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CITY · 2020 ACS

Cullowhee

North Carolina · 7,682 residents · 3.81 sq mi
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The short version

Cullowhee is home to 7,682 people in North Carolina. The median age is 20.7, younger than the US median of 38.8. 47.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Owners hold 16% of the housing stock. People stay put here: 52% were in the same home a year ago. Since 2000 the city has more than doubled, up 4,103 people.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 20.7
US median: 38.8
More educated
59% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 66%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

7,682
+115%since 2000
from 3,579 in 2000
1990 – 2024
20.7
Unchangedsince 2000
from 20.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
3.81 sq mi
Population, 19902024
3K4K6K7K8K19902000201020202024Cullowhee
20248K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 51.3%(99)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 91.2%(89)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 141.2%(94)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 1933.5%(2,576)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2446.4%(3,567)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 345.5%(420)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 442.4%(181)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 542.3%(177)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 642.5%(191)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 742%(156)
US avg: 10%
75 to 841.2%(90)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over0.5%(42)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$30,168
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $19,688 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$8,575
−14%since 2000
from $10,017 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
9.4%
−14.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
47.6%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 41.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information24.6%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade1.7%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade1.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance1.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical1.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services1.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.8%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.7%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$302,900
+66%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $121,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$685
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $427 in 2000
US average: $1,124
15.9%
−14.5 ptssince 2000
from 30.4% in 2000
84.1% rent
2.36 people
+42%since 2009
from 1.66 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
10.0
+121%since 2009
from 4.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic88.3%(3,160)
Black7.2%(259)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(47)
Asian1.3%(46)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic78.1%(5,996)
Black5.1%(391)
Hispanic / Latino10.2%(787)
Asian1.4%(111)
Other1.7%(129)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.3%(223)
Honduran1.5%(101)
Puerto Rican1.1%(73)
Colombian0.5%(35)
Dominican0.2%(16)
Costa Rican0.1%(10)
Spaniard0.1%(8)
Cuban0%(3)
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(23)
Korean0.3%(18)
Chinese0.2%(12)
Hmong0.2%(12)
Laotian0.1%(8)
Ancestry
American44.2%(3,008)
German10.5%(712)
Irish7.3%(498)
English4.1%(277)
French2.9%(196)
Italian2%(133)
Scottish2%(133)
Scotch-Irish1.8%(119)
Polish1.1%(75)
British1%(65)
Arab0.5%(37)
Welsh0.4%(29)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.3%(18)
Dutch0.3%(17)
Norwegian0.2%(15)
Swiss0.2%(15)
Czech0.2%(14)
Ukrainian0.2%(12)
Finnish0.1%(9)
Austrian0.1%(8)
Section 05

Education

58.6%
+9.9 ptssince 2000
from 48.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
95.0%
+9.9 ptssince 2000
from 85.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
23.0%
−5.8 ptssince 2000
from 28.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

15.0 min
+34%since 2000
from 11.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
71.1%
+12.7 ptssince 2009
from 58.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
0.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

10.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2011
from 9.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
48.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2011
from 49.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
65.6%
US average: 73.3%
26.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 24.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

46.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
53.2%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
1.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
5.1%
−6.6 ptssince 2013
from 11.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
100.0%
US average: 91.9%
51.9%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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
Section 09

Health coverage

5.1%
−6.6 ptssince 2013
from 11.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
69.0%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
18.7%
US average: 13.7%
1.2%
US average: 17.6%
10.7%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
0.0%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
85.6%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
11.6%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)89.8%(123)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)10.9%(15)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era0%(0)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 137 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Cullowhee, North Carolina?

Cullowhee, North Carolina has about 7,682 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cullowhee, North Carolina?

The typical household in Cullowhee, North Carolina earns about $30,168 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 $302,900, and the typical rent is about $685 a month.

How educated are people in Cullowhee, North Carolina?

About 58.6% 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 47.6% 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 3,653 residents, a change of about 91 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 →