Population 37,941 · 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 Macon County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Macon County
Household size in Macon County
| Period | Macon County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.07 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.16 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.17 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.10 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Macon County is a place of small households, averaging 2.10 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the south. Only two of North Carolina's 100 counties 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 Macon County
| Period | Macon County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.1 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.5 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.3 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.6 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.5 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 49.6, Macon 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 46.1 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Few North Carolina counties are older: only nine of 100.
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 Macon County
| Period | Macon County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Macon County: 6.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 3.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Few North Carolina counties have a lower share of single-parent households: only five of 100.
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 Macon County
Renters in Macon County
| Period | Macon County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.2% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.7% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.1% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.4% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Macon County is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over half of owners (51.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged down 0.8 points since 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 Macon County
| Period | Macon County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.5% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.9% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 32.5% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.9% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 26.9% of the housing in Macon 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. Vacancy is down 4.6 points from 2006–10, 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 Macon County
| Period | Macon County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Macon County are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1987, versus 1980 across the U.S. The picture is much the same across North Carolina. The median year built has moved up from 1983 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 Macon County
| Period | Macon County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $662 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $779 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $761 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $822 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$160 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Macon County costs $822 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $160 a month since 2006–10, up 24%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 27.2% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the northwest.
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 Macon County
Bachelor's degrees in Macon County
| Period | Macon County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.6% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.8% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.5% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.3% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.7 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a quarter of adults 25 and older in Macon County (27.3%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.7 points, as it has nationally. 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 Macon County
| Period | Macon County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.7% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.6% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.8% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.2 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Macon County have finished high school as nationally: 89.9%, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 7.2 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 Macon County
| Period | Macon County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Macon County has been strong: just 2.9% 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 three have lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 4.8 points, as it has nationally.
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).
Macon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macon County | 2.10 | 49.6 | 6.2% | 22.4% | 26.9% | 1987 | $822 | 27.3% | 89.9% | 2.9% |
| Clay County | 2.28 | 56.5 | 5.8% | 18.8% | 32.5% | 1989 | $773 | 32.3% | 92.7% | 3.3% |
| Transylvania County | 2.27 | 49.5 | 8.8% | 25.3% | 20.7% | 1982 | $1,225 | 38.9% | 93.7% | 2.8% |
| Cherokee County | 2.22 | 53.5 | 8.6% | 16.3% | 25.9% | 1993 | $880 | 24.8% | 92.4% | 3.5% |
| Polk County | 2.45 | 44.7 | 9.3% | 16.4% | 17.8% | 1989 | $733 | 16.5% | 85.8% | 5.4% |
| Polk County | 2.22 | 52.9 | 7.8% | 23.1% | 17.9% | 1984 | $1,310 | 34.3% | 92.3% | 5.2% |
| Bradley County | 2.58 | 40.6 | 10.8% | 32.7% | 8.3% | 1986 | $1,068 | 25.1% | 88.6% | 6.4% |
| Cherokee County | 2.57 | 40.2 | 13.4% | 26.2% | 13.2% | 1984 | $856 | 19.7% | 85.2% | 6.4% |
| Hamilton County | 2.47 | 40.5 | 10.7% | 36.1% | 9.1% | 1981 | $1,317 | 36.9% | 90.8% | 4.7% |
| Cleveland County | 2.62 | 41.4 | 13.9% | 29.1% | 12.7% | 1980 | $966 | 21.7% | 88.2% | 5.1% |
| Gaston County | 2.52 | 40.2 | 13.9% | 33.2% | 8.7% | 1984 | $1,249 | 26.9% | 88.5% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: West Baton Rouge Parish, LA · Coamo Municipio, PR · Coffee County, GA · Coles County, IL · Colquitt County, GA · Williamsburg County, SC · White County, TN · White County, GA · Wexford County, MI · Clinton County, PA
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 Macon 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.
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.