United States › North Carolina › Swain County COUNTY · 2010 ACS
Swain County North Carolina · 13,981 residents · 528 sq mi
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The short version
With 13,981 people, Swain County is a county in North Carolina. The typical home is worth $114,600. About 19% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The foreign-born share is 3%. The median age is 40.8, about 4 years above the US median. The poverty rate is 22.4%, above the 13.8% national rate.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 40.8
US median: 37.2
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01
Population & growth from 38.8 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
11K 12K 13K 14K 15K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Swain County Age distribution, 2010
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Section 02
Income & economy $35,071
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,608 in 2000
US average: $52,703
from $14,647 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
from 18.3% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Workforce by industry, 2010
Public administration 2.6%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing 1%
Education & health services 0.7%
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$114,600
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $80,000 in 2000
US average: $225,659
$651
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $384 in 2000
US average: $853
from 76.8% in 2000
25.9% rent
from 30.8% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
from 2.32 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
from 38.1% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
from 3.7 in 2009
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-Hispanic 65.9%(8,544)
Hispanic / Latino 1.5%(191)
2010
White, non-Hispanic 65.6%(9,168)
Hispanic / Latino 3.9%(540)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
from 70.5% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
from 87.7% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07
Work & employment from 20.8% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
from 31.8% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08
People & community from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 29.7%(1,631)
Women 15+
Never married 29.2%(1,814)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 26.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 35.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 13.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 21.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 22.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 48.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 40.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 25.4%(203)
Gulf War (1990s) 22.8%(182)
Share of the 798 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Swain County Head to head
Compare Swain County to nearby counties SWAIN COUNTY VS
Sevier County
Income $62,581 +78%
Home value $299,000 +161%
Population 101,342 +623%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SWAIN COUNTY VS
Graham County
Income $49,684 +42%
Home value $170,600 +49%
Population 8,190 −42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SWAIN COUNTY VS
Blount County
Income $77,365 +121%
Home value $320,500 +180%
Population 143,820 +926%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SWAIN COUNTY VS
Haywood County
Income $61,912 +77%
Home value $279,200 +144%
Population 63,369 +352%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Swain County, North Carolina? Swain County, North Carolina has about 13,981 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Swain County, North Carolina? The typical household in Swain County, North Carolina earns about $35,071 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 $114,600, and the typical rent is about $651 a month.
How educated are people in Swain County, North Carolina? About 18.6% 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 22.4% 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 2,713 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.
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