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COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Cherokee County

North Carolina · 20,170 residents · 455.54 sq mi
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The short version

Cherokee County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $19,625. Population has fallen 17% since 2000, a loss of 4,128 residents. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $53,100. With a median age of 39.2, the population is older than the US median of 33.0. Households here earn about 26% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 39.2
US median: 33.0
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 7%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,170
−17%vs 2000
vs 24,298 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
39.2
−11%vs 2000
vs 44.0 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
19K22K25K28K31K1990201020202024Cherokee County
202430K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 55.2%(1,053)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 96%(1,208)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.1%(1,439)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 197.1%(1,439)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246%(1,207)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3412.6%(2,547)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4414.3%(2,890)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5411.3%(2,278)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 6411.4%(2,294)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 7411.2%(2,265)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 845.6%(1,138)
US avg: 4%
85 and over2%(412)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$19,625
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $27,992 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$9,258
−41%vs 2000
vs $15,814 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
20.4%
+5.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 15.3% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$53,100
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $75,500 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$266
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $350 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
81.0%
−1.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 82.2% in 2000
19.0% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cherokee County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.1%(22,875)
Black1.6%(382)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(303)
Asian0.3%(68)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic95.6%(19,287)
Black1.8%(372)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(74)
Asian0.2%(45)
Other2.3%(466)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.8%(543)
Puerto Rican0.6%(186)
Cuban0.4%(113)
Dominican0.2%(57)
Guatemalan0.1%(33)
Peruvian0.1%(27)
Spaniard0.1%(18)
Colombian0%(11)
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(56)
Hmong0.2%(48)
Cambodian0.1%(31)
Nepalese0.1%(21)
Ancestry
American20.4%(6,016)
English17%(5,019)
Irish11.9%(3,532)
German11%(3,248)
Scottish3.8%(1,109)
Scotch-Irish2.6%(759)
French2%(589)
Italian1.9%(566)
Dutch1.2%(356)
Polish1.2%(347)
Swedish0.9%(264)
Norwegian0.6%(169)
+ 28 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.5%(160)
Swiss0.4%(116)
Austrian0.2%(69)
Greek0.2%(59)
Hungarian0.2%(54)
Arab0.2%(49)
Portuguese0.2%(49)
Slovak0.2%(45)
British0.1%(43)
Russian0.1%(39)
Danish0.1%(37)
Somali0.1%(37)
Lebanese0.1%(29)
Czech0.1%(24)
Syrian0.1%(20)
Australian0.1%(16)
Canadian0%(14)
Ukrainian0%(14)
Slovene0%(13)
Brazilian0%(12)
Finnish0%(9)
Belgian0%(6)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
8.0%
−3.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 11.0% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
59.9%
−13.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 73.3% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
2.9%
−1.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 3.9% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.9 min
+23%vs 2000
vs 15.4 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married23.7%(3,015)
Married59%(7,509)
Widowed4.7%(604)
Divorced12.5%(1,589)
Women 15+
Never married19.9%(2,619)
Married56.4%(7,419)
Widowed10.2%(1,344)
Divorced13.5%(1,770)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Cherokee County

Decatur County
Pop 29,432
Wayne County
Pop 32,481
Franklin County
Pop 32,449
Carroll County
Pop 29,263
Places similar to Cherokee County
Head to head

Compare Cherokee County to nearby counties

CHEROKEE COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income$56,971+190%
Home value$278,400+424%
Population12,239−60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHEROKEE COUNTY VS
Graham County
Income$49,684+153%
Home value$170,600+221%
Population8,190−73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHEROKEE COUNTY VS
Union County
Income$66,176+237%
Home value$307,400+479%
Population27,859−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHEROKEE COUNTY VS
Fannin County
Income$57,073+191%
Home value$306,600+477%
Population26,111−15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cherokee County, North Carolina?

Cherokee County, North Carolina has about 20,170 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Cherokee County, North Carolina?

The typical household in Cherokee County, North Carolina earns about $19,625 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cherokee County, North Carolina expensive?

In Cherokee County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $53,100, and the typical rent is about $266 a month.

How educated are people in Cherokee County, North Carolina?

About 8.0% of adults age 25 and over in Cherokee County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cherokee County, North Carolina?

About 20.4% of people in Cherokee County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

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12 census tracts
Census Tract 9304.01Census Tract 9305.02Census Tract 9306.06Census Tract 9303Census Tract 9301.01Census Tract 9302Census Tract 9306.05Census Tract 9301.02Census Tract 9305.01Census Tract 9306.04Census Tract 9306.03Census Tract 9304.02
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 28906ZIP 28901ZIP 28905
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →