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COUNTY

Yancey County

North Carolina · 19,084 residents (2025 est.) · 312.592 sq mi
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The short version

Yancey County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $58,709. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $243,100. With a median age of 49.2, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 49.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 64%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
18,797
+6%since 2000
from 17,774 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
60 / sq mi
+3%since 2009
from 59 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
49.2
+17%since 2000
from 41.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:19,084 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
15K16K17K18K19K1990201020202024Yancey County
202419K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55%(933)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.4%(829)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.4%(1,018)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.2%(785)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245%(931)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.9%(2,057)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.3%(1,943)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.2%(2,480)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.6%(2,736)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7415.7%(2,947)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 848.6%(1,618)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.8%(520)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$58,709
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,674 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,664
+124%since 2000
from $16,335 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
41.3%
+28.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 15.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.487
+18%since 2010
from 0.411 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing1.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$243,100
+64%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $81,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$882
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $371 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
79.4%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 80.2% in 2000
20.6% rent
Vacancy rate
28.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 29.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.6%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.0%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.1
+9%since 2009
from 3.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
80
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Yancey County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.8%(17,033)
Black0.6%(101)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(478)
Asian0.1%(22)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic90.8%(17,068)
Black0.8%(153)
Hispanic / Latino5.8%(1,091)
Asian0.5%(86)
Other2.1%(399)
Diversity Score
21
+27%since 2009
from 17 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
12
−26%since 2020
from 17 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
Mexican3.6%(675)
Guatemalan0.6%(120)
Colombian0.6%(109)
Dominican0.3%(52)
Cuban0.2%(37)
Puerto Rican0.1%(22)
Salvadoran0.1%(17)
Spaniard0.1%(10)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.4%(81)
Chinese0%(4)
Ancestry
English15.3%(2,874)
Irish14.7%(2,760)
American13.8%(2,589)
German9.3%(1,755)
Scotch-Irish5.4%(1,024)
Scottish3.1%(581)
Welsh1.9%(356)
French1.1%(199)
Dutch1%(181)
Italian0.9%(178)
Polish0.9%(162)
Russian0.7%(136)
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.5%(97)
Hungarian0.4%(68)
Iranian0.3%(56)
Ukrainian0.3%(49)
British0.2%(44)
Czech0.2%(35)
Swiss0.2%(29)
Slovak0.1%(27)
Greek0.1%(19)
Lithuanian0.1%(18)
Armenian0.1%(13)
Romanian0.1%(12)
Danish0%(9)
Turkish0%(2)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest Scotch-Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.1%
+11.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.7%
+19.5 ptssince 2000
from 71.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.3%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.1 min
+36%since 2000
from 20.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.6%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 74.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.0%
−9.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.7%
+8.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% 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
4.6%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 8.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.4%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 55.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.2%
−22.8 ptssince 2009
from 54.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
50.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
3.2%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.7%
−41.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.9%
−1.8 ptssince 2012
from 20.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.2%
−74.8 ptssince 2013
from 82.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
81.4%
+22.3 ptssince 2017
from 59.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2016
from 95.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 3.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.5%(2,074)
Married60.8%(4,754)
Widowed3.3%(262)
Divorced9.4%(734)
Women 15+
Never married15.4%(1,260)
Married62.5%(5,122)
Widowed12.5%(1,023)
Divorced9.6%(788)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Yancey County to nearby counties

YANCEY COUNTY VS
Mitchell County
Income$57,602−2%
Home value$220,100−9%
Population15,062−21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
YANCEY COUNTY VS
Unicoi County
Income$52,218−11%
Home value$189,600−22%
Population17,856−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
YANCEY COUNTY VS
McDowell County
Income$57,168−3%
Home value$171,100−30%
Population45,198+137%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
YANCEY COUNTY VS
Madison County
Income$58,531same
Home value$284,600+17%
Population22,553+18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Yancey County, North Carolina?

Yancey County, North Carolina has about 18,797 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Yancey County, North Carolina earns about $58,709 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Yancey County, North Carolina expensive?

In Yancey County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $243,100, and the typical rent is about $882 a month.

How educated are people in Yancey County, North Carolina?

About 25.1% of adults age 25 and over in Yancey County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 15.2% of people in Yancey County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Yancey County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Yancey County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,378 residents, a change of about 22 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9604Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9601.01Census Tract 9603Census Tract 9601.02
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 28714ZIP 28740ZIP 28755
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →