Population 359 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Unaka
Household size in Unaka
| Period | Unaka | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.45 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.32 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.37 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Unaka are small: just 2.37 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.
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 Unaka
| Period | Unaka | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.6 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.4 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.5 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 58.4 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.7 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Unaka skews older: half of its residents are older than 58.4, 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 50.6 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Unaka
| Period | Unaka | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.5 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Unaka: 4.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 Unaka
Renters in Unaka
| Period | Unaka | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.8% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.7% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +13.9 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 15.7% of households in Unaka rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About six in ten owners (58.7%) have paid off their mortgages, 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 Unaka
| Period | Unaka | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.2% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 54.0% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 42.6% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 48.8% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 48.8% of the housing in Unaka, 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 Unaka
| Period | Unaka | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1989 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1989 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1991 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Unaka 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.
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 Unaka
| Period | Unaka | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $452 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $619 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $732 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,334 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$882 | +$528 | +$606 |
Rent in Unaka runs $1,334 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. North Carolina as a whole looks much the same. The typical renter here spends 31.8% of household income on rent, just over 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 Unaka
Bachelor's degrees in Unaka
| Period | Unaka | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.8% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.4% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.6% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Unaka: 16.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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 Unaka
| Period | Unaka | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.5% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.4% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.1% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.3% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Unaka have finished high school as nationally: 88.3%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in North Carolina overall (90.2%).
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 Unaka
| Period | Unaka | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.7% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Unaka has been strong: just 1.7% 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).
Unaka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaka | 2.37 | 58.4 | 4.0% | 15.7% | 48.8% | 1987 | $1,334 | 16.6% | 88.3% | 1.7% |
| Ogreeta | 2.22 | 64.4 | 4.2% | 8.5% | 60.5% | 1988 | $1,228 | 26.9% | 93.0% | 0.2% |
| Violet | 2.24 | 65.9 | 3.9% | 7.8% | 63.4% | 1984 | $1,279 | 27.6% | 92.1% | 0.0% |
| Grape Creek | 2.44 | 52.8 | 4.3% | 19.4% | 38.1% | 1991 | $1,334 | 9.4% | 86.6% | 2.8% |
| Vests | 2.14 | 63.3 | 6.5% | 6.6% | 53.1% | 2000 | $1,038 | 25.8% | 96.1% | 0.9% |
| Cokercreek | 2.16 | 55.1 | 7.9% | 5.5% | 27.9% | 1999 | $778 | 15.4% | 92.4% | 8.2% |
| Oak Park | 2.21 | 56.3 | 5.0% | 5.7% | 45.5% | 2002 | $1,037 | 23.9% | 95.9% | 0.0% |
| Letitia | 2.26 | 62.2 | 8.9% | 8.2% | 40.8% | 2003 | $1,026 | 16.9% | 92.5% | 2.7% |
| Murphy | 2.22 | 54.7 | 6.7% | 16.4% | 27.0% | 1995 | $905 | 26.2% | 93.2% | 2.9% |
| Smithfield | 2.16 | 55.1 | 7.9% | 5.5% | 27.9% | 1999 | $778 | 15.4% | 92.4% | 8.2% |
| Regal | 2.06 | 51.8 | 2.2% | 5.2% | 20.0% | 1993 | $971 | 26.7% | 98.4% | 2.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Powellsville, OH · Norway Center, SD · Oak Bowery, MS · Oakland, AL · Oakview, MO · Oakville, PA · Ocean Springs, FL · Ohkay Owingeh, NM · Ormsby, MN · Palmer, 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 Unaka. 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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