CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Cherokee County

North Carolina · 27,444 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 $38,144. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $146,100. With a median age of 48.1, the population is older than the US median of 37.2.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 48.1
US median: 37.2
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 53%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
27,444
+13%since 2000
from 24,298 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
48.1
+9%since 2000
from 44.0 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
19K22K25K28K31K1990201020202024Cherokee County
202430K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2010
Under 55%(1,377)
US avg: 6.5%
5 to 95%(1,383)
US avg: 6.6%
10 to 145.6%(1,547)
US avg: 6.7%
15 to 195.6%(1,535)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 243.9%(1,064)
US avg: 7%
25 to 349.2%(2,520)
US avg: 13.3%
35 to 4411.6%(3,176)
US avg: 13.3%
45 to 5413.9%(3,819)
US avg: 14.6%
55 to 6417.3%(4,739)
US avg: 11.8%
65 to 7413.9%(3,812)
US avg: 7%
75 to 846.7%(1,831)
US avg: 4.2%
85 and over2.3%(641)
US avg: 1.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$38,144
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,992 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,747
+31%since 2000
from $15,814 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
17.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
13.2%
−2.1 ptssince 2000
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.440
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Wholesale trade14.2%
US avg: 7.2%
Retail trade11.6%
US avg: 10.9%
Information11.1%
US avg: 11.5%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Finance & insurance3.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.5%
US avg: 4.9%
Construction2.4%
US avg: 1.4%
Professional, scientific, technical2.2%
US avg: 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 3.1%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 2.4%
Manufacturing1.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$146,100
+53%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,500 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$524
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $350 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
39.5%
−42.6 ptssince 2000
from 82.2% in 2000
20.2% rent
Vacancy rate
32.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 31.9% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
22.1%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
30.8%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
3.8
+6%since 2009
from 3.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2010
White, non-Hispanic92.3%(25,341)
Black1.2%(327)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(688)
Asian0.5%(131)
Other3.7%(1,014)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.2%(317)
Puerto Rican0.8%(225)
Cuban0.4%(107)
Ecuadorian0.1%(19)
Peruvian0%(13)
Ancestry
Irish16.3%(4,458)
English13.3%(3,645)
German12.9%(3,520)
American12.2%(3,321)
Scotch-Irish7.1%(1,953)
Scottish4.6%(1,251)
Dutch3%(821)
Italian2.3%(616)
French2%(535)
Polish1.7%(465)
Swedish0.4%(119)
Czech0.3%(90)
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.3%(78)
Hungarian0.3%(73)
Greek0.2%(62)
Ukrainian0.2%(60)
Austrian0.2%(58)
Norwegian0.2%(52)
Portuguese0.1%(40)
Canadian0.1%(34)
Arab0.1%(31)
Lithuanian0.1%(29)
Swiss0.1%(27)
Belgian0.1%(23)
Syrian0.1%(19)
Slovene0.1%(14)
Brazilian0%(13)
Danish0%(13)
Lebanese0%(12)
British0%(12)
Latvian0%(5)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Scotch-Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.9%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 11.0% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
81.5%
+8.3 ptssince 2000
from 73.3% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
6.4%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.6 min
+40%since 2000
from 15.4 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
86.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 85.0% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
9.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
1.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
5.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
16.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.8% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
26.0%
−31.7 ptssince 2009
from 57.7% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
51.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
2.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
13.5%
−33.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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

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Pop 29,432
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Pop 32,481
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Pop 32,449
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Pop 29,263
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Head to head

Compare Cherokee County to nearby counties

CHEROKEE COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income$56,971+49%
Home value$278,400+91%
Population12,239−60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHEROKEE COUNTY VS
Graham County
Income$49,684+30%
Home value$170,600+17%
Population8,190−73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHEROKEE COUNTY VS
Union County
Income$66,176+73%
Home value$307,400+110%
Population27,859−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CHEROKEE COUNTY VS
Fannin County
Income$57,073+50%
Home value$306,600+110%
Population26,111−15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cherokee County, North Carolina?

Cherokee County, North Carolina has about 27,444 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Cherokee County, North Carolina earns about $38,144 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 $146,100, and the typical rent is about $524 a month.

How educated are people in Cherokee County, North Carolina?

About 15.9% 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 13.2% of people in Cherokee County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cherokee County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Cherokee County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,274 residents, a change of about 36 percent over that period.

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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

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