Population 8,398 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Bryson City: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Bryson City
Household size in Bryson City
| Period | Bryson City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.27 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.59 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.41 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.20 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Bryson City is a place of small households, averaging 2.20 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 2.27 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 24 have smaller households.
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 Bryson City
| Period | Bryson City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.4 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.1 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.3 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.8 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.6 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Bryson City is 43.8 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has edged down from 44.4 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the north and oldest in the southwest.
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 Bryson City
| Period | Bryson City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Bryson City as they are nationally: 11.9%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 2.1 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Bryson City
Renters in Bryson City
| Period | Bryson City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.2% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.6% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.5% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.6% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Bryson City own their homes; 28.6% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. About six in ten owners (60.4%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the west. The renter share has risen 4.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Bryson City
| Period | Bryson City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.5% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 39.5% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 39.6% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.7% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 31.7% of the housing in Bryson City, 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 fallen 1.8 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Bryson City
| Period | Bryson City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +7 | +6 |
Bryson City has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1988, versus 1980 nationally. North Carolina as a whole looks much the same. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Bryson City
| Period | Bryson City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $661 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $699 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $705 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $718 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$57 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in Bryson City pays $718 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $57 a month from 2006–10, a 9% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 25.8% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the north and lowest in the southwest.
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 Bryson City
Bachelor's degrees in Bryson City
| Period | Bryson City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.3% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.7% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.8% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Bryson City: 22.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 3.4 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the north.
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 Bryson City
| Period | Bryson City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.8% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.6% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.4% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.4% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Bryson City never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.7 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Bryson City
| Period | Bryson City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Bryson City: 7.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Bryson City has higher unemployment than the great majority of North Carolina cities. 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).
Bryson City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryson City | 2.20 | 43.8 | 11.9% | 28.6% | 31.7% | 1988 | $718 | 22.8% | 85.4% | 7.0% |
| Ela | 2.48 | 44.3 | 9.1% | 15.8% | 46.6% | 1991 | $795 | 28.4% | 85.7% | 6.4% |
| Needmore | 2.18 | 50.0 | 8.4% | 33.2% | 41.9% | 1987 | $452 | 18.4% | 83.3% | 2.0% |
| Leatherman | 1.99 | 52.9 | 5.0% | 6.8% | 45.3% | 1986 | $648 | 26.3% | 94.3% | 2.1% |
| Whittier | 2.34 | 46.9 | 11.3% | 27.0% | 25.6% | 1992 | $930 | 23.6% | 86.9% | 4.7% |
| Barkers Creek | 2.23 | 51.8 | 12.0% | 5.6% | 40.3% | 1993 | $810 | 25.3% | 95.6% | 0.0% |
| Cherokee | 2.37 | 39.2 | 21.5% | 27.0% | 19.0% | 1991 | $880 | 22.4% | 89.0% | 9.1% |
| Gay | 1.85 | 47.9 | 13.0% | 1.8% | 25.8% | 1981 | $810 | 20.1% | 98.8% | 0.0% |
| Almond | 2.17 | 41.9 | 6.2% | 38.1% | 48.4% | 1995 | $814 | 20.4% | 92.0% | 23.4% |
| Dillsboro | 2.16 | 48.7 | 9.7% | 40.2% | 34.5% | 1988 | $869 | 28.0% | 92.7% | 3.8% |
| Tuskeegee | 1.95 | 54.9 | 3.6% | 19.1% | 47.2% | 1993 | $888 | 22.0% | 88.9% | 14.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rainsville, AL · Iron Station, NC · Irvington, NY · Island Park, NY · Iuka, MS · Ivins, UT · Quinton, VA · Quitman, GA · Raiford, FL · Inverness, IL
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 Bryson City. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.