

Purlear, NC offers residents a cost-conscious lifestyle within North Carolina.

ZIP Codes in Purlear
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
28665 2,708 $42,347 $165,900 $620 4.8% 23.3% 80.1%