CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Swain County

North Carolina · 12,968 residents · 527.726 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Swain County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $28,608. Population has grown 15% since 1990. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 24%. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $80,000. Households here earn about 27% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.8
US median: 35.2
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

12,968
+15%since 1990
from 11,268 in 1990
1990 – 2025
25 / sq mi
+15%since 1990
from 21 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
38.8
+8%since 1990
from 35.8 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 19902024
11K12K13K14K15K1990201020202024Swain County
202414K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

$28,608
+35%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $16,068 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$14,647
+64%since 1990
from $8,922 in 1990
US average: $21,522
18.3%
−9.3 ptssince 1990
from 27.6% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$80,000
+22%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $49,600 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$384
+24%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $235 in 1990
US average: $602
76.8%
+0.5 ptssince 1990
from 76.3% in 1990
23.2% rent
2.8
−9%since 1990
from 3.1 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Swain County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic70.9%(7,991)
Black1.5%(170)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(83)
Asian0.2%(22)
Diversity Score53.8%(6,060)
2000
White, non-Hispanic65.9%(8,544)
Black1.7%(214)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(191)
Asian0.2%(20)
Diversity Score11.4%(1,483)
11
−79%since 1990
from 54 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

13.9%
+4.0 ptssince 1990
from 9.9% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
70.5%
+11.6 ptssince 1990
from 59.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
4.1%
+0.8 ptssince 1990
from 3.3% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

13.4 min
−21%since 1990
from 16.9 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Swain County

Head to head

Compare Swain County to nearby counties

Frequently asked

How many people live in Swain County, North Carolina?

Swain County, North Carolina has about 12,968 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Swain County, North Carolina earns about $28,608 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 $80,000, and the typical rent is about $384 a month.

How educated are people in Swain County, North Carolina?

About 13.9% 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 18.3% 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 1,700 residents, a change of about 15 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

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

How we source and harmonize this data →