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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Yancey County

North Carolina · 18,470 residents · 313 sq mi
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The short version

With 18,470 people, Yancey County is a county in North Carolina. At a median age of 48.3, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Owners hold 77% of the housing stock. 3% of people here were born outside the United States. Median rent is $642 a month.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 48.3
US median: 38.8
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 36%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
18,470
+4%since 2000
from 17,774 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
48.3
+15%since 2000
from 41.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
313 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
15K16K17K18K19K19902000201020202024Yancey County
202419K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.8%(890)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.7%(870)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.4%(997)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.2%(965)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(886)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.2%(1,891)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.9%(2,010)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.6%(2,336)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.9%(2,750)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7415.6%(2,877)
US avg: 10%
75 to 848.2%(1,513)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.6%(485)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,554
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,674 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,767
+58%since 2000
from $16,335 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
25.8%
+13.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
14.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 15.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade17%
US avg: 10%
Information12.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade9.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance3.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical2.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food2.2%
US avg: 2%
Public administration2%
US avg: 4.7%
Construction1.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.5%
US avg: 2.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$166,900
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $81,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$642
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $371 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
76.5%
−3.7 ptssince 2000
from 80.2% in 2000
23.5% rent
Persons per household
2.37 people
−4%since 2009
from 2.47 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
3.7
−1%since 2009
from 3.8 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-Hispanic95.8%(17,033)
Black0.6%(101)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(478)
Asian0.1%(22)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic90%(16,625)
Black0.6%(104)
Hispanic / Latino5.5%(1,016)
Asian0.2%(40)
Other1.5%(269)
Segregation Score
17
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
Mexican3.2%(570)
Guatemalan0.6%(116)
Salvadoran0.2%(34)
Colombian0.2%(33)
Nicaraguan0.2%(31)
Argentine0.2%(27)
Cuban0.1%(10)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.1%(21)
Korean0.1%(20)
Chinese0%(1)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American16.1%(2,881)
Irish13.4%(2,402)
English13%(2,320)
German9%(1,603)
Scotch-Irish6.4%(1,142)
Scottish2.7%(487)
Italian2.4%(421)
French1.5%(266)
Dutch1.2%(212)
Greek1%(187)
Polish0.8%(151)
British0.8%(138)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.6%(108)
Czech0.6%(100)
Swedish0.5%(95)
Hungarian0.5%(86)
Russian0.3%(49)
Austrian0.2%(42)
Ukrainian0.2%(35)
Swiss0.2%(33)
Norwegian0.2%(31)
Slovak0.1%(24)
Ethiopian0.1%(22)
Romanian0.1%(10)
Turkish0%(7)
Danish0%(3)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.3%
+7.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
86.6%
+15.5 ptssince 2000
from 71.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
8.3%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.6 min
+43%since 2000
from 20.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
82.7%
+7.9 ptssince 2009
from 74.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.4%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 8.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
53.1%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 55.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
67.4%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
31.6%
+9.2 ptssince 2009
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
50.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
2.7%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
12.5%
−5.5 ptssince 2013
from 18.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
82.4%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
92.3%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
12.5%
−5.5 ptssince 2013
from 18.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
40.1%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
20.3%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
28.9%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
19.2%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.1%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
59.9%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
44.3%
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)11%(84)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)5.9%(45)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era46.8%(357)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War22.7%(173)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0.3%(2)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 763 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

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Head to head

Compare Yancey County to nearby counties

YANCEY COUNTY VS
Mitchell County
Income$57,602+29%
Home value$220,100+32%
Population15,062−21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
YANCEY COUNTY VS
Unicoi County
Income$52,218+17%
Home value$189,600+14%
Population17,856−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
YANCEY COUNTY VS
McDowell County
Income$57,168+28%
Home value$171,100+3%
Population45,198+137%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
YANCEY COUNTY VS
Madison County
Income$58,531+31%
Home value$284,600+71%
Population22,553+18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Yancey County, North Carolina?

Yancey County, North Carolina has about 18,470 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Yancey County, North Carolina earns about $44,554 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 $166,900, and the typical rent is about $642 a month.

How educated are people in Yancey County, North Carolina?

About 20.3% 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 14.7% 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 3,051 residents, a change of about 20 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 →