Mills River town, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Mills River town is a small city located in North Carolina, within Henderson County. The total population is 7,214. It ranks as the 130th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mills River town is 46.6 years. This is 19% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Mills River town is $88,359. This is 26% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 13% higher. The poverty rate stands at 2.0%. This is 85% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. The median home value is $358,500. Housing costs are 38% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 86.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Mills River town is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.0% of the population. Asian residents account for 4.4%. The Black or African American population (3.0%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.3%) is well below the state average of 10.9%.

Education

41.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 19% higher 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 93.6%. Notably, 17.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Mills River town, 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.