Cullowhee CDP, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Cullowhee CDP, North Carolina Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

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High PovertyPoverty rate of 51.3% is well above the state average

As of 2026, Cullowhee CDP, North Carolina has a total population of 7,300, the 129th largest city in North Carolina, with a median household income of $35,076, which is 50% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 51.3%.

Key Takeaways

Household income is 50% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (51.3%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
Unemployment rate of 13.6% is notably above the national average.

Cullowhee CDP Quick Facts

Population 7,300

Median Household Income $35,076

Median Home Value N/A

Poverty Rate 51.3%

Unemployment Rate 13.6%

Median Age 20.9 years

Homeownership Rate 7.7%

Affordability Ratio N/A

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 29.4%

High School Graduation Rate 93.2%

Diversity Index 37/100

Population 7,300 129th of 774

Median Income $35,076 bottom 10%

Poverty Rate 51.3% 312% higher national

Median Home Value N/A

How Cullowhee CDP Compares

Median Household Income

Cullowhee CDP

$35,076

$69,904

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

$259,400

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 45.9%

$25K-$50K 31.6%

$50K-$100K 14.9%

$100K+ 7.5%

Employment

13.6% Unemployment Rate State: 4.8% | National: 5.2%

58.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 7.7%

Renter 92.3%

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

4.4%

18-34

86.4%

35-54

3.8%

55-74

4.8%

75+

0.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 57 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cullowhee CDP Rankings in North Carolina

#129 Population of 774

#647 Median Income of 774

#241 Education of 774

N/A Home Value of 774

Explore North Carolina Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Cities Similar to Cullowhee CDP

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Forest City town	7,368	$35,897	$142,100	17.2%	33.6%
Selma town	6,611	$37,440	$161,100	12.5%	27.1%
Marion city	7,594	$44,472	$131,100	14.2%	24.2%
Roxboro city	8,144	$39,283	$138,700	20.7%	33.7%
Brevard city	7,795	$44,356	$411,000	37.5%	17.2%

Population Overview

Cullowhee CDP is a small city located in North Carolina. The total population is 7,300. It ranks as the 129th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cullowhee CDP is 20.9 years. This is 47% lower than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 4.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cullowhee CDP is $35,076. This is 50% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 55% lower. The poverty rate stands at 51.3%. This is 290% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 13.6%. This is 182% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. 7.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 88% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cullowhee CDP is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.5%. The Black or African American population (7.4%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

29.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cullowhee CDP, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.

Free data download: Get all North Carolina city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Cullowhee CDP, North Carolina?

Cullowhee CDP, North Carolina has a population of 7,300 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Cullowhee CDP, NC?

The median household income in Cullowhee CDP is $35,076, which is 55% lower the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Cullowhee CDP, NC?

The poverty rate in Cullowhee CDP is 51.3%. This means approximately 1,985 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Cullowhee CDP, North Carolina?

Cullowhee CDP's population is 78.0% White, 7.4% Black, 10.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.9% Asian.

What is the median home value in Cullowhee CDP, NC?

The median home value in Cullowhee CDP is N/A.

How educated is Cullowhee CDP, North Carolina?

29.4% of adults (25+) in Cullowhee CDP hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 11.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.