Macon County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Macon County, North Carolina has a population of 37,941, the 64th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $59,061 and the median home value is $251,900. The poverty rate is 11.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Macon County Quick Facts
How Macon County 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 | 37,533 | 37,941 | +1.1% |
| Median household income | $53,298 | $59,061 | +10.8% |
| Median home value | $229,000 | $251,900 | +10.0% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
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+)
Cities & Places in Macon County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | 4,268 | $47,888 | 12.8% | $195,000 |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Macon County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 37,941. It is the 64th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.
Age Demographics
The median age in Macon County is 49.7 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 12.6% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Macon County is $59,061. This is 18% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.6%. This is 11% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 2.8%. This is 41% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $251,900. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 77.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Macon County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.0%. The Black or African American population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
27.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 22% lower 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 89.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Macon County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Macon County, North Carolina?
Macon County has a population of 37,941, making it the 64th most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Macon County?
The median household income in Macon County is $59,061 with a poverty rate of 11.6%.
How many cities are in Macon County, North Carolina?
Macon County contains 1 Census-designated place.