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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Transylvania County

North Carolina · 32,986 residents · 378 sq mi
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The short version

Transylvania County is home to 32,986 people in North Carolina. The median age is 50.4, about 12 years above the US median. 75% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 3%. Median rent is $731 a month. The median household earns $51,509, about 22% below the national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 50.4
US median: 38.8
Average education
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
32,986
+12%since 2000
from 29,334 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
50.4
+15%since 2000
from 43.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
378 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
25K27K30K32K35K19902000201020202024Transylvania County
202434K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.2%(1,380)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.8%(1,594)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.2%(1,726)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.5%(1,813)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.2%(1,727)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 349.3%(3,068)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.1%(3,321)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410.6%(3,483)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415.2%(5,009)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7416.5%(5,428)
US avg: 10%
75 to 8410%(3,310)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over3.4%(1,127)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,509
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,587 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,577
+47%since 2000
from $20,767 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
33.8%
+11.2 ptssince 2009
from 22.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
14.4%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 9.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade11.4%
US avg: 10%
Information10%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade9.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services6.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance2.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction2%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration1.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical1.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$231,300
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $106,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$731
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $468 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
75.0%
−4.4 ptssince 2000
from 79.4% in 2000
25.0% rent
Persons per household
2.23 people
−3%since 2009
from 2.31 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
4.5
+3%since 2009
from 4.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
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-Hispanic93.1%(27,305)
Black4.2%(1,228)
Hispanic / Latino1%(298)
Asian0.4%(111)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic86.5%(28,542)
Black3.1%(1,027)
Hispanic / Latino5.1%(1,698)
Asian0.5%(173)
Other2.1%(690)
Segregation Score
31
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%(951)
Spaniard0.3%(103)
Cuban0.1%(50)
Asian origin
Chinese0.1%(34)
Vietnamese0.1%(19)
Korean0%(3)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American35.7%(12,165)
German12.4%(4,218)
English12.1%(4,106)
Irish9.6%(3,282)
Scotch-Irish3.3%(1,111)
Italian3.3%(1,109)
Scottish2.4%(806)
French2%(669)
Norwegian1.5%(500)
Welsh1%(336)
Dutch1%(331)
Polish0.8%(286)
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.8%(285)
British0.8%(262)
Russian0.5%(156)
Austrian0.4%(125)
Swiss0.3%(102)
Finnish0.2%(74)
Czech0.2%(68)
Armenian0.2%(53)
Hungarian0.2%(52)
Canadian0.1%(47)
Portuguese0.1%(37)
Danish0.1%(33)
Ukrainian0.1%(30)
Greek0.1%(27)
Slovak0.1%(20)
Croatian0%(16)
Latvian0%(13)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
33.8%
+10.1 ptssince 2000
from 23.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
91.0%
+8.5 ptssince 2000
from 82.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
12.8%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.3 min
+46%since 2000
from 15.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
80.9%
+7.0 ptssince 2009
from 73.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
3.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.4%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 7.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
51.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 52.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
68.9%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
34.4%
+6.8 ptssince 2009
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Female
52.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
14.2%
−3.9 ptssince 2013
from 18.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
90.2%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
83.5%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married29.1%(4,158)
Married55.9%(7,969)
Widowed3.7%(532)
Divorced11.3%(1,607)
Women 15+
Never married19%(2,884)
Married54.6%(8,298)
Widowed14.2%(2,153)
Divorced12.3%(1,863)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
14.2%
−3.9 ptssince 2013
from 18.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
43.5%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
23.5%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
32.0%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
16.3%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.9%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
64.7%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
45.7%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)10.3%(373)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)10.8%(392)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era40.6%(1,469)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War5.7%(206)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II7.9%(285)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 3,617 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

Places similar to Transylvania County

Lawrence County
Pop 33,843
Christian County
Pop 33,443
Bureau County
Pop 32,510
Jefferson County
Pop 36,147
Places similar to Transylvania County
Head to head

Compare Transylvania County to nearby counties

TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY VS
Jackson County
Income$55,815+8%
Home value$284,700+23%
Population45,039+32%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY VS
Henderson County
Income$68,187+32%
Home value$351,400+52%
Population122,375+258%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY VS
Pickens County
Income$61,064+19%
Home value$231,900same
Population139,198+307%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY VS
Haywood County
Income$61,912+20%
Home value$279,200+21%
Population63,369+85%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Transylvania County, North Carolina?

Transylvania County, North Carolina has about 32,986 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Transylvania County, North Carolina earns about $51,509 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Transylvania County, North Carolina expensive?

In Transylvania County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $231,300, and the typical rent is about $731 a month.

How educated are people in Transylvania County, North Carolina?

About 33.8% of adults age 25 and over in Transylvania County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 14.4% of people in Transylvania County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Transylvania County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Transylvania County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,466 residents, a change of about 29 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →