CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Swain County

North Carolina · 13,981 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 $35,071. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value is $114,600. The poverty rate of 22.4% is well above the national figure.

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

Total population
13,981
+8%since 2000
from 12,968 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
26 / sq mi
+8%since 2000
from 25 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
40.8
+5%since 2000
from 38.8 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
11K12K13K14K15K1990201020202024Swain County
202414K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$35,071
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,608 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,297
+32%since 2000
from $14,647 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
15.6%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
22.4%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 18.3% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.445
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Wholesale trade10.3%
US avg: 7.2%
Information7.2%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade6%
US avg: 10.9%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 7%
Finance & insurance2.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.9%
US avg: 4.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 2.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.4%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 3.1%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$114,600
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $80,000 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$651
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $384 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
33.6%
−43.2 ptssince 2000
from 76.8% in 2000
25.9% rent
Vacancy rate
32.3%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 30.8% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
17.0%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 38.1% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
3.3
+17%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score11.4%(1,483)
2010
White, non-Hispanic65.6%(9,168)
Black0.5%(75)
Hispanic / Latino3.9%(540)
Asian0.5%(66)
Other28.1%(3,928)
Diversity Score59.3%(8,289)
Diversity Score
59
+418%since 2000
from 11 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.6%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
79.4%
+8.9 ptssince 2000
from 70.5% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
7.7%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.3 min
+29%since 2000
from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
87.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 87.7% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
6.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
4.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
8.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
25.0%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 20.8% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
35.1%
−28.2 ptssince 2009
from 63.3% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
51.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
11.0%
−35.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Swain County

Clay County
Pop 14,052
Las Animas County
Pop 14,391
Screven County
Pop 14,408
Jefferson County
Pop 15,011
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%
Population101,342+623%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SWAIN COUNTY VS
Graham County
Income$49,684+42%
Home value$170,600+49%
Population8,190−42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SWAIN COUNTY VS
Blount County
Income$77,365+121%
Home value$320,500+180%
Population143,820+926%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SWAIN COUNTY VS
Haywood County
Income$61,912+77%
Home value$279,200+144%
Population63,369+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.

Keep going

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
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 →