Population 8,072 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Graham County
Household size in Graham County
| Period | Graham County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.29 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.54 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.48 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Graham County are small: just 2.33 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 crept up from 2.29, 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 Graham County
| Period | Graham County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.5 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.3 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.6 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.1 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.4 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Graham County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.1, 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 edged down from 45.5, even as the national median rose.
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 Graham County
| Period | Graham County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.3% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in ten households in Graham County (9.3%), below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Graham County
Renters in Graham County
| Period | Graham County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.1% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.0% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.3% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 19.3% of households in Graham County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 65.0% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 2.8 points from 2006–10, 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 Graham County
| Period | Graham County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 42.0% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 41.2% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.4% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 27.4% of the housing in Graham County, 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 5.0 points, mirroring the country.
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 Graham County
| Period | Graham County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Graham County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1988, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1982 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the southeast has the oldest housing.
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 Graham County
| Period | Graham County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $450 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $624 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $710 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $660 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$210 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Graham County costs $660 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $210 a month since 2006–10, up 47%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 22.7% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Graham County has the lowest rents of any North Carolina county.
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 Graham County
Bachelor's degrees in Graham County
| Period | Graham County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.8% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.0% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Graham County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 17.0%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.6 points, in line with the national trend. Graham County has a lower share of college graduates than the great majority of North Carolina counties.
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 Graham County
| Period | Graham County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.6% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 78.5% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 81.0% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.8% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.2 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Graham County is close to the national rate: 87.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in North Carolina overall (90.2%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 8.2 points, mirroring the country.
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 Graham County
| Period | Graham County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in Graham County than nationally: unemployment was 6.8%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Graham County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graham County | 2.33 | 45.1 | 9.3% | 19.3% | 27.4% | 1988 | $660 | 17.0% | 87.8% | 6.8% |
| Swain County | 2.31 | 41.5 | 15.2% | 27.3% | 27.3% | 1989 | $703 | 21.4% | 86.8% | 7.9% |
| Jackson County | 2.18 | 40.8 | 11.4% | 39.2% | 23.3% | 1991 | $960 | 32.3% | 91.7% | 5.5% |
| McMinn County | 2.55 | 43.2 | 12.8% | 24.2% | 12.5% | 1981 | $864 | 18.6% | 87.4% | 5.0% |
| Transylvania County | 2.27 | 49.5 | 8.8% | 25.3% | 20.7% | 1982 | $1,225 | 38.9% | 93.7% | 2.8% |
| Henderson County | 2.37 | 47.1 | 10.5% | 25.0% | 11.9% | 1989 | $1,256 | 35.6% | 90.9% | 3.5% |
| Sequatchie County | 2.67 | 45.8 | 11.1% | 22.0% | 11.7% | 1993 | $778 | 20.3% | 83.1% | 7.3% |
| Polk County | 2.22 | 52.9 | 7.8% | 23.1% | 17.9% | 1984 | $1,310 | 34.3% | 92.3% | 5.2% |
| Rutherford County | 2.44 | 44.9 | 12.5% | 26.1% | 15.9% | 1981 | $815 | 21.2% | 87.4% | 6.0% |
| Grundy County | 2.66 | 43.1 | 10.2% | 16.3% | 17.2% | 1986 | $718 | 14.7% | 82.2% | 10.6% |
| Cleveland County | 2.62 | 41.4 | 13.9% | 29.1% | 12.7% | 1980 | $966 | 21.7% | 88.2% | 5.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Haskell County, OK · Hardin County, IL · Harding County, NM · Harding County, SD · Hardy County, WV · Harney County, OR · Harper County, KS · Harper County, OK · Harrison County, IA · Harrison County, OH
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 Graham County. 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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