Population 8,018 · 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 Worley: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Worley
Household size in Worley
| Period | Worley | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.15 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.36 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.41 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.36 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.21 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Worley is a place of small households, averaging 2.36 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has climbed from 2.15 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 Worley
| Period | Worley | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.1 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.2 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.9 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.6 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.5 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Worley skews older: half of its residents are older than 49.6, 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 48.1 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only 31 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 Worley
| Period | Worley | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Worley (10.2%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 3.2 points since 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 Worley
Renters in Worley
| Period | Worley | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.9% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.6% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.9% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.3% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Worley is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About half of owners (50.1%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 0.6 points from 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 Worley
| Period | Worley | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.3% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.2% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 35.6% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.2% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 29.2% of the housing in Worley, 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 risen 3.8 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 Worley
| Period | Worley | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1988 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +7 | +6 |
Worley has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1989, versus 1980 nationally. The picture is much the same across North Carolina. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the southeast 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 Worley
| Period | Worley | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $643 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $890 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $848 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,228 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$585 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in Worley pays $1,228 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $585 a month from 2006–10, a 91% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 30.9% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northwest and lowest in the southeast.
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 Worley
Bachelor's degrees in Worley
| Period | Worley | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.2% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.5% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.3% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.3% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.0 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Worley as nationally: 34.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 8.0 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 Worley
| Period | Worley | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.5% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.8% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.0% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.0% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Worley is close to the national rate: 89.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.5 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Worley
| Period | Worley | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.1% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Worley has been low: just 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 4.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Worley 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worley | 2.36 | 49.6 | 10.2% | 18.3% | 29.2% | 1989 | $1,228 | 34.3% | 89.0% | 2.9% |
| Lake Junaluska | 2.80 | 45.5 | 19.2% | 16.9% | 42.7% | 1964 | $1,078 | 70.6% | 92.5% | 1.1% |
| Clyde | 2.49 | 44.6 | 7.5% | 23.0% | 13.0% | 1989 | $1,006 | 27.8% | 92.8% | 0.4% |
| Maggie Valley | 2.23 | 57.7 | 7.6% | 18.1% | 50.3% | 1989 | $1,009 | 30.1% | 95.8% | 1.8% |
| Waynesville | 2.22 | 48.1 | 8.5% | 31.9% | 19.4% | 1973 | $1,142 | 31.3% | 89.7% | 3.9% |
| Panther Creek | 2.80 | 47.5 | 9.6% | 18.2% | 25.2% | 1994 | $1,254 | 34.0% | 96.5% | 0.0% |
| Cove Creek | 2.40 | 55.1 | 13.3% | 15.1% | 26.4% | 1984 | $1,121 | 26.2% | 96.0% | 2.1% |
| Canton | 2.36 | 44.8 | 11.8% | 24.8% | 17.5% | 1974 | $934 | 21.9% | 91.6% | 5.5% |
| Balsam | 2.14 | 51.6 | 10.3% | 22.9% | 31.5% | 1982 | $1,146 | 39.2% | 90.8% | 5.0% |
| Newfound | 2.50 | 53.4 | 5.3% | 12.3% | 17.8% | 1992 | $1,346 | 34.3% | 95.9% | 2.2% |
| Luck | 2.90 | 52.5 | 3.2% | 20.9% | 27.5% | 1991 | $1,656 | 25.7% | 95.6% | 0.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Raiford, FL · Manhasset, NY · Mannford, OK · Mansfield Center, MA · Maquoketa, IA · Marietta, PA · Marlow, OK · Marseilles, IL · Marshall, NC · Marstons Mills, MA
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 Worley. 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.