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CITY · 2020 ACS

Sawmills

North Carolina · 5,020 residents · 6.61 sq mi
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The short version

Sawmills is home to 5,020 people in North Carolina. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. At a median age of 43.5, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Median home value sits at $114,700. The foreign-born share is 4%. Median rent is $632 a month.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 43.5
US median: 38.8
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 8%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

5,020
+2%since 2000
from 4,921 in 2000
1990 – 2025
43.5
+26%since 2000
from 34.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
6.61 sq mi
Population, 19902024
4K4K5K5K5K19902000201020202024Sawmills
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.5%(275)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.7%(284)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.9%(296)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.8%(291)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.3%(316)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.8%(543)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.9%(599)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5414.6%(735)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.2%(715)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411.9%(595)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846.1%(304)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.3%(67)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$55,296
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,391 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$21,809
+40%since 2000
from $15,597 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
35.1%
+23.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
20.1%
+11.2 ptssince 2000
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade22.4%
US avg: 10%
Information11.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Transportation & warehousing5.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Finance & insurance4.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Other services1.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Wholesale trade0.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$114,700
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $83,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$632
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $477 in 2000
US average: $1,124
63.1%
−6.7 ptssince 2000
from 69.8% in 2000
36.9% rent
2.81 people
+8%since 2009
from 2.60 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
2.1
−26%since 2009
from 2.8 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-Hispanic96.4%(4,742)
Black0.5%(27)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(116)
Asian0.2%(8)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic86.5%(4,344)
Black1.9%(97)
Hispanic / Latino6.5%(325)
Asian0.6%(28)
Other2.9%(145)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Salvadoran2.1%(108)
Puerto Rican1.3%(67)
Honduran0.3%(17)
Venezuelan0.1%(7)
Asian origin
Thai1%(51)
Ancestry
American27.2%(1,413)
Irish17%(882)
German13.7%(711)
English7.4%(385)
Scottish3.1%(161)
Dutch2.2%(113)
Polish1.7%(86)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(57)
Welsh0.9%(45)
British0.7%(39)
Italian0.4%(23)
Hungarian0.3%(17)
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data
French0.2%(13)
Czech0.1%(4)
Section 05

Education

10.4%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
76.1%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 67.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
4.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

21.5 min
+83%since 2000
from 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
83.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 82.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
2.1%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

11.8%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 14.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
53.7%
−7.6 ptssince 2011
from 61.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
66.4%
US average: 73.3%
20.0%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

53.5%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
46.5%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
3.6%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
18.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2013
from 17.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
90.0%
US average: 91.9%
85.0%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married45.3%(1,030)
Married39.9%(907)
Widowed3.2%(73)
Divorced11.6%(265)
Women 15+
Never married18.2%(342)
Married43.5%(818)
Widowed10.6%(199)
Divorced27.7%(521)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

18.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2013
from 17.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
38.2%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
12.1%
US average: 13.7%
23.0%
US average: 17.6%
25.7%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
2.2%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
49.0%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
44.7%
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)11.3%(21)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)29%(54)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era48.4%(90)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War23.1%(43)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 186 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 Sawmills, North Carolina?

Sawmills, North Carolina has about 5,020 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Sawmills, North Carolina earns about $55,296 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sawmills, North Carolina expensive?

In Sawmills, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $114,700, and the typical rent is about $632 a month.

How educated are people in Sawmills, North Carolina?

About 10.4% of adults age 25 and over in Sawmills, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sawmills, North Carolina?

About 20.1% of people in Sawmills, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sawmills, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Sawmills, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,026 residents, a change of about 26 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 →