Live-In Caregivers in North Wilkesboro, NC

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in North Wilkesboro, NC: the local picture

153

residents 85 or older (3.5% of all residents)

407

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (67%)

49%

of North Wilkesboro homes have 3 or more bedrooms (67% in Wilkes County)

$7.25

North Carolina minimum wage per hour

About 153 North Wilkesboro residents are 85 or older. Live-in care is most often arranged for this age group, when help is needed through the day and someone should be close at night.

A live-in caregiver needs a private room. 49% of homes in North Wilkesboro have three or more bedrooms (67% in Wilkes County), while 20% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 4.9 rooms.

Of North Wilkesboro households headed by someone 65 or older, 407 own their home and 200 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 20 owners and 12 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

North Wilkesboro compared with Wilkes County and North Carolina

Census figure	North Wilkesboro	Wilkes County	North Carolina
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	3.3%	1.7%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	56%	24%	28%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	38%	33%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	15%	11%
Residents 65 or older	20%	23%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	6.7%	7.5%	13%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$32,429	$43,001	—

Older residents in towns around North Wilkesboro

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Wilkesboro, NC	3.0 mi	1,125	353
Elkin, NC	17 mi	902	146
Jonesville, NC	18 mi	729	89
Bethlehem, NC	26 mi	1,145	74
Yadkinville, NC	27 mi	571	133
Lenoir, NC	28 mi	4,199	463

Emergency hospitals near North Wilkesboro

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Wilkes Regional Medical Center	North Wilkesboro, NC	2.1 mi	3 of 5	(336) 651-8100
Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital	Elkin, NC	18 mi	3 of 5	(336) 527-7000
Alleghany Memorial Hospital	Sparta, NC	23 mi	not rated	(336) 372-5511

Straight-line miles from the center of North Wilkesboro. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a live-in caregiver can help with

Help across the day: meals, housekeeping, personal care
Someone in the home overnight if help is needed
Medication reminders and appointment rides
Companionship and a steady routine

Cost

What live-in care costs in North Wilkesboro

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $15.02 an hour (the North Carolina median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,254 a month (120% of the $2,702 monthly median income of North Wilkesboro households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $10,935 a month (405% of the $2,702 monthly median income of North Wilkesboro households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a live-in caregiver

Put the arrangement in writing: hours on duty, sleep time, days off, the room and pay (federal rules: DOL Fact Sheet 79B).

Questions worth asking: Have you lived in with a client before, and for how long? What days off and sleep time do you need? How do you handle being woken at night? More in our live-in caregivers guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Live-In Caregivers in North Wilkesboro: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to North Wilkesboro?

Wilkes Regional Medical Center in North Wilkesboro, about 2.1 mi in a straight line from the center of North Wilkesboro (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (336) 651-8100. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in North Wilkesboro?

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $15.02 an hour (the North Carolina median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,254 a month (120% of the $2,702 monthly median income of North Wilkesboro households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $10,935 a month (405% of the $2,702 monthly median income of North Wilkesboro households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Live-in or 24-hour care in North Wilkesboro?

A live-in caregiver sleeps in the home and has protected sleep and break time. 24-hour care uses two or three caregivers in shifts so someone is always awake; in North Wilkesboro it costs more than three times as much a month (see the cost section above). Choose shifts if help is needed several times a night.

More near North Wilkesboro

More senior care near North Wilkesboro

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in North Wilkesboro

More for North Wilkesboro families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.