United States › North Carolina › Mills River CITY
Mills River North Carolina · 7,504 residents (2025 est.) · 22.4 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 7,281 people, Mills River is a city in North Carolina. The median age is 46.4, about 7 years above the US median. 86% of homes are owner-occupied. That puts it in the top 6% of US cities for household income. That is roughly 46% ahead of the North Carolina median. Poverty is uncommon here, at 2.6% of people here.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 46.4
US median: 38.9
More educated
44% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 7,214 in 2023
7,504 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 322 / sq mi in 2023
US average: 281
from 46.6 in 2023
US average: 38.9
Population, 2009 – 2024
6K 6K 7K 7K 7K 2009 2010 2020 2024 Mills River Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $105,398
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2023
from $88,359 in 2023
US average: $82,259
from $43,154 in 2023
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 57.9% in 2023
US average: 53.3%
from 2.0% in 2023
US average: 12.5%
from 0.375 in 2023
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 2.9%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.5%
Transportation & warehousing 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.7%
Education & health services 0.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
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$436,100
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2023
from $358,500 in 2023
US average: $376,019
$1,551
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2023
from $1,611 in 2023
US average: $1,442
from 86.0% in 2023
14.4% rent
from 9.7% in 2023
US average: 10.0%
from 2.55 people in 2023
US average: 2.54
from 20.2% in 2023
US average: 22.9%
from 28.6% in 2023
US average: 47.4%
from 4.1 in 2023
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 2023
White, non-Hispanic 84%(6,057)
Hispanic / Latino 4.3%(308)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 79.9%(5,814)
Hispanic / Latino 8.9%(648)
from 36 in 2023
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data from 41.3% in 2023
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 93.6% in 2023
US average: 89.6%
from 17.5% in 2023
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation 20.9 min
Unchangedsince 2023
from 21.0 min in 2023
US average: 26.5
from 79.8% in 2023
US average: 68.9%
from 8.4% in 2023
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2023
US average: 3.2%
from 9.9% in 2023
US average: 15.0%
from 0.2% in 2023
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2023
US average: 0.4%
from 0.6% in 2023
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 4.8% in 2023
US average: 5.2%
from 61.9% in 2023
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 74.6%
from 9.0% in 2023
US average: 13.1%
from 42.6% in 2023
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 5.1% in 2023
US average: 14.1%
from 7.7% in 2023
US average: 6.2%
from 13.9% in 2023
US average: 13.3%
from 8.3% in 2023
US average: 8.4%
from 91.0% in 2023
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
US average: 95.5%
from 94.3% in 2023
US average: 77.7%
from 3.1% in 2023
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 8.3% in 2023
US average: 8.4%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.8%
VA health care
US average: 2.2%
Any private
US average: 67.1%
Any public
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) 13.1%(64)
Gulf War (1990s) 22.2%(109)
Share of the 490 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
Places similar to Mills River Head to head
Compare Mills River to nearby cities MILLS RIVER VS
Fletcher
Income $75,272 −29%
Home value $331,100 −24%
Population 8,373 +12%
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MILLS RIVER VS
Hendersonville
Income $53,449 −49%
Home value $317,000 −27%
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MILLS RIVER VS
Brevard
Income $54,103 −49%
Home value $450,000 +3%
Population 8,098 +8%
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MILLS RIVER VS
Asheville
Income $71,102 −33%
Home value $440,000 +1%
Population 93,523 +1146%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Mills River, North Carolina? Mills River, North Carolina has about 7,281 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Mills River, North Carolina? The typical household in Mills River, North Carolina earns about $105,398 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Mills River, North Carolina expensive? In Mills River, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $436,100, and the typical rent is about $1,551 a month.
How educated are people in Mills River, North Carolina? About 43.7% of adults age 25 and over in Mills River, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Mills River, North Carolina? About 2.6% of people in Mills River, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
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