Beech Mountain is a town in both Avery and Watauga counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. At the 2020 census, the town population was 675. The town is located atop Beech Mountain and is the highest town east of the Rocky Mountains at 5,506 ft (1,678 m) in elevation. The nearest municipality at a higher elevation is Des Moines, New Mexico, some 1,220 miles (1,960 kilometers) away. The town relies heavily on tourism, with the population swelling as high as 5,000 in the summer, and to 10,000 during the peak of ski season. The abundance of outdoor activities, mild summer temperatures (compared to the rest of the southeast), and ski resort make it a popular location for people in the Caro…

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP codeSign in to add

Area code828

Living in Beech Mountain

Housing in Beech Mountain

$451K≈ same as a year ago Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Beech Mountain home is worth about $451,000, about the same as a year ago, 35% above the North Carolina typical home.

A buyer's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market120

Sale-to-list95.8%

Sold in May15

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Beech Mountain

—

Not graded

Beech Mountain has fewer than 1,000 residents. At that size one or two incidents swing the numbers so much that a grade wouldn't be fair, so we show the counts instead.

Violent4

Property7

Reported in 202511

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Beech Mountain

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Beech Mountain for work: only 7% work in town. The top destinations are Banner Elk (11%), Boone (9%) and Sugar Mountain (4%). Half commute less than 14 miles.

Banner Elk

11%

Boone

Sugar Mountain

Seven Devils

7%Work in townlive and work in Beech Mountain 14 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 169Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Beech Mountain →

Health in Beech Mountain

Compared with North Carolina

18better than NC·4worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 10 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 4▼ 7 close Habits 3▲ 1 close Care 6▲ 1 close Mind 4▲ 1 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

6.3%Fewer adults facing food insecurityNC 15.2% · better 6%Fewer older adults who have lost all their teethNC 13.9% · better 13.5%More adults who have had cancerNC 7.9% · worse

Care nearby

Charles A Cannon Jr Memorial HospitalLinville · 9.7 mi · ER · rural critical access

High Country Community Health Avery Medical SiteNewland · 8.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Beech Mountain · CMS · HRSAHealth in Beech Mountain →

Natural hazards in Beech Mountain

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 22% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🥶 Cold waves

0Does Beech Mountain flood?no paid flood claims on record 4Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Beech Mountain

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Beech Mountain →

Climate in Beech Mountain

Full climate →

Beech Mountain has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 77°, a January night drops to 23°, and about 31 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

43° / 25°Winter

60° / 39°Spring

76° / 57°Summer

62° / 42°Fall