CensusEasy
CITY

Cullowhee

North Carolina · 7,973 residents · 3.808 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
Notable rankings
#32Youngest by median ageof 6,82621.0
The short version

Cullowhee has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $35,929. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 4,394 residents. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $382,300. At a median age of 21.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 45.8% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 50% less than the North Carolina median.

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

Total population
7,973
+123%since 2000
from 3,579 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
2,094 / sq mi
+71%since 2009
from 1,221 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
21.0
+1%since 2000
from 20.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K4K6K7K8K1990201020202024Cullowhee
20248K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 50.7%(58)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 90.3%(23)
US avg: 6%
10 to 141.3%(106)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1929.9%(2,384)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2448.7%(3,883)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 347%(558)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 443.4%(275)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 541.3%(102)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 644.3%(343)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 741%(80)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 842%(161)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0%(0)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$35,929
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $19,688 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$15,461
+54%since 2000
from $10,017 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
15.9%
−8.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
45.8%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 41.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.501
−7%since 2010
from 0.539 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information21.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services4.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade4.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance2.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration1%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Retail trade0.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$382,300
+73%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $121,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$869
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $427 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
10.9%
−19.6 ptssince 2000
from 30.4% in 2000
89.1% rent
Vacancy rate
9.0%
−15.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.0%
+13.0 ptssince 2009
from 36.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
10.6
+134%since 2009
from 4.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
47
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cullowhee on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic88.3%(3,160)
Black7.2%(259)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(47)
Asian1.3%(46)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic79%(6,302)
Black5.5%(442)
Hispanic / Latino10.5%(837)
Asian0.7%(56)
Other4.2%(336)
Diversity Score
45
+91%since 2009
from 24 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican6.9%(548)
Puerto Rican1.2%(99)
Ecuadorian0.5%(40)
Dominican0.3%(22)
Spaniard0.2%(12)
Cuban0.1%(7)
Asian origin
Hmong0.2%(13)
Ancestry
American25.2%(2,011)
German8.5%(677)
English8.4%(670)
Irish5.7%(454)
Scottish2.4%(193)
Italian2.2%(172)
Welsh1.2%(96)
Russian1.1%(91)
French1.1%(88)
Swedish1.1%(85)
Finnish1%(78)
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.8%(67)
Polish0.7%(55)
Dutch0.7%(53)
Lithuanian0.3%(21)
Portuguese0.3%(21)
Czech0.3%(20)
Arab0.2%(19)
British0.2%(16)
Turkish0.2%(16)
Swiss0.2%(15)
West Indian0.2%(14)
Haitian0.2%(14)
Austrian0.1%(8)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Mexican population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
38.2%
−10.4 ptssince 2000
from 48.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.0%
+9.0 ptssince 2000
from 85.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
18.3%
−10.4 ptssince 2000
from 28.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.3 min
+73%since 2000
from 11.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
68.1%
+9.7 ptssince 2009
from 58.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.1%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
14.1%
−18.1 ptssince 2009
from 32.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
11.8%
+1.9 ptssince 2011
from 9.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.1%
+8.8 ptssince 2011
from 49.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.5%
−11.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
24.7%
−42.8 ptssince 2009
from 67.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
Female
52.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
Foreign born
5.9%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.8%
−44.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.1%
+6.6 ptssince 2012
from 6.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.1%
−79.2 ptssince 2013
from 88.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
57.4%
+2.6 ptssince 2017
from 54.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
90.8%
−3.4 ptssince 2016
from 94.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2016
from 5.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married83.8%(3,149)
Married7.9%(298)
Widowed0.3%(11)
Divorced8%(299)
Women 15+
Never married87%(3,506)
Married8.8%(353)
Widowed0.3%(11)
Divorced3.9%(159)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Cullowhee

Arcadia
Pop 8,046
Avon Park
Pop 10,514
Fort Pierce North
Pop 7,224
Marianna
Pop 7,289
Places similar to Cullowhee
Head to head

Compare Cullowhee to nearby cities

CULLOWHEE VS
Waynesville
Income$54,923+53%
Home value$281,700−26%
Population11,006+38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CULLOWHEE VS
Brevard
Income$54,103+51%
Home value$450,000+18%
Population8,098+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CULLOWHEE VS
Fletcher
Income$75,272+110%
Home value$331,100−13%
Population8,373+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CULLOWHEE VS
Asheville
Income$71,102+98%
Home value$440,000+15%
Population93,523+1073%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
North Carolina
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Cullowhee with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →