Population 1,877 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Penrose
Household size in Penrose
| Period | Penrose | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.02 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.30 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.20 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.18 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Penrose are small: just 2.20 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 climbed from 2.02, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Penrose
| Period | Penrose | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.4 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.6 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 53.8 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 57.6 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +11.2 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Penrose skews older: half of its residents are older than 57.6, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
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 Penrose
| Period | Penrose | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Penrose (10.1%), a little below the national share of 11.6%.
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 Penrose
Renters in Penrose
| Period | Penrose | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.3% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.1% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 11.4% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −9.8 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Penrose is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 11.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 61.2% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Penrose
| Period | Penrose | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.8% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.6% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.3% of the housing in Penrose, 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.
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 Penrose
| Period | Penrose | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1992 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Penrose are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1987, versus 1980 across the U.S. North Carolina as a whole looks much the same.
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 Penrose
| Period | Penrose | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $771 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $630 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $701 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,084 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$313 | +$528 | +$606 |
Rent in Penrose runs $1,084 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 20.6% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Penrose
Bachelor's degrees in Penrose
| Period | Penrose | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.2% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.5% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.5% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.0% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Penrose (33.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in North Carolina overall (36.2%).
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 Penrose
| Period | Penrose | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.9% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.2% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.9% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.5% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Penrose: 94.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Penrose
| Period | Penrose | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.4% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.0% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.0% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Penrose has been strong: just 2.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Penrose 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penrose | 2.20 | 57.6 | 10.1% | 11.4% | 14.3% | 1987 | $1,084 | 33.0% | 94.5% | 2.0% |
| Little River | 2.14 | 58.3 | 6.3% | 9.7% | 15.4% | 1987 | $1,071 | 34.6% | 95.0% | 1.6% |
| Pisgah Forest | 2.60 | 49.2 | 9.3% | 14.9% | 21.8% | 1985 | $1,036 | 35.7% | 94.8% | 2.9% |
| Etowah | 2.28 | 50.5 | 6.2% | 13.3% | 9.7% | 1990 | $1,419 | 39.2% | 95.1% | 2.5% |
| Horse Shoe | 2.42 | 46.0 | 6.2% | 13.1% | 10.8% | 1989 | $1,567 | 39.4% | 95.1% | 5.6% |
| Cedar Mountain | 2.01 | 61.6 | 2.4% | 5.6% | 24.2% | 1988 | $1,129 | 38.5% | 94.2% | 1.0% |
| Laurel Park | 2.27 | 55.6 | 6.5% | 19.7% | 16.2% | 1979 | $1,915 | 57.9% | 96.7% | 4.1% |
| North Brevard | 2.03 | 62.2 | 5.8% | 26.2% | 13.2% | 1985 | $673 | 40.1% | 95.4% | 3.0% |
| Brevard | 2.10 | 49.4 | 7.4% | 32.1% | 15.3% | 1978 | $1,402 | 44.4% | 95.0% | 2.3% |
| Valley Hill | 2.50 | 48.2 | 5.1% | 15.9% | 12.5% | 1987 | $1,684 | 43.5% | 93.8% | 0.4% |
| Zirconia | 2.29 | 50.0 | 9.3% | 11.7% | 16.1% | 1993 | $1,027 | 27.8% | 95.6% | 8.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Thackerville, OK · Fruitvale, TX · Fultonville, NY · Galatia, IL · Galien, MI · Garnerville, NY · Gilman, IL · Valley Falls, NY · Tombstone, AZ · White Plains, KY
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 Penrose. 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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