Population 33,691 · 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 Transylvania County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Transylvania County
Household size in Transylvania County
| Period | Transylvania County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.22 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.37 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.25 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.27 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Transylvania County is a place of small households, averaging 2.27 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.22, even as the national average fell. Transylvania County has smaller households than at least four in five North Carolina counties.
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 Transylvania County
| Period | Transylvania County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.9 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.5 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.7 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.5 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.6 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Transylvania County skews older: half of its residents are older than 49.5, 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 crept up from 48.9, a smaller shift than 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 Transylvania County
| Period | Transylvania County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Transylvania County than nationally: 8.8%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 2.3 points from 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 Transylvania County
Renters in Transylvania County
| Period | Transylvania County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.4% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.5% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.0% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.3% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a quarter of households in Transylvania County rent their homes (25.3%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 51.1% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the north; owners are most common in the east. The renter share is up 1.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Transylvania County
| Period | Transylvania County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.9% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.1% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.2% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.7% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Transylvania County: 20.7% 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 is down 1.2 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 Transylvania County
| Period | Transylvania County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Transylvania County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1982, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in North Carolina overall, where the median home dates to 1990. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the center 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 Transylvania County
| Period | Transylvania County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $632 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $652 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $818 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,225 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$593 | +$528 | +$606 |
Rent in Transylvania County runs $1,225 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $593 a month since 2006–10, up 94%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 28.2% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the south.
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 Transylvania County
Bachelor's degrees in Transylvania County
| Period | Transylvania County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.0% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.9% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.5% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 38.9% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.9 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in Transylvania County (38.9%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 11.9 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the west.
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 Transylvania County
| Period | Transylvania County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.6% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.7% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.8% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.7% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.1 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Transylvania County is above the national rate: 93.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 7.1 points, in line with the national trend. Only six of North Carolina's 100 counties have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 Transylvania County
| Period | Transylvania County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Transylvania County has been low: just 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Few North Carolina counties have lower unemployment: only two of 100. Unemployment has fallen 4.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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).
Transylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Jackson County | 2.18 | 40.8 | 11.4% | 39.2% | 23.3% | 1991 | $960 | 32.3% | 91.7% | 5.5% |
| Polk County | 2.22 | 52.9 | 7.8% | 23.1% | 17.9% | 1984 | $1,310 | 34.3% | 92.3% | 5.2% |
| Macon County | 2.10 | 49.6 | 6.2% | 22.4% | 26.9% | 1987 | $822 | 27.3% | 89.9% | 2.9% |
| Rutherford County | 2.44 | 44.9 | 12.5% | 26.1% | 15.9% | 1981 | $815 | 21.2% | 87.4% | 6.0% |
| Graham County | 2.33 | 45.1 | 9.3% | 19.3% | 27.4% | 1988 | $660 | 17.0% | 87.8% | 6.8% |
| Cleveland County | 2.62 | 41.4 | 13.9% | 29.1% | 12.7% | 1980 | $966 | 21.7% | 88.2% | 5.1% |
| Cherokee County | 2.22 | 53.5 | 8.6% | 16.3% | 25.9% | 1993 | $880 | 24.8% | 92.4% | 3.5% |
| Gaston County | 2.52 | 40.2 | 13.9% | 33.2% | 8.7% | 1984 | $1,249 | 26.9% | 88.5% | 4.9% |
| Polk County | 2.45 | 44.7 | 9.3% | 16.4% | 17.8% | 1989 | $733 | 16.5% | 85.8% | 5.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Meade County, SD · Pine County, MN · Pike County, OH · Pike County, MS · Pike County, AL · Pierce County, WI · Pickens County, GA · Pettis County, MO · Petersburg City, VA · Person County, NC
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 Transylvania 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.