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CITY

Bryson City

North Carolina · 1,525 residents (2025 est.) · 2.184 sq mi
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The short version

Bryson City has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $44,167. Population has grown 35% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $243,400. The poverty rate of 24.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 39% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 72%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,902
+35%since 2000
from 1,411 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
871 / sq mi
+35%since 2000
from 646 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.0
−24%since 2000
from 45.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,525 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K1K2K2K2K1990201020202024Bryson City
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,167
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,232 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,132
+81%since 2000
from $14,446 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.5%
+22.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
24.3%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.452
+1%since 2010
from 0.449 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information17%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration4.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Retail trade0.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$243,400
+72%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$783
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $349 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
42.8%
−15.4 ptssince 2000
from 58.2% in 2000
57.2% rent
Vacancy rate
20.4%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.1%
−10.2 ptssince 2009
from 25.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.0%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.5
+65%since 2000
from 3.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
53
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bryson City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.2%(1,273)
Black1.6%(23)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(24)
Asian0.4%(5)
Other0%
Diversity Score9.5%(135)
2024
White, non-Hispanic70.8%(1,347)
Black1.8%(34)
Hispanic / Latino7.6%(144)
Asian0%(0)
Other19.8%(377)
Diversity Score56.6%(1,077)
Diversity Score
57
+494%since 2000
from 10 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.5%
+8.9 ptssince 2000
from 16.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
80.5%
+14.7 ptssince 2000
from 65.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 6.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.8 min
+49%since 2000
from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.7%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 83.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
1.2%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
12.4%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.0%
−12.2 ptssince 2011
from 13.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2011
from 56.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
21.2%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.1%
−31.2 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 46.8% in 2009
Female
53.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 53.2% in 2009
Foreign born
3.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.7%
−43.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.7%
−5.8 ptssince 2012
from 16.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
25.3%
−55.5 ptssince 2013
from 80.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
74.9%
+30.6 ptssince 2017
from 44.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2016
from 96.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.8%
+3.7 ptssince 2016
from 1.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Bryson City to nearby cities

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BRYSON CITY VS
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BRYSON CITY VS
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BRYSON CITY VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Bryson City, North Carolina?

Bryson City, North Carolina has about 1,902 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bryson City, North Carolina?

The typical household in Bryson City, North Carolina earns about $44,167 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bryson City, North Carolina expensive?

In Bryson City, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $243,400, and the typical rent is about $783 a month.

How educated are people in Bryson City, North Carolina?

About 25.5% of adults age 25 and over in Bryson City, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bryson City, North Carolina?

About 24.3% of people in Bryson City, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bryson City, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Bryson City, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 757 residents, a change of about 66 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Bryson City, North Carolina: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy