Yancey County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Yancey County, North Carolina has a population of 18,797, the 82nd most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $58,709 and the median home value is $243,100. The poverty rate is 15.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Yancey County Quick Facts
How Yancey 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 | 18,676 | 18,797 | +0.6% |
| Median household income | $54,961 | $58,709 | +6.8% |
| Median home value | $222,300 | $243,100 | +9.4% |
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 Yancey County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burnsville | 2,082 | $50,997 | 26.1% | $243,500 |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Yancey County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 18,797. It is the 82nd most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.
Age Demographics
The median age in Yancey County is 49.2 years. This is 26% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 11.4% 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 Yancey County is $58,709. This is 19% 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 15.2%. This is 16% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 7.3%. This is 55% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $243,100. Housing costs are 16% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 79.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Yancey County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (90.8% vs 60.0%). The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
25.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% 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 90.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Yancey 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 Yancey County, North Carolina?
Yancey County has a population of 18,797, making it the 82nd most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Yancey County?
The median household income in Yancey County is $58,709 with a poverty rate of 15.2%.
How many cities are in Yancey County, North Carolina?
Yancey County contains 1 Census-designated place.