Swain County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Swain County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 14,065. It is the 88th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Swain County is 42.6 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Swain County is $55,429. This is 21% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 29% lower. The poverty rate stands at 21.1%. This is 60% 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 8.3%. This is 72% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $209,800. Housing costs are 19% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 73.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Swain County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 60.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.1%. The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.1%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

21.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 39% 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 87.1%.