Cullowhee

Population: 7,300
Median household income: $35,076

Located in Jackson County, North Carolina, Cullowhee is a community with a population of 7,300. The median household income of $35,076 is below the Jackson County median ($53,479).

Between 2019 and 2023, Cullowhee's population grew 14.5% from 6,377 to 7,300.

Owners occupy 7.7% of the area's occupied homes. The median resident is 20.9 years old.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 7,300
Median age: 20.9 yrs
Median household income: $35,076
Median home value: —
Median gross rent: $836
Housing units: 2,267
Homeownership rate: 7.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 29.4%
Unemployment rate: 13.6%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

6,3777,300

Median household income

$31,993$35,076

Median home value

$230,300$376,600

Median gross rent

$658$836

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	6,377	$31,993	$230,300	$658
2020	6,798	$30,168	$302,900	$685
2021	6,538	$30,722	$376,600	$746
2022	6,715	$32,054	—	$807
2023	7,300	$35,076	—	$836

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 50.4%

5 to 174.1%

18 to 2477.2%

25 to 349.2%

35 to 442.6%

45 to 541.2%

55 to 643.8%

65 to 741.0%

75 and over0.6%

	Count	Share
Under 5	27	0.4%
5 to 17	297	4.1%
18 to 24	5,637	77.2%
25 to 34	668	9.2%
35 to 44	193	2.6%
45 to 54	86	1.2%
55 to 64	278	3.8%
65 to 74	71	1.0%
75 and over	43	0.6%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	5,690	77.9%
Black or African American	538	7.4%
American Indian & Alaska Native	87	1.2%
Asian	66	0.9%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	30	0.4%
Two or more races	124	1.7%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	765	10.5%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma6.8%

High school graduate36.6%

Some college or associate's27.2%

Bachelor's degree17.6%

Graduate or professional degree11.8%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	91	6.8%
High school graduate	490	36.6%
Some college or associate's	364	27.2%
Bachelor's degree	236	17.6%
Graduate or professional degree	158	11.8%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 19 min

Drove alone70.6%

Carpooled4.1%

Public transit0.0%

Walked15.8%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home6.4%

Other means3.1%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	2,320	70.6%
Carpooled	134	4.1%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	520	15.8%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	209	6.4%
Other means	102	3.1%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	1,307	42.5%
15 to 29 min	752	24.4%
30 to 44 min	721	23.4%
45 to 59 min	172	5.6%
60+ min	124	4.0%

Households

Average household size: 1.97
Poverty rate: 51.3% (1,985 of 3,869)

	Count	Share
Family households	275	14.0%
Nonfamily households	1,688	86.0%

Housing

Median year structure built: 2004

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	1,963	86.6%
Vacant	304	13.4%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	152	7.7%
Renter-occupied	1,811	92.3%

1-unit, detached12.8%

1-unit, attached3.8%

2 to 4 units13.1%

5 to 19 units30.3%

20 or more units32.2%

Mobile home & other7.8%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	290	12.8%
1-unit, attached	86	3.8%
2 to 4 units	297	13.1%
5 to 19 units	688	30.3%
20 or more units	730	32.2%
Mobile home & other	176	7.8%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3715880
Type (LSAD): 57
Land area: 3.81 sq mi
Water area: 0 sq mi
Center point: 35.3097, -83.1815