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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Macon County

North Carolina · 37,014 residents · 516 sq mi
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The short version

Macon County is home to 37,014 people in North Carolina. The median age is 50.9, about 12 years above the US median. 76% of homes are owner-occupied. About 24% of adults have finished a four-year degree. Growth has run 24% since 2000, or 7,203 more people. The foreign-born share is 5%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 50.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
37,014
+24%since 2000
from 29,811 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
50.9
+13%since 2000
from 45.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
516 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
22K26K31K35K39K19902000201020202024Macon County
202438K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.5%(1,664)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.9%(1,804)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.4%(2,013)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195%(1,836)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.3%(1,604)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 349.7%(3,584)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 449.8%(3,645)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.2%(4,133)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415.7%(5,813)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7417%(6,294)
US avg: 10%
75 to 849.5%(3,505)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over3%(1,119)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$45,703
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,139 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,549
+59%since 2000
from $18,642 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
26.2%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
16.0%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information13.1%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade11.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade4.5%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance4.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services4%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 2%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$171,700
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $97,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$758
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $485 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
76.5%
−4.8 ptssince 2000
from 81.3% in 2000
23.5% rent
Persons per household
2.17 people
+2%since 2009
from 2.12 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
3.8
−14%since 2009
from 4.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96%(28,628)
Black1.2%(353)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(454)
Asian0.4%(117)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic85.2%(31,535)
Black0.7%(252)
Hispanic / Latino9.5%(3,498)
Asian0.7%(250)
Other1.6%(588)
Segregation Score
21
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
Mexican5.5%(1,950)
Puerto Rican0.4%(154)
Colombian0.4%(154)
Dominican0.1%(41)
Cuban0.1%(40)
Guatemalan0.1%(34)
Spaniard0.1%(21)
Asian origin
Chinese0.6%(208)
Asian Indian0.2%(56)
Japanese0.1%(39)
Korean0%(9)
Ancestry
American15%(5,261)
English12.5%(4,383)
Irish10.5%(3,699)
German9.9%(3,469)
Scotch-Irish5.4%(1,911)
Italian3.6%(1,249)
Scottish3%(1,047)
French2.7%(948)
Polish1.4%(489)
Dutch1.3%(448)
Hungarian0.7%(259)
+ 27 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.7%(246)
British0.7%(241)
Norwegian0.7%(235)
Welsh0.3%(109)
Russian0.3%(102)
Danish0.2%(81)
Greek0.2%(73)
Finnish0.2%(65)
Swiss0.2%(64)
Portuguese0.1%(47)
Slovak0.1%(44)
West Indian0.1%(43)
Jamaican0.1%(43)
Australian0.1%(40)
Canadian0.1%(40)
Belgian0.1%(37)
Slovene0.1%(31)
Brazilian0.1%(30)
Czech0.1%(28)
Latvian0.1%(26)
Austrian0.1%(24)
Lithuanian0.1%(20)
Lebanese0%(17)
Syrian0%(16)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.9%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 16.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
89.0%
+11.7 ptssince 2000
from 77.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
8.2%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.6 min
+53%since 2000
from 14.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
83.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 82.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.7%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.8%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 8.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
50.7%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 54.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
62.5%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
31.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 30.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Female
51.9%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Foreign born
5.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
13.4%
−7.6 ptssince 2013
from 21.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
84.8%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
85.1%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married22.5%(3,526)
Married63.8%(9,987)
Widowed2.8%(431)
Divorced10.9%(1,710)
Women 15+
Never married18.4%(3,103)
Married55.5%(9,368)
Widowed12.1%(2,043)
Divorced14%(2,355)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
13.4%
−7.6 ptssince 2013
from 21.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
37.1%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
23.3%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
32.0%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
19.7%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
5.5%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
58.2%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
48.3%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)7.7%(220)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)14.2%(403)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era42.3%(1,205)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War8.6%(246)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II3.5%(101)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 2,846 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Macon County to nearby counties

MACON COUNTY VS
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Income$67,493+48%
Home value$295,200+72%
Population17,764−55%
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MACON COUNTY VS
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Home value$284,700+66%
Population45,039+15%
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MACON COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income$56,971+25%
Home value$278,400+62%
Population12,239−69%
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MACON COUNTY VS
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Income$59,135+29%
Home value$316,100+84%
Population13,285−66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Macon County, North Carolina?

Macon County, North Carolina has about 37,014 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Macon County, North Carolina earns about $45,703 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Macon County, North Carolina expensive?

In Macon County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $171,700, and the typical rent is about $758 a month.

How educated are people in Macon County, North Carolina?

About 23.9% of adults age 25 and over in Macon County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 16.0% of people in Macon County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Macon County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Macon County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 13,515 residents, a change of about 58 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 →