Jackson County, NC

County

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2023 Population

43,089

1.65% 1-year growth

US Senator

Thom Tillis

Republican Party

US Senator

Ted Budd

Republican Party

2023 Median Age

38.9

0.765% 1-year decrease

2023 Poverty Rate

19.3%

0.184% 1-year decrease

2023 Median Household Income

$53,479

3.88% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$253,900

5.57% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

19,483

1.82% 1-year growth

About

In 2023, Jackson County, NC had a population of 43.1k people with a median age of 38.9 and a median household income of $53,479. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Jackson County, NC grew from 42,388 to 43,089, a 1.65% increase and its median household income grew from $51,482 to $53,479, a 3.88% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Jackson County, NC are White (Non-Hispanic) (78.6%), American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) (7.04%), Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) (3.55%), Other (Hispanic) (2.5%), and Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) (2.43%).

None of the households in Jackson County, NC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

96.8% of the residents in Jackson County, NC are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Jackson County, NC are Western Carolina University (3,458 degrees awarded in 2023) and Southwestern Community College (199731) (853 degrees).

In 2023, the median property value in Jackson County, NC was $253,900, and the homeownership rate was 62.6%.

Most people in Jackson County, NC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 20.6 minutes. The average car ownership in Jackson County, NC was 2 cars per household.

Jackson County, NC borders Rabun County, GA, Haywood County, NC, Macon County, NC, Swain County, NC, Transylvania County, NC, and Oconee County, SC.

United States North Carolina Cullowhee, NC

Population & Diversity

Jackson County, NC is home to a population of 43.1k people, from which 96.8% are citizens. As of 2023, 4.57% of Jackson County, NC residents were born outside of the country (1.97k people).

In 2023, there were 11.2 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (33.9k people) in Jackson County, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 3.03k American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) and 1.53k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

96.8%

2023 Citizenship

96.9%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 96.8% of Jackson County, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Jackson County, NC was 96.9%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Jackson County, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Jackson County, NC

White (Non-Hispanic)
33.9k ± 171
American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic)
3.03k ± 291
Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
1.53k ± 453

7.68%

Hispanic Population

3.31k people

7.68% of the people in Jackson County, NC are hispanic (3.31k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Jackson County, NC as a share of the total population.

Foreign-Born Population

4.57%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

1.97k people

4.21%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

1.78k people

As of 2023, 4.57% of Jackson County, NC residents (1.97k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Jackson County, NC was 4.21%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Jackson County, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,120 ± 231
Gulf War (2001-)
553 ± 230
Gulf War (1990s)
405 ± 168

Jackson County, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.03 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Jackson County, NC employs 19.5k people. In 2023, the largest industries in Jackson County, NC were Health Care & Social Assistance (2,687 people), Educational Services (2,499 people), and Retail Trade (2,457 people), and the highest paying industries were Information ($70,045), Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($58,333), and Public Administration ($52,122).

Employment

Occupations

19.5k

2023 Value

± 1,256

1.82%

1 Year growth

± 9.04%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Jackson County, NC grew at a rate of 1.82%, from 19.1k employees to 19.5k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Jackson County, NC, are Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (1,928 people), Sales & Related Occupations (1,925 people), and Building & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance Occupations (1,606 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Jackson County, NC.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

19.5k

2023 Value

± 1,256

1.82%

1 Year growth

± 9.04%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Jackson County, NC grew at a rate of 1.82%, from 19.1k employees to 19.5k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Jackson County, NC, are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,687 people), Educational Services (2,499 people), and Retail Trade (2,457 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Jackson County, NC, though some of these residents may live in Jackson County, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$37,289

Median earning men ± $2,547

$30,024

Median earning women ± $2,819

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Information ($71,116), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($66,504), and Wholesale Trade ($51,908).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Public Administration ($57,813), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($40,305), and Construction ($37,692).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Y-Axis

3.04%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 4.86M people employed in North Carolina. This represents a 3.04% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.9%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in North Carolina.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

117
Construction
94
Retail Trade
91
Other Services (except Public Administration)

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$191k
Accommodation and Food Services
$93.8k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$60.4k
Retail Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Education

In 2023, universities in Jackson County, NC awarded 4,311 degrees. The student population of Jackson County, NC in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 5,523 male students and 8,214 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Jackson County, NC are White (3,411 and 80.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (292 and 6.93%), Black or African American (183 and 4.34%), and American Indian or Alaska Native (125 and 2.97%).

The largest universities in Jackson County, NC by number of degrees awarded are Western Carolina University (3,458 and 80.2%) and Southwestern Community College (199731) (853 and 19.8%).

The most popular majors in Jackson County, NC are General Business Administration & Management (390 and 9.05%), Registered Nursing (302 and 7.01%), and Criminal Justice - Safety Studies (170 and 3.94%).

The median tuition cost in Jackson County, NC for a public four year colleges is $1,000 for in-state students and $5,000 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Jackson County, NC, the percentage of applicants admitted was 86.7%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 13.3%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 13,737 (40.2% men and 59.8% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 13,737 students enrolled in Jackson County, NC, 40.2% men and 59.8% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 10,348 records, of which 59.9% were women and 40.1% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
253 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
238 degrees awarded
Criminal Justice - Safety Studies
156 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Jackson County, NC was General Business Administration & Management with 253 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Jackson County, NC according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Western Carolina University
3,458 degrees awarded
Southwestern Community College (199731)
853 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Western Carolina University with 3,458 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 1,640 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Jackson County, NC, which is 0.614 times less than the 2,671 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 3,411 degrees mean that there were 11.7 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 292 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Public, 2-year ($5,472) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($3,532) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($1,460) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Measure

In 2023, 0.995% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.855% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2023 were High School or Equivalent (2.18M), Some college (1.81M), and Bachelors Degree (1.69M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Jackson County, NC was $253,900 in 2023, which is 0.837 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $240,500 to $253,900, a 5.57% increase. The homeownership rate in Jackson County, NC is 62.6%, which is lower than the national average of 65%.

People in Jackson County, NC have an average commute time of 20.6 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Jackson County, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Jackson County, NC is $53,479. In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Jackson County, NC was Census Tract 9502, Jackson County, NC with a value of $79,970, followed by Census Tract 9509, Jackson County, NC and Census Tract 9507, Jackson County, NC, with respective values of $79,423 and $58,243.

In 2024, 14.7% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Jackson County, NC. From 2014 to 2024, the indicator declined 1.6%.

Housing

Property

$253,900

Median Property Value 2023

±$14,754

$11,370

Median Property Taxes

±$810

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Jackson County, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Jackson County, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

62.6%

Homeownership

2023

69.9%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 62.6% of the housing units in Jackson County, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 62.1%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Jackson County, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9502, Jackson County, NC
Census Tract 9509, Jackson County, NC
Census Tract 9507, Jackson County, NC

In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Jackson County, NC was Census Tract 9502, Jackson County, NC with a value of $79,970, followed by Census Tract 9509, Jackson County, NC and Census Tract 9507, Jackson County, NC, with respective values of $79,423 and $58,243.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Jackson County, NC colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$53,479

Median Household Income

± $4,388

18.2k

Number of Households

± 1,224

In 2023, the median household income of the 18.2k households in Jackson County, NC grew to $53,479 from the previous year's value of $51,482.

The following chart displays the households in Jackson County, NC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Jackson County, NC is from Jackson County, NC.

N/A Wage GINI in N/A

In N/A, the income inequality in N/A was N/A according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a N/A N/A from N/A to N/A, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat N/A even. The GINI for N/A was N/A than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed N/A evenly in N/A in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Jackson County, NC across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (82.1%)
Carpooled (6.62%)
Worked At Home (5.96%)

In 2023, 82.1% of workers in Jackson County, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (6.62%) and those who worked at home (5.96%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

20.6 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Jackson County, NC have a shorter commute time (20.6 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 0.774% of the workforce in Jackson County, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Jackson County, NC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Jackson County, NC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Jackson County, NC have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2024, 14.7% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Jackson County, NC. From 2014 to 2024, the indicator declined 1.6%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

19.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Jackson County, NC (7.58k out of 39.2k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Jackson County, NC is White, followed by Hispanic and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2024, 18.6% of the children was living in poverty in Jackson County, NC. From 2014 to 2024, the indicator declined 11.1%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 214 in Jackson County, NC. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 176 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

84.8% of the population of Jackson County, NC has health coverage, with 36.3% on employee plans, 15.1% on Medicaid, 16.1% on Medicare, 15.3% on non-group plans, and 2.03% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Jackson County, NC see 1,400 patients per year on average, which represents a 11.3% increase from the previous year (1,258 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2261 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 211 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.3% were men and 50.7% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,400 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Jackson County, NC

Primary care physicians in Jackson County, NC see an average of 1,400 patients per year. This represents a 11.3% increase from the previous year (1,258 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Jackson County, NC in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 19% under 18 years, 26.8% between 18 and 34 years, 33.9% between 35 and 64 years, and 20.2% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.3% were men and 50.7% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

15.2%

Uninsured

36.3%

Employer Coverage

15.1%

Medicaid

16.1%

Medicare

15.3%

Non-Group

2.03%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Jackson County, NC grew by 0.872% from 15.1% to 15.2%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Jackson County, NC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2021, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 48.2 in Jackson County, NC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Jackson County, NC.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2024, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 36.5% in Jackson County, NC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Jackson County, NC.