Population 9,849 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Black Mountain
Household size in Black Mountain
| Period | Black Mountain | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.24 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.13 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.48 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.14 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Black Mountain run small, averaging 2.48 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The picture is much the same across North Carolina. Household size has climbed from 2.34 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Black Mountain
| Period | Black Mountain | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.1 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.2 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 51.4 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 52.9 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +10.8 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Black Mountain skews older: half of its residents are older than 52.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.1, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 16 are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Black Mountain
| Period | Black Mountain | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Black Mountain: 4.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 4.2 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 15 have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Black Mountain
Renters in Black Mountain
| Period | Black Mountain | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.4% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 39.4% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.6% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.4% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Black Mountain own their homes; 26.4% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 43.7% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the center. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 4.0 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Black Mountain
| Period | Black Mountain | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.6% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.1% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.8% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +17.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Black Mountain: 32.8% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 17.4 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Black Mountain
| Period | Black Mountain | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Black Mountain is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1984, against 1980 nationally. Still, homes here are older than in North Carolina overall, where the median home dates to 1990. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the north.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Black Mountain
| Period | Black Mountain | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $745 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $779 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $887 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,352 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$608 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Black Mountain costs $1,352 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $608 a month since 2006–10, up 82%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 31.7% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southeast; the highest are in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Black Mountain
Bachelor's degrees in Black Mountain
| Period | Black Mountain | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.3% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.5% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.0% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 53.2% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +17.9 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Black Mountain is highly educated: just over half of adults 25 and older (53.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 17.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 25 have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Black Mountain
| Period | Black Mountain | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.5% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.7% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.5% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.6% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Black Mountain is a bit above the national rate: 91.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. North Carolina as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma is up 4.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Black Mountain
| Period | Black Mountain | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Black Mountain runs below the national rate: 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 5.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Black Mountain compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Mountain | 2.48 | 52.9 | 4.9% | 26.4% | 32.8% | 1984 | $1,352 | 53.2% | 91.6% | 3.7% |
| Ridgecrest | 2.15 | 39.0 | 5.6% | 29.2% | 45.8% | 1981 | $1,156 | 48.2% | 91.2% | 11.9% |
| Montreat | 2.21 | 33.3 | 3.6% | 37.2% | 52.6% | 1977 | $1,373 | 50.6% | 94.6% | 5.3% |
| Graphite | 2.52 | 44.4 | 5.6% | 34.5% | 47.9% | 1974 | $1,031 | 46.5% | 92.7% | 2.4% |
| Swannanoa | 3.07 | 43.2 | 9.0% | 24.4% | 20.0% | 1986 | $936 | 36.8% | 85.9% | 5.2% |
| Summerhaven | 3.49 | 38.5 | 7.3% | 18.7% | 21.4% | 1985 | $767 | 39.2% | 76.0% | 9.6% |
| Fairview | 2.68 | 47.8 | 10.3% | 15.8% | 24.0% | 1996 | $1,241 | 50.2% | 97.3% | 2.0% |
| Gerton | 2.22 | 54.7 | 6.3% | 24.7% | 44.3% | 1993 | $604 | 39.9% | 88.8% | 4.8% |
| Old Fort | 2.16 | 52.7 | 6.0% | 22.8% | 13.5% | 1986 | $828 | 23.1% | 92.7% | 8.5% |
| Moffitt Hill | 2.23 | 54.3 | 6.9% | 10.5% | 24.2% | 1990 | $855 | 26.7% | 90.2% | 21.4% |
| Dillingham | 2.12 | 42.2 | 4.3% | 36.3% | 33.5% | 1984 | $1,003 | 33.7% | 85.0% | 0.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Frostburg, MD · Woodmoor, CO · Dobbs Ferry, NY · Dowagiac, MI · Ellettsville, IN · Elwood, IN · Fort Salonga, NY · Fort Scott, KS · Fox Lake, IL · Woods Cross, UT
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Black Mountain. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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