Population 9,241 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Spruce Pine
Household size in Spruce Pine
| Period | Spruce Pine | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.20 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.29 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.22 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Spruce Pine are small: just 2.22 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. Only 32 of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people 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 Spruce Pine
| Period | Spruce Pine | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.2 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.7 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.7 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Spruce Pine skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.2, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 43.2 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Spruce Pine
| Period | Spruce Pine | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Spruce Pine: 7.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.2 points, even as the national share fell. Spruce Pine has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five North Carolina cities.
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 Spruce Pine
Renters in Spruce Pine
| Period | Spruce Pine | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.0% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.5% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.7% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.2% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.8 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a quarter of households in Spruce Pine rent their homes (25.2%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 59.6% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 5.8 points, 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 Spruce Pine
| Period | Spruce Pine | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 24.7% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.0% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Spruce Pine: 21.0% 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. Vacancy has edged up 0.6 points since 2006–10, 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 Spruce Pine
| Period | Spruce Pine | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +7 | +6 |
The typical home in Spruce Pine was built around 1983, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (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 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the northwest.
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 Spruce Pine
| Period | Spruce Pine | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $570 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $672 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $690 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $804 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$234 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Spruce Pine costs $804 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $234 a month since 2006–10, up 41%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 21.1% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the northeast.
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 Spruce Pine
Bachelor's degrees in Spruce Pine
| Period | Spruce Pine | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.8% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.6% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.8% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.6% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Spruce Pine have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.6%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 5.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the northeast.
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 Spruce Pine
| Period | Spruce Pine | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.9% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.0% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.7% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.6% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.7 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Spruce Pine is close to the national rate: 90.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 11.7 points, as it has 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 Spruce Pine
| Period | Spruce Pine | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Spruce Pine is close to the national rate: 5.1% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.8 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).
Spruce Pine 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spruce Pine | 2.22 | 45.2 | 7.3% | 25.2% | 21.0% | 1983 | $804 | 21.6% | 90.6% | 5.1% |
| Estatoe | 2.46 | 50.5 | 5.1% | 18.5% | 28.1% | 1987 | $900 | 26.9% | 92.4% | 5.3% |
| Little Switzerland | 2.53 | 36.5 | 14.1% | 36.4% | 21.6% | 1985 | $865 | 12.7% | 78.9% | 19.7% |
| Linville Falls | 2.47 | 42.8 | 3.4% | 25.8% | 36.4% | 1992 | $599 | 9.5% | 84.1% | 0.0% |
| Sevier | 2.59 | 34.3 | 16.1% | 41.1% | 23.5% | 1983 | $825 | 8.9% | 74.0% | 23.6% |
| North Cove | 2.33 | 40.0 | 17.0% | 19.0% | 27.3% | 1985 | $828 | 5.7% | 85.9% | 6.1% |
| Cane Creek | 2.47 | 52.8 | 6.7% | 16.6% | 19.9% | 1984 | $784 | 29.0% | 92.0% | 15.8% |
| Bakersville | 2.25 | 49.7 | 7.8% | 23.9% | 27.4% | 1974 | $847 | 22.7% | 88.7% | 6.8% |
| Jonas Ridge | 1.83 | 60.3 | 4.2% | 10.7% | 45.5% | 1973 | $961 | 10.3% | 84.7% | 6.8% |
| Crossnore | 2.77 | 40.0 | 2.8% | 7.8% | 19.0% | 1983 | $767 | 37.5% | 91.3% | 1.4% |
| Newland | 2.14 | 53.0 | 5.8% | 15.0% | 42.3% | 1985 | $861 | 23.1% | 89.9% | 4.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bonadelle Ranchos-Madera Ranchos, CA · West Branch, MI · West Athens, CA · Wernersville, PA · Wenonah, NJ · Wells, ME · Wellington, OH · Webster City, IA · Waterville, OH · Watchung, NJ
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 Spruce Pine. 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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