CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Macon County

North Carolina · 37,014 residents · 515.565 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Macon County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $45,703. Population has grown 24% since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $171,700. With a median age of 50.9, the population is older than the US median of 38.8.

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
Population density
72 / sq mi
+24%since 2000
from 58 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
50.9
+13%since 2000
from 45.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
22K26K31K35K39K1990201020202024Macon County
202438K
1990201020202024
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%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: 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
Afford Score
3.8
+24%since 2000
from 3.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Macon County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96%(28,628)
Black1.2%(353)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(454)
Asian0.4%(117)
Other0%
Diversity Score7.6%(2,279)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic85.2%(31,535)
Black0.7%(252)
Hispanic / Latino9.5%(3,498)
Asian0.7%(250)
Other1.6%(588)
Diversity Score28.5%(10,556)
Segregation Score21.5%(7,951)
Diversity Score
29
+273%since 2000
from 8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
21
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%
Management & professional
31.8%
−27.6 ptssince 2009
from 59.4% 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%
−65.6 ptssince 2013
from 79.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Macon County

Tallapoosa County
Pop 40,953
Siskiyou County
Pop 42,013
Independence County
Pop 38,785
Okeechobee County
Pop 42,608
Places similar to Macon County
Head to head

Compare Macon County to nearby counties

MACON COUNTY VS
Rabun County
Income$67,493+48%
Home value$295,200+72%
Population17,764−55%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MACON COUNTY VS
Jackson County
Income$55,815+22%
Home value$284,700+66%
Population45,039+15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MACON COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income$56,971+25%
Home value$278,400+62%
Population12,239−69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MACON COUNTY VS
Towns County
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.

Keep going

Explore from here

10 census tracts
Census Tract 9707Census Tract 9706Census Tract 9703.02Census Tract 9702Census Tract 9704Census Tract 9701Census Tract 9703.04Census Tract 9705.02Census Tract 9703.03Census Tract 9705.01
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 28734ZIP 28741ZIP 28763ZIP 28781ZIP 28775
Up the hierarchy
All counties in North Carolina
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →