Saluda, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 683, Saluda's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Saluda is a small community located in North Carolina, within Henderson County. The total population is 683. It ranks as the 532nd most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Saluda is 65.4 years. This is 67% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 13.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 23.6% 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 Saluda is $52,137. This is 28% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.2%. This is 1% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 11.1%. This is 135% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $372,400. Housing costs are 29% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 83.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Saluda has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 11.3%. The Asian population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

53.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Saluda in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 51% 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 93.1%. Notably, 21.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Saluda, 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.