2019 · Briggs Service Station · Wikimedia Commons
Mars Hill’s story
Mars Hill in pictures
24 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 4 places on the National Register.
Mars HillNC
A town of 3,025. Public schools that outperform most of North Carolina.
Population
3,025
+7.4% since 2010
Typical home
$414K
−1.6% in a year
Household income
$81K
median
Median age
27.6
years
Jobs based here
759
Balanced
What makes Mars Hill stand out
The 3 things Mars Hill does most differently from other towns.
College town
24% of Mars Hill is in college
College Scorecard · IPEDS
Mars Hill’s report card
Now in Mars Hill
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Mars Hill is #1 of 221 in NC for “Snowiest”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Mars Hill’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →75°
Clear
H 0° · L 55°
Local news
All →- Bears earn first sweep of the year at Mars HillLenoir-Rhyne University Athletics · Sep 11
- Experience leads Mars Hill Football into a new season with big goalsWLOS · Sep 4
- Ski lift at Hatley Pointe's mountain bike park lets riders skip the uphill climbWLOS · Aug 14
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Mars Hill. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Mars Hill’s public schools outperform 70% of North Carolina districts
The public schools Mars Hill’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 70% of North Carolina’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
B+School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mars Hill Elementary | K–5 | 445 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduationAll 1 schools →
Health
Healthier than 87% of U.S. towns
Mars Hill beats the North Carolina average on 18 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2.
AHealth Grade
32 measures vs. North Carolina
18 better12 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Mars Hill | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 7.4% | 12% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 5% | 8.1% |
| Fewer adults treating high blood pressure | 71.3% | 76.7% |
Asheville-Oteen VA Medical Center
17 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
89th
percentile among NC towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Mars Hill
Most working residents leave Mars Hill for work: only 5% work in town. The top destinations are Asheville (28%), Charlotte (5%) and Woodfin (4%). Half commute less than 17 miles.
5%work in town
Where working residents work
In Mars Hill5%
Asheville28%
Charlotte5%
Woodfin4%
Weaverville4%
17 mi
median commute distance
759
jobs based in Mars Hill
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Housing
A typical Mars Hill home is worth about $414K
The typical Mars Hill home is worth about $414,000, down 1.6% in a year, 24% above the North Carolina typical home.
$414KZillow home value
Typical home value
Mars Hill$414K
North Carolina$335K
Market temperature
186
days on market
96.6%
sale-to-list price
−1.6%
value change, 1 year
7
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Mars Hill has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 26°, and about 26 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
26″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter28–49°
Spring42–68°
Summer61–84°
Fall44–69°
Oct 18
typical first frost
Apr 28
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
High risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 60% of U.S. communities.
60risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesLightning
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Landmarks
4 places in Mars Hill on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous people from Mars Hill
3 notable people were born in Mars Hill.
About Mars Hill
Town in North Carolina, United States
Mars Hill is a town in Madison County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,007 at the 2020 census, up from 1,869 in 2010. It is the home of Mars Hill University. The town is in western North Carolina, north of Asheville, and is served by Interstate 26. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 2,007
- Area
- 2.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,320 ft
- ZIP code
- 28754
- Area code
- 828
More about Mars Hill
Still missing for Mars Hill:a photo of Mars Hillupcoming events