NC area data
Balsam, NC
Balsam, NC.
Population: 461 (Census ACS)
The median home value in Balsam, NC is $300,663 — down 6.5% over the past year. FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with coldwave, lightning, icestorm the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 7.5% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$300,663
Median home value
-6.5%
1-year change
Relatively Low
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $300,663
- 1-year appreciation
- -6.5%
- 3-year appreciation
- -4.6%
- 5-year appreciation
- +19.4%
- 10-year appreciation
- +97.3%
- All-time peak (2025-02)
- $328,505
- House Price Index (state)
- 438.2 (+1.0% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- 1-year forecast
- +1.2%
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Below Average)
- 92.5 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 14.0¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $16.40/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively Low
- Top hazards (county)
- coldWave, lightning, iceStorm, inlandFlooding, landslide
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- coldWave: Relatively High · drought: Relatively Low · earthquake: Relatively Low · hail: Relatively Low · hurricane: Relatively Low · iceStorm: Relatively Moderate
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 66% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 91.3%
- Radon potential (county)
- Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- 1
- Nearest Superfund site
- Barber Orchard (2 mi)
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 57.0°F
- Average high
- 70.0°F
- Average low
- 44.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 72.6 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 7a (extreme annual low 0 to 5°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Amenities
- National parks within ~60 mi
- 4
- Nearest national park
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park (26 mi)
- National parks include
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
- Airports within 30 mi
- 8
- Nearest airport
- Reagans Roost Ultralightport (4 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) (31 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 1,090
- Hospitals include
- MIZELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, CRENSHAW COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, CRENSHAW COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 3.1 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 5.0 / 5
- EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
- 55
- Solar radiation rating
- Fair (4.3 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- +195 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,980
- Housing built before 1970
- 14.0%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 6.9%
- Median annual property tax
- $1,014
- Households with broadband internet
- 18.1%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 10,703
- Average weekly wage
- $843
- Top industries (by employment)
- Accommodation & Food, Health Care, Construction
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 254
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| Balsam | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $300,663 | $287,250 | $289,727 |
| Median annual property tax | $1,014 | $1,366 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in Balsam, NC?
- $300,663.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in Balsam, NC?
- Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: coldWave, lightning, iceStorm, inlandFlooding, landslide.
- What is the wildfire risk in Balsam, NC?
- Risk to homes is higher than 66% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in Balsam, NC?
- Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near Balsam, NC?
- 1 current or proposed National Priorities List site within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Barber Orchard, 2 mi.
- What is the cost of living in Balsam, NC?
- Regional Price Parity: 92.5 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
ZIP code for Balsam
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →