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CITY

Sylva

North Carolina · 2,691 residents (2025 est.) · 3.172 sq mi
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The short version

Sylva has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $44,086. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $201,200. At a median age of 31.4, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 39% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 31.4
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 36%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,646
+9%since 2000
from 2,435 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
834 / sq mi
+9%since 2000
from 768 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
31.4
−19%since 2000
from 39.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,691 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K3K3K4K1990201020202024Sylva
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,086
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,432 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,330
+23%since 2000
from $17,348 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
25.1%
+10.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 19.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.376
−10%since 2010
from 0.419 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade5.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Information5.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade3.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services0.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$201,200
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $81,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$797
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $428 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
45.3%
−8.6 ptssince 2000
from 53.9% in 2000
54.7% rent
Vacancy rate
14.8%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
29.0%
+11.3 ptssince 2009
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
30.2%
−9.5 ptssince 2009
from 39.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.6
+48%since 2000
from 3.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
51
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sylva on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic87.7%(2,136)
Black4.6%(113)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(61)
Asian1.3%(32)
Other0%
Diversity Score20.6%(502)
2024
White, non-Hispanic69.3%(1,835)
Black3.6%(94)
Hispanic / Latino16.6%(438)
Asian0.8%(21)
Other9.8%(258)
Diversity Score60.1%(1,590)
Diversity Score
60
+191%since 2000
from 21 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.7%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 23.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
79.2%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 72.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.3%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.6 min
+78%since 2000
from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.5%
−7.9 ptssince 2009
from 80.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
21.6%
+7.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.3%
+3.7 ptssince 2011
from 3.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.8%
+5.2 ptssince 2011
from 61.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.6%
−7.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
24.7%
−43.4 ptssince 2009
from 68.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
Foreign born
9.4%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.9%
−42.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.2%
−9.3 ptssince 2012
from 21.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
23.7%
−58.1 ptssince 2013
from 81.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.4%
+11.9 ptssince 2017
from 70.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
90.0%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 90.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.1%
+5.5 ptssince 2016
from 3.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Sylva to nearby cities

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SYLVA VS
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SYLVA VS
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SYLVA VS
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Home value$440,000+119%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Sylva, North Carolina?

Sylva, North Carolina has about 2,646 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Sylva, North Carolina earns about $44,086 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sylva, North Carolina expensive?

In Sylva, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $201,200, and the typical rent is about $797 a month.

How educated are people in Sylva, North Carolina?

About 30.7% of adults age 25 and over in Sylva, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sylva, North Carolina?

About 19.4% of people in Sylva, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sylva, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Sylva, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 837 residents, a change of about 46 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 →