Population 62,662 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Haywood County
Household size in Haywood County
| Period | Haywood County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.17 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.23 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.29 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.16 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Haywood County is a place of small households, averaging 2.33 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has climbed from 2.17 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the south.
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 Haywood County
| Period | Haywood County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.0 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.7 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.5 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.7 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.7, Haywood County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 46.0 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the west.
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 Haywood County
| Period | Haywood County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.5% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Haywood County than nationally: 9.5%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 0.9 points since 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 Haywood County
Renters in Haywood County
| Period | Haywood County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.8% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.1% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.0% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.1% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a quarter of households in Haywood County rent their homes (25.1%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. About half of owners (49.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the south; owners are most common in the northwest.
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 Haywood County
| Period | Haywood County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.8% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.0% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.9% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.9% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 21.9% of the housing in Haywood 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 risen 2.1 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 Haywood County
| Period | Haywood County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Haywood County are the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1980. Homes here are older than in North Carolina overall, where the median home dates to 1990. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the south 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 Haywood County
| Period | Haywood County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $680 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $768 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $791 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,069 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$390 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Haywood County costs $1,069 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $390 a month since 2006–10, up 57%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 32.3% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the east.
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 Haywood County
Bachelor's degrees in Haywood County
| Period | Haywood County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.8% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.8% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.1% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.6% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.8 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
About three in ten adults 25 and older in Haywood County (29.6%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 8.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the east.
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 Haywood County
| Period | Haywood County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.3% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.0% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.2% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.3% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Haywood County is a bit above the national rate: 91.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. North Carolina as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 7.0 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 Haywood County
| Period | Haywood County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Haywood County has been low: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of North Carolina's 100 counties, only eight have lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 3.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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).
Haywood 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haywood County | 2.33 | 47.7 | 9.5% | 25.1% | 21.9% | 1980 | $1,069 | 29.6% | 91.3% | 3.3% |
| Buncombe County | 2.70 | 43.5 | 9.2% | 33.8% | 23.3% | 1988 | $1,316 | 45.2% | 92.6% | 4.1% |
| Swain County | 2.31 | 41.5 | 15.2% | 27.3% | 27.3% | 1989 | $703 | 21.4% | 86.8% | 7.9% |
| McDowell County | 2.38 | 44.8 | 10.8% | 24.4% | 14.5% | 1983 | $823 | 17.4% | 85.4% | 3.9% |
| Monroe County | 2.44 | 44.7 | 13.3% | 27.8% | 9.9% | 1989 | $748 | 16.3% | 85.3% | 4.5% |
| McMinn County | 2.55 | 43.2 | 12.8% | 24.2% | 12.5% | 1981 | $864 | 18.6% | 87.4% | 5.0% |
| Catawba County | 2.48 | 41.6 | 12.8% | 27.8% | 9.8% | 1984 | $1,007 | 25.9% | 88.0% | 3.7% |
| Lincoln County | 2.56 | 44.8 | 10.2% | 21.1% | 7.4% | 1993 | $1,145 | 29.3% | 90.0% | 3.6% |
| Meigs County | 2.56 | 45.4 | 5.7% | 19.0% | 15.2% | 1994 | $875 | 13.6% | 84.8% | 5.9% |
| Rhea County | 2.50 | 42.2 | 13.2% | 28.5% | 12.4% | 1989 | $903 | 18.6% | 83.4% | 5.2% |
| Iredell County | 2.62 | 40.9 | 10.5% | 28.1% | 9.3% | 1994 | $1,373 | 35.2% | 91.8% | 4.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: York County, VA · Whiteside County, IL · Wilkes County, NC · Williamson County, IL · Windsor County, VT · Box Elder County, UT · Boone County, IN · Boone County, IL · Blue Earth County, MN · Blount County, AL
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 Haywood 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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