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COUNTY

Haywood County

North Carolina · 63,369 residents (2025 est.) · 553.56 sq mi
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The short version

Haywood County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $61,912. Population has grown 16% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $279,200. With a median age of 47.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 71%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
62,662
+16%since 2000
from 54,033 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
113 / sq mi
+11%since 2009
from 102 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
47.8
+13%since 2000
from 42.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:63,369 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
45K50K55K60K64K1990201020202024Haywood County
202463K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.2%(2,643)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.2%(3,258)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.8%(3,007)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.2%(3,245)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(2,940)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.9%(7,428)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411%(6,912)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.3%(7,738)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415%(9,385)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7414.7%(9,192)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 848.2%(5,144)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.8%(1,770)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$61,912
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,922 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,367
+96%since 2000
from $18,554 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.2%
+21.2 ptssince 2009
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.1%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.436
−1%since 2010
from 0.438 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade12.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$279,200
+71%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $89,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,067
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $455 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.9%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 77.4% in 2000
25.1% rent
Vacancy rate
23.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 40.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.5
+19%since 2009
from 3.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
61
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Haywood County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96%(51,870)
Black1.2%(674)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(763)
Asian0.2%(113)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic90.4%(56,657)
Black0.9%(545)
Hispanic / Latino5%(3,103)
Asian0.4%(229)
Other3.4%(2,128)
Diversity Score
22
+83%since 2009
from 12 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
17
−51%since 2020
from 35 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
Mexican2.5%(1,556)
Puerto Rican0.6%(394)
Cuban0.6%(350)
Guatemalan0.3%(191)
Spaniard0.3%(160)
Nicaraguan0.2%(141)
Colombian0.2%(100)
Dominican0%(21)
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.1%(57)
Filipino0.1%(46)
Asian Indian0.1%(45)
Korean0.1%(36)
Chinese0%(27)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(3)
Ancestry
English19.2%(12,007)
German12.1%(7,612)
Irish12.1%(7,582)
American8.4%(5,248)
Scotch-Irish5.6%(3,488)
Scottish4.5%(2,810)
Italian3.1%(1,962)
French2.4%(1,533)
Polish1.6%(976)
Dutch1.1%(676)
Welsh1%(640)
Russian0.5%(291)
+ 33 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.5%(290)
British0.4%(268)
Hungarian0.4%(250)
Swedish0.4%(238)
Danish0.3%(184)
Arab0.2%(156)
Portuguese0.2%(152)
Greek0.2%(114)
Canadian0.2%(103)
Slovak0.1%(81)
Lithuanian0.1%(77)
Lebanese0.1%(70)
Belgian0.1%(68)
Finnish0.1%(64)
West Indian0.1%(56)
Czech0.1%(55)
Swiss0.1%(55)
Croatian0.1%(53)
Syrian0.1%(42)
Jamaican0.1%(42)
Austrian0.1%(35)
Moroccan0.1%(32)
Latvian0%(27)
Romanian0%(26)
Armenian0%(25)
Slovene0%(18)
Ukrainian0%(16)
Brazilian0%(15)
Serbian0%(9)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Scotch-Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.5%
+13.6 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.3%
+13.6 ptssince 2000
from 77.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.5%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 6.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.8 min
+56%since 2000
from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.3%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 82.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.2%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.1%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 8.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 57.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.9%
−21.6 ptssince 2009
from 59.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Female
51.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.7%
−37.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 15.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.4%
−71.8 ptssince 2013
from 83.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.4%
+16.7 ptssince 2017
from 67.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 96.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 2.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29%(7,532)
Married57.9%(15,022)
Widowed3.8%(999)
Divorced9.3%(2,403)
Women 15+
Never married20.8%(5,785)
Married54%(15,002)
Widowed11.2%(3,118)
Divorced14%(3,893)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 64,665
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Pop 61,701
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Head to head

Compare Haywood County to nearby counties

HAYWOOD COUNTY VS
Jackson County
Income$55,815−10%
Home value$284,700+2%
Population45,039−29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HAYWOOD COUNTY VS
Buncombe County
Income$74,436+20%
Home value$391,800+40%
Population277,417+338%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HAYWOOD COUNTY VS
Transylvania County
Income$66,184+7%
Home value$373,600+34%
Population34,211−46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HAYWOOD COUNTY VS
Cocke County
Income$48,016−22%
Home value$158,100−43%
Population37,889−40%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Haywood County, North Carolina?

Haywood County, North Carolina has about 62,662 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Haywood County, North Carolina earns about $61,912 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Haywood County, North Carolina expensive?

In Haywood County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $279,200, and the typical rent is about $1,067 a month.

How educated are people in Haywood County, North Carolina?

About 29.5% of adults age 25 and over in Haywood County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 13.1% of people in Haywood County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Haywood County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Haywood County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 15,720 residents, a change of about 33 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

21 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 9202.02Census Tract 9205.02Census Tract 9213.02Census Tract 9212.02Census Tract 9201.02Census Tract 9208Census Tract 9201.01Census Tract 9213.01Census Tract 9203Census Tract 9210Census Tract 9206.02Census Tract 9211Census Tract 9207.01Census Tract 9205.01Census Tract 9204Census Tract 9206.01Census Tract 9207.02Census Tract 9209Census Tract 9212.01Census Tract 9202.01
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 28786ZIP 28716ZIP 28721ZIP 28785ZIP 28751ZIP 28745
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →