Population 5,747 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Cherokee
Household size in Cherokee
| Period | Cherokee | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.64 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.75 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.55 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.37 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.27 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Cherokee are small: just 2.37 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.64, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Cherokee
| Period | Cherokee | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.5 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.3 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.6 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.7 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Cherokee are younger than 39.2 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 31.5, a much bigger shift than nationally. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Cherokee
| Period | Cherokee | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.5% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.2% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 17.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 21.5% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Cherokee: 21.5% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 2.0 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only two of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people have a higher 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 Cherokee
Renters in Cherokee
| Period | Cherokee | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.4% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.9% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.6% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.0% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a quarter of households in Cherokee rent their homes (27.0%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Just over three-quarters of owners (77.3%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Cherokee
| Period | Cherokee | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.3% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.9% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 25.1% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.0% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Cherokee: 19.0% 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 fallen 5.4 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 Cherokee
| Period | Cherokee | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1984 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +7 | +6 |
Cherokee has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1991, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1984 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the northeast.
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 Cherokee
| Period | Cherokee | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $685 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $568 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $630 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $880 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$195 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in Cherokee pays $880 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $195 a month from 2006–10, a 28% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 20.4% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the south and lowest in the north.
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 Cherokee
Bachelor's degrees in Cherokee
| Period | Cherokee | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.4% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.0% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.4% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.9 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Cherokee: 22.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 8.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast 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 Cherokee
| Period | Cherokee | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.8% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.1% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.6% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.0% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +17.2 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Cherokee have finished high school as nationally: 89.0%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 17.2 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 Cherokee
| Period | Cherokee | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Cherokee runs well above the national rate: 9.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 13 have higher unemployment. 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).
Cherokee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee | 2.37 | 39.2 | 21.5% | 27.0% | 19.0% | 1991 | $880 | 22.4% | 89.0% | 9.1% |
| Airport | 2.62 | 35.4 | 23.8% | 24.8% | 11.3% | 1986 | $753 | 19.1% | 82.8% | 15.1% |
| Whittier | 2.34 | 46.9 | 11.3% | 27.0% | 25.6% | 1992 | $930 | 23.6% | 86.9% | 4.7% |
| Ela | 2.48 | 44.3 | 9.1% | 15.8% | 46.6% | 1991 | $795 | 28.4% | 85.7% | 6.4% |
| Dillsboro | 2.16 | 48.7 | 9.7% | 40.2% | 34.5% | 1988 | $869 | 28.0% | 92.7% | 3.8% |
| Barkers Creek | 2.23 | 51.8 | 12.0% | 5.6% | 40.3% | 1993 | $810 | 25.3% | 95.6% | 0.0% |
| Sylva | 2.19 | 43.1 | 13.1% | 34.9% | 15.1% | 1985 | $888 | 28.5% | 90.4% | 3.4% |
| Bryson City | 2.20 | 43.8 | 11.9% | 28.6% | 31.7% | 1988 | $718 | 22.8% | 85.4% | 7.0% |
| Webster | 2.62 | 34.2 | 25.3% | 53.0% | 7.5% | 1987 | $767 | 35.5% | 90.1% | 5.9% |
| Gay | 1.85 | 47.9 | 13.0% | 1.8% | 25.8% | 1981 | $810 | 20.1% | 98.8% | 0.0% |
| Balsam | 2.14 | 51.6 | 10.3% | 22.9% | 31.5% | 1982 | $1,146 | 39.2% | 90.8% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Palmer, TX · Lacy-Lakeview, TX · Lagrangeville, NY · Lake Carmel, NY · Lawton, MI · Lebanon, CT · Lebanon, IL · Lebanon, VA · Leesport, PA · Ligonier, IN
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 Cherokee. 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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