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COUNTY

Swain County

North Carolina · 14,024 residents (2025 est.) · 527.726 sq mi
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The short version

Swain County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $52,349. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 21% 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 $207,000. Households here earn about 28% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 42%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
14,013
+8%since 2000
from 12,968 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
27 / sq mi
+5%since 2009
from 25 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.6
+10%since 2000
from 38.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:14,024 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
11K12K13K14K15K1990201020202024Swain County
202414K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.3%(608)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.6%(651)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.4%(1,041)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197%(976)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.9%(821)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.3%(1,590)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.7%(1,776)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.2%(1,716)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.6%(2,045)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.4%(1,596)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.4%(894)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.1%(299)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,349
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,608 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,803
+117%since 2000
from $14,647 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.7%
+18.7 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 18.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.462
+4%since 2010
from 0.445 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance2.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration2.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade1.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$207,000
+42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $80,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$742
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $384 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.7%
−4.2 ptssince 2000
from 76.8% in 2000
27.3% rent
Vacancy rate
30.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 30.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.6%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
30.2%
−7.9 ptssince 2009
from 38.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.0
+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
40
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Swain County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic65.9%(8,544)
Black1.7%(214)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(191)
Asian0.2%(20)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic59.2%(8,292)
Black2.6%(363)
Hispanic / Latino5.5%(767)
Asian0.5%(69)
Other32.3%(4,522)
Diversity Score
68
+16%since 2009
from 59 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
53
−8%since 2020
from 58 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
Mexican2.8%(388)
Peruvian1.3%(180)
Puerto Rican0.5%(72)
Guatemalan0.5%(68)
Spaniard0.3%(43)
Asian origin
Thai0.2%(23)
Pakistani0.2%(22)
Ancestry
American24.1%(3,382)
English12.1%(1,691)
Irish7.8%(1,088)
German3.5%(493)
Scottish1.1%(153)
Dutch0.6%(87)
Italian0.5%(67)
Arab0.4%(58)
Lebanese0.4%(58)
Polish0.4%(56)
Welsh0.4%(56)
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data
French0.4%(52)
Lithuanian0.3%(45)
British0.2%(24)
Slovak0.2%(23)
Czech0.2%(22)
Russian0.1%(18)
Swedish0.1%(17)
Norwegian0.1%(12)
Portuguese0.1%(10)
Greek0.1%(9)
Hungarian0.1%(9)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scotch-Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.4%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.7%
+16.2 ptssince 2000
from 70.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.0%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.5 min
+53%since 2000
from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.4%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 87.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.9%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% 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
6.6%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.6%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 9.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.0%
+3.2 ptssince 2011
from 53.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
25.0%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.4%
−31.8 ptssince 2009
from 63.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
52.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.2%
−39.4 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2012
from 14.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
23.8%
−49.3 ptssince 2013
from 73.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
77.3%
+32.4 ptssince 2017
from 44.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.3%
−3.8 ptssince 2016
from 96.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 1.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.7%(1,631)
Married55.4%(3,048)
Widowed4.7%(257)
Divorced10.2%(563)
Women 15+
Never married29.2%(1,814)
Married45.9%(2,855)
Widowed11.3%(702)
Divorced13.6%(843)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Swain County to nearby counties

SWAIN COUNTY VS
Sevier County
Income$62,581+20%
Home value$299,000+44%
Population101,342+623%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SWAIN COUNTY VS
Graham County
Income$49,684−5%
Home value$170,600−18%
Population8,190−42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SWAIN COUNTY VS
Blount County
Income$77,365+48%
Home value$320,500+55%
Population143,820+926%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SWAIN COUNTY VS
Haywood County
Income$61,912+18%
Home value$279,200+35%
Population63,369+352%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Swain County, North Carolina?

Swain County, North Carolina has about 14,013 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Swain County, North Carolina earns about $52,349 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Swain County, North Carolina expensive?

In Swain County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $207,000, and the typical rent is about $742 a month.

How educated are people in Swain County, North Carolina?

About 21.4% of adults age 25 and over in Swain County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 19.1% of people in Swain County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Swain County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Swain County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,745 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9401Census Tract 9603.01Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9603.02Census Tract 9802
2 ZIP codes
ZIP 28713ZIP 28719
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →