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COUNTY

Graham County

North Carolina · 8,190 residents (2025 est.) · 291.968 sq mi
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The short version

Graham County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $49,684. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $170,600. With a median age of 45.6, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 31% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 45%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
8,072
+1%since 2000
from 7,993 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
28 / sq mi
+1%since 2009
from 27 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
45.6
+10%since 2000
from 41.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:8,190 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K8K8K9K9K1990201020202024Graham County
20248K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54%(324)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.2%(343)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.2%(582)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.1%(409)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245%(401)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.9%(1,038)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.8%(871)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.6%(937)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.7%(1,105)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7414.3%(1,152)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 849.1%(731)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.2%(179)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,684
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,645 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,648
+115%since 2000
from $14,237 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.2%
+19.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.7%
−12.8 ptssince 2000
from 19.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.408
−12%since 2010
from 0.463 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade14.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Information9.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade3.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration0.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$170,600
+45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$676
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $319 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
80.7%
−2.0 ptssince 2000
from 82.7% in 2000
19.3% rent
Vacancy rate
32.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 33.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
11.3%
−7.7 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
37.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 36.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
−8%since 2009
from 3.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
47
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Graham County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.4%(7,303)
Black0.2%(15)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(60)
Asian0.2%(13)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.9%(6,853)
Black0.4%(30)
Hispanic / Latino3%(240)
Asian0.7%(54)
Other11.1%(895)
Diversity Score
33
+36%since 2009
from 24 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
34
−23%since 2020
from 44 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.9%(236)
Asian origin
Korean0.4%(36)
Asian Indian0.2%(18)
Ancestry
American36.2%(2,924)
Irish9.3%(751)
English9%(730)
German5.9%(476)
Scotch-Irish2.1%(171)
Scottish1.4%(109)
Italian1.3%(102)
Welsh0.5%(39)
Polish0.4%(31)
Dutch0.4%(30)
Danish0.4%(29)
Norwegian0.2%(20)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
French0.2%(18)
Swiss0.1%(11)
Hungarian0.1%(9)
Austrian0.1%(7)
Ukrainian0.1%(7)
British0.1%(5)
Portuguese0.1%(5)
Russian0%(4)
Swedish0%(2)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.6%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.7%
+17.3 ptssince 2000
from 68.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.8 min
+37%since 2000
from 18.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 83.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.2%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% 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
10.6%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 7.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
50.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 52.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
23.4%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.3%
−29.2 ptssince 2009
from 60.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
48.6%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
1.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.1%
−41.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.5%
+7.4 ptssince 2012
from 11.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.5%
−64.2 ptssince 2013
from 76.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.4%
+34.4 ptssince 2017
from 49.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.0%
−2.8 ptssince 2016
from 96.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 2.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married25.8%(889)
Married57.7%(1,985)
Widowed4.2%(145)
Divorced12.3%(424)
Women 15+
Never married21.8%(738)
Married52.6%(1,779)
Widowed15.3%(517)
Divorced10.2%(346)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Places similar to Graham County
Head to head

Compare Graham County to nearby counties

GRAHAM COUNTY VS
Cherokee County
Income$53,628+8%
Home value$232,300+36%
Population30,830+276%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GRAHAM COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income$56,971+15%
Home value$278,400+63%
Population12,239+49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GRAHAM COUNTY VS
Blount County
Income$77,365+56%
Home value$320,500+88%
Population143,820+1656%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GRAHAM COUNTY VS
Monroe County
Income$56,895+15%
Home value$227,500+33%
Population49,730+507%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Graham County, North Carolina?

Graham County, North Carolina has about 8,072 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Graham County, North Carolina earns about $49,684 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Graham County, North Carolina expensive?

In Graham County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $170,600, and the typical rent is about $676 a month.

How educated are people in Graham County, North Carolina?

About 17.6% of adults age 25 and over in Graham County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 6.7% of people in Graham County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Graham County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Graham County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 876 residents, a change of about 12 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 9203Census Tract 9202Census Tract 9201
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 28771ZIP 28702ZIP 28733
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →