Population 18,797 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Yancey County
Household size in Yancey County
| Period | Yancey County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.37 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.43 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.35 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.31 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Yancey County is a place of small households, averaging 2.31 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 edged down from 2.37, in line with the national trend. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
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 Yancey County
| Period | Yancey County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.1 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.2 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.0 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.9 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.8 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 48.9, Yancey County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 46.1, mirroring the country. Yancey County is older than at least four in five North Carolina counties.
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 Yancey County
| Period | Yancey County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.2% of households in Yancey County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 1.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Of North Carolina's 100 counties, only eight have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Yancey County
Renters in Yancey County
| Period | Yancey County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.7% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.2% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.7% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.6% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 20.6% of households in Yancey County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over half of owners (52.8%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the northwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.2 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 Yancey County
| Period | Yancey County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.8% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 32.3% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.7% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 26.7% of the housing in Yancey County, 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 fallen 3.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Yancey County
| Period | Yancey County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Yancey County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1988, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. North Carolina as a whole looks much the same. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Yancey County
| Period | Yancey County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $436 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $643 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $637 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $880 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$444 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in Yancey County pays $880 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $444 a month from 2006–10, a 102% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 32.5% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the north.
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 Yancey County
Bachelor's degrees in Yancey County
| Period | Yancey County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.3% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.2% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.4% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.1% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.8 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Yancey County: 25.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 9.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Yancey County
| Period | Yancey County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.1% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.4% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 84.6% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.5% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.4 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Yancey County have finished high school as nationally: 90.5%, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 12.4 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 Yancey County
| Period | Yancey County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Yancey County: 7.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is up 0.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. 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).
Yancey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yancey County | 2.31 | 48.9 | 7.2% | 20.6% | 26.7% | 1988 | $880 | 25.1% | 90.5% | 7.1% |
| Mitchell County | 2.21 | 48.1 | 7.5% | 23.7% | 22.7% | 1979 | $845 | 23.9% | 90.8% | 6.4% |
| Madison County | 2.57 | 45.4 | 9.7% | 22.5% | 25.2% | 1986 | $880 | 32.3% | 89.7% | 2.6% |
| Avery County | 2.31 | 46.8 | 5.7% | 17.0% | 42.2% | 1984 | $869 | 25.0% | 87.4% | 4.6% |
| Caldwell County | 2.49 | 43.9 | 13.4% | 26.5% | 12.5% | 1980 | $799 | 19.3% | 85.0% | 5.2% |
| Cocke County | 2.39 | 44.3 | 15.3% | 25.5% | 13.1% | 1985 | $830 | 10.9% | 84.6% | 3.7% |
| Alexander County | 2.48 | 45.1 | 10.7% | 19.3% | 14.4% | 1985 | $774 | 16.9% | 85.7% | 4.6% |
| Jefferson County | 2.56 | 45.0 | 10.1% | 24.2% | 13.2% | 1988 | $914 | 20.4% | 89.0% | 4.5% |
| Sevier County | 2.51 | 43.2 | 10.5% | 29.3% | 22.0% | 1995 | $1,131 | 22.3% | 88.1% | 3.3% |
| Knox County | 2.46 | 38.8 | 9.4% | 34.8% | 8.5% | 1985 | $1,401 | 41.4% | 92.2% | 3.4% |
| Davie County | 2.61 | 44.3 | 8.4% | 17.8% | 10.8% | 1988 | $908 | 27.3% | 91.1% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Park County, CO · McLean County, ND · Meigs County, TN · Menard County, IL · Mercer County, IL · Metcalfe County, KY · Middlesex County, VA · Millard County, UT · Owen County, KY · Ozark County, MO
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 Yancey 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.
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