United States › North Carolina › Cullowhee CITY
Cullowhee North Carolina · 7,973 residents · 3.81 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Cullowhee is home to 7,973 people in North Carolina. The median age is 21.0, younger than the US median of 38.9. 45.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Owners hold 11% of the housing stock. People stay put here: 56% were in the same home a year ago. Since 2000 the city has more than doubled, up 4,394 people.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 21.0
US median: 38.9
Average education
38% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 73%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth 2,094 / sq mi
+71%since 2009
from 1,221 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 20.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K 4K 6K 7K 8K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Cullowhee Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $35,929
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $19,688 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $10,017 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 41.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.539 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.5%
Education & health services 1%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing 0.1%
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$382,300
+73%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $121,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$869
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $427 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 30.4% in 2000
89.1% rent
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
1.89 people
+14%since 2009
from 1.66 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 36.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 4.5 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 88.3%(3,160)
Hispanic / Latino 1.3%(47)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 79%(6,302)
Hispanic / Latino 10.5%(837)
from 24 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data from 48.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 85.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 28.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 58.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 32.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 49.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 65.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 24.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 24.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 6.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 11.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 54.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 100.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 51.9% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 94.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 5.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 83.8%(3,149)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 11.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 69.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 18.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 1.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 10.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 0.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 85.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 11.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 43.9%(127)
Share of the 289 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Cullowhee, North Carolina? Cullowhee, North Carolina has about 7,973 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Cullowhee, North Carolina? The typical household in Cullowhee, North Carolina earns about $35,929 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Cullowhee, North Carolina expensive? In Cullowhee, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $382,300, and the typical rent is about $869 a month.
How educated are people in Cullowhee, North Carolina? About 38.2% of adults age 25 and over in Cullowhee, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Cullowhee, North Carolina? About 45.8% of people in Cullowhee, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Cullowhee, North Carolina grown since 1990? Yes, Cullowhee, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,944 residents, a change of about 98 percent over that period.
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