North Carolina · GEOID 37039

Cherokee County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 29,562 · 18,404 housing units

Median household income

$53,628

State $74,272

Median home value

$232,300

State $299,282

Median gross rent

$813

State $1,245

Homeownership rate

83.7%

State 66.6%

Renter cost-burden rate

43.4%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

16.3%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.4%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

7.4%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

28.1%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

4.33

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Cherokee County	North Carolina
Population	29,562	10,730,404
Population density (per sq. mi.)	64.89	—
Median household income	$53,628	$74,272
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$73,900	—
Households	13,241	—
Average household size	2.20 people	—
Owner-occupied	83.7%	66.6%
Renter-occupied	16.3%	33.4%
Race	90.5% White · 1.8% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Cherokee County compared with North Carolina.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

24.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 35.7%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	31.8%	$45,923	$1,148	$139,921
1 earner	28.8%	$62,508	$1,563	$201,656
2 earners	32.1%	$84,202	$2,105	$282,409
3+ earners	7.3%	$107,172	$2,679	$367,911

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

13,241

Average size: 2.20 people

Households with children

1,932

14.6% of households

Per-capita income

$31,569

Poverty rate: 13.9%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

83.7% owner-occupied vs. state average 66.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 76.8% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 3.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

26.2% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,994.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $232,300.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $813.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 5,163 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 0.8% · For rent 3.4% · Seasonal 60.9% · Other 33.5%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

5.6% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 94.4% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

17.1%

3,146 units of 18,404 total

⚑ Above the 10% threshold — meaningful pressure on year-round residents from second-home / short-term-rental demand.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

9.4%

1,728 units of 18,404 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$42,902

100% MHI$53,628

120% MHI$64,354

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Cherokee County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$43,900	$50,150	$62,650
100% AMI	$51,730	$59,120	$73,900
120% AMI	$62,100	$70,950	$88,700

HUD FMR Area: Cherokee County, NC. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

43.4% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (17.4% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

16.3% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Cherokee County.

Covered employment

6,273

Across 17 sectors

Establishments

913

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$43,776

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	1,456	$31,494	$86,212	−$146,088	$787
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	1,003	$23,740	$57,349	−$174,951	$594
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	667	$53,674	$168,773	−$63,527	$1,342
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	648	$48,037	$147,791	−$84,509	$1,201
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	638	$50,236	$155,976	−$76,324	$1,256
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	444	$51,712	$161,470	−$70,830	$1,293
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	426	$58,370	$186,253	−$46,047	$1,459
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	231	$28,565	$75,309	−$156,991	$714
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	174	$63,638	$205,863	−$26,437	$1,591
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	154	$78,914	$262,725	+$30,425	$1,973
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	108	$89,508	$302,160	+$69,860	$2,238
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	100	$40,644	$120,271	−$112,029	$1,016
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	92	$57,587	$183,339	−$48,961	$1,440
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	65	$24,561	$60,405	−$171,895	$614
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	53	$122,744	$425,875	+$193,575	$3,069
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	12	$91,420	$309,277	+$76,977	$2,286
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	2	$42,045	$125,486	−$106,814	$1,051

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	881	$23,805	$57,591	−$174,709	$595
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	638	$50,236	$155,976	−$76,324	$1,256
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	517	$46,076	$140,491	−$91,809	$1,152
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	485	$42,505	$127,199	−$105,101	$1,063
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	444	$30,580	$82,810	−$149,490	$765
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	426	$58,370	$186,253	−$46,047	$1,459
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	320	$22,278	$51,907	−$180,393	$557
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	292	$53,781	$169,172	−$63,128	$1,345
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	257	$30,525	$82,605	−$149,695	$763
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	223	$32,108	$88,497	−$143,803	$803
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	201	$49,281	$152,421	−$79,879	$1,232
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	180	$51,105	$159,211	−$73,089	$1,278
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	122	$23,270	$55,599	−$176,701	$582
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	109	$58,369	$186,250	−$46,050	$1,459
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	91	$43,108	$129,443	−$102,857	$1,078
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	90	$27,504	$71,360	−$160,940	$688
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	79	$73,513	$242,621	+$10,321	$1,838
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	79	$30,412	$82,184	−$150,116	$760
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	72	$68,450	$223,775	−$8,525	$1,711
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	68	$42,503	$127,191	−$105,109	$1,063
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	62	$37,886	$110,005	−$122,295	$947
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	62	$31,082	$84,678	−$147,622	$777
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	61	$54,645	$172,388	−$59,912	$1,366
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	60	$29,424	$78,507	−$153,793	$736
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	59	$52,659	$164,995	−$67,305	$1,316
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	53	$122,744	$425,875	+$193,575	$3,069
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	52	$63,329	$204,713	−$27,587	$1,583
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	52	$66,809	$217,666	−$14,634	$1,670
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	50	$26,053	$65,959	−$166,341	$651
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	44	$37,991	$110,396	−$121,904	$950
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	44	$13,680	$19,902	−$212,398	$342
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	39	$55,164	$174,320	−$57,980	$1,379
NAICS 532 Rental and leasing services NAICS 532	32	$36,693	$105,564	−$126,736	$917
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	31	$80,341	$268,037	+$35,737	$2,009
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	29	$30,806	$83,651	−$148,649	$770
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	23	$49,087	$151,699	−$80,601	$1,227
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	18	$19,784	$42,623	−$189,677	$495
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	12	$68,242	$223,000	−$9,300	$1,706
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	12	$50,133	$155,593	−$76,707	$1,253
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	9	$31,918	$87,790	−$144,510	$798
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	8	$42,598	$127,545	−$104,755	$1,065
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	2	$42,045	$125,486	−$106,814	$1,051

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	5,200	(4,910)	(49%)	$13.76	$28,610	$75,477	$715
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	7,720	1,040	16%	$14.11	$29,340	$78,194	$734
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	690	—	—	$15.07	$31,340	$85,639	$784
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	8,030	90	1%	$15.91	$33,090	$92,153	$827
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	950	200	27%	$15.93	$33,130	$92,302	$828
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	3,360	110	3%	$16.17	$33,640	$94,200	$841
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	5,180	1,700	49%	$16.65	$34,630	$97,885	$866
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	4,150	(4,880)	(54%)	$17.85	$37,120	$107,154	$928
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	3,710	(1,230)	(25%)	$19.09	$39,710	$116,795	$993
Tellers SOC 43-3071	420	(500)	(54%)	$20.42	$42,470	$127,068	$1,062
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	2,320	1,600	222%	$21.22	$44,140	$133,285	$1,104
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	1,130	240	27%	$21.52	$44,760	$135,592	$1,119
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,950	(70)	(2%)	$21.91	$45,570	$138,607	$1,139
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	680	(10)	(1%)	$23.94	$49,790	$154,316	$1,245
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,760	120	7%	$24.76	$51,490	$160,644	$1,287
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	3,210	(570)	(15%)	—	$52,980	$166,190	$1,325
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	490	(40)	(8%)	$25.88	$53,840	$169,391	$1,346
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	3,840	(430)	(10%)	$26.15	$54,390	$171,439	$1,360
Electricians SOC 47-2111	1,110	550	98%	$26.41	$54,930	$173,449	$1,373
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	4,760	(730)	(13%)	$39.87	$82,930	$277,674	$2,073

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 37039 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.