Population 6,732 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Jefferson
Household size in West Jefferson
| Period | West Jefferson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.22 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.17 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.17 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.09 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
West Jefferson is a place of small households, averaging 2.09 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.22 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only ten 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 West Jefferson
| Period | West Jefferson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.3 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.6 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.3 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.4 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.1 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
West Jefferson skews older: half of its residents are older than 50.4, 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 43.3 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only 26 of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people are older.
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 West Jefferson
| Period | West Jefferson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in West Jefferson: 7.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 4.4 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. West Jefferson 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 West Jefferson
Renters in West Jefferson
| Period | West Jefferson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.1% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.5% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.1% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.5% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.6 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
West Jefferson is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over four in ten owners (41.7%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share has fallen 5.6 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 West Jefferson
| Period | West Jefferson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.1% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.1% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 24.1% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.5% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in West Jefferson: 23.5% 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. Only 26 of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people have a higher vacancy rate.
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 West Jefferson
| Period | West Jefferson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +7 | +6 |
The typical home in West Jefferson 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 West Jefferson
| Period | West Jefferson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $541 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $642 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $718 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $766 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$225 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in West Jefferson costs $766 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $225 a month since 2006–10, up 42%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.7% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are in the west.
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 West Jefferson
Bachelor's degrees in West Jefferson
| Period | West Jefferson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.0% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.6% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.4% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.7% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.7 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a quarter of adults 25 and older in West Jefferson (27.7%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 10.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the northwest.
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 West Jefferson
| Period | West Jefferson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.8% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.1% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.7% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.1% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.2 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in West Jefferson is above the national rate: 93.1% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 12.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 West Jefferson
| Period | West Jefferson | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in West Jefferson is close to the national rate: 6.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in North Carolina as a whole (4.8%). Unemployment is down 2.5 points from 2006–10, 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).
West Jefferson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Jefferson | 2.09 | 50.4 | 7.2% | 20.5% | 23.5% | 1983 | $766 | 27.7% | 93.1% | 6.0% |
| Jefferson | 2.23 | 48.7 | 8.3% | 29.4% | 25.3% | 1984 | $839 | 23.4% | 87.2% | 4.7% |
| Fleetwood | 2.20 | 48.2 | 3.5% | 10.0% | 27.7% | 1991 | $1,233 | 37.0% | 90.5% | 3.4% |
| Warrensville | 2.47 | 45.0 | 12.9% | 23.7% | 26.0% | 1979 | $1,002 | 15.4% | 88.8% | 5.5% |
| Todd | 2.23 | 46.1 | 17.1% | 10.2% | 33.9% | 1993 | $1,126 | 43.5% | 89.7% | 3.8% |
| Idlewild | 2.12 | 54.8 | 2.5% | 10.5% | 31.3% | 1991 | $1,171 | 38.6% | 88.5% | 4.2% |
| Crumpler | 2.15 | 56.7 | 14.3% | 21.1% | 33.0% | 1987 | $716 | 20.2% | 92.2% | 0.9% |
| Glendale Springs | 2.02 | 55.6 | 6.0% | 13.8% | 32.6% | 1983 | $784 | 31.8% | 90.3% | 3.7% |
| Creston | 2.26 | 47.3 | 9.4% | 23.3% | 26.4% | 1974 | $818 | 23.4% | 82.7% | 6.7% |
| Scottville | 2.25 | 52.0 | 1.7% | 16.3% | 28.0% | 1992 | $840 | 28.9% | 85.4% | 1.9% |
| Deep Gap | 2.39 | 44.6 | 3.6% | 16.6% | 38.4% | 1994 | $1,184 | 34.3% | 93.0% | 4.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Chatham, VA · Citra, FL · China Spring, TX · Chilton, WI · Chilhowie, VA · Chetek, WI · Cherry Valley, IL · Cherry Hills Village, CO · Cherokee, NC · Cherokee, IA
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 West Jefferson. 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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