Cullowhee, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Cullowhee, 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 45.8% is well above the state average

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Expensive MarketHome value to income ratio of 10.6x indicates a costly housing market

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Youngest CityAmong the youngest communities in North Carolina with a median age of 21.0 years

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Cullowhee, North Carolina had a total population of 7,973, the 121st largest community in North Carolina, with a median household income of $35,929, which is 50% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 45.8%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

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 (45.8%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
Housing affordability is a challenge — homes cost 10.6x the median household income.
Unemployment rate of 11.8% is notably above the national average.

Cullowhee Quick Facts

Population 7,973

Median Household Income $35,929

Median Home Value $382,300

Poverty Rate 45.8%

Unemployment Rate 11.8%

Median Age 21.0 years

Homeownership Rate 10.9%

Affordability Ratio 10.6x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 38.3%

High School Graduation Rate 94.0%

Diversity Index 36/100

Population 7,973 121st of 772

Median Income $35,929 bottom 10%

Poverty Rate 45.8% 268% higher than national

Median Home Value $382,300 top 20%

How Cullowhee Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	7,300	7,973	+9.2%
Median household income	$35,076	$35,929	+2.4%

How Cullowhee Compares

Median Household Income

Cullowhee

$35,929

$72,388

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Cullowhee

$382,300

$288,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 42.9%

$25K-$50K 28.2%

$50K-$100K 17.9%

$100K+ 11.0%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

11.3%

$10K-$15K

13.8%

$15K-$20K

11.7%

$20K-$25K

6.1%

$25K-$30K

2.0%

$30K-$35K

2.7%

$35K-$40K

13.8%

$40K-$45K

4.4%

$45K-$50K

5.3%

$50K-$60K

8.3%

$60K-$75K

4.7%

$75K-$100K

4.9%

$100K-$125K

2.3%

$125K-$150K

1.1%

$150K-$200K

2.9%

$200K+

4.7%

Employment

11.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

58.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 10.9%

Renter 89.1%

Affordability Index Very Expensive

10.6x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $869/mo 29.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

4.4%

18-34

83.6%

35-54

4.7%

55-74

5.3%

75+

2.0%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

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

State average: 58 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cullowhee Rankings in North Carolina

#121 Population of 772

#659 Median Income of 716

#174 Education of 772

#125 Home Value of 725

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

Other Cities in Jackson County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Sylva	2,646	$44,086	19.4%	$201,200
Cherokee	2,059	$55,972	21.3%	$189,900
Highlands	1,074	$71,509	7.9%	$700,900
Cashiers	683	$73,750	0.0%	$346,200
Webster	470	$61,528	24.5%	$375,000
Forest Hills	329	$90,313	23.7%	N/A
Dillsboro	195	$58,516	16.5%	$270,300
Glenville	138	N/A	28.3%	N/A

Cities Similar to Cullowhee

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

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Roxboro	8,182	$36,553	$157,700	14.1%	33.3%
Forest City	7,363	$35,524	$160,800	14.7%	32.1%
Siler City	7,995	$46,566	$154,600	16.8%	33.9%
Rockingham	8,967	$37,224	$150,800	19.7%	30.6%
Clinton	8,304	$44,953	$212,000	23.8%	23.6%

Population Overview

Cullowhee is a small city located in North Carolina, within Jackson County. The total population is 7,973. It ranks as the 121st most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cullowhee is 21.0 years. This is 46% 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 is $35,929. This is 50% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 55% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 45.8%. This is 252% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. 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 11.8%. This is 149% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $382,300. Housing costs are 32% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio of 10.6x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 10.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 84% lower than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cullowhee is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.5%. The Black or African American population (5.5%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

38.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 7% higher than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.0%. Notably, 18.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cullowhee, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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, North Carolina?

Cullowhee, North Carolina has a population of 7,973 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Cullowhee, NC?

The median household income in Cullowhee is $35,929, which is 55% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Cullowhee, NC?

The poverty rate in Cullowhee is 45.8%. This means approximately 1,930 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Cullowhee, North Carolina?

Cullowhee's population is 79.0% White, 5.5% Black, 10.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.7% Asian.

What is the median home value in Cullowhee, NC?

The median home value in Cullowhee is $382,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 10.6x.

How educated is Cullowhee, North Carolina?

38.3% of adults (25+) in Cullowhee hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 18.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.