Sylva

Population: 2,600
Median household income: $41,926
Median home value: $195,500

Sylva, a community in Jackson County, North Carolina, has 2,600 residents. The median household income of $41,926 is below the Jackson County median ($53,479).

From 2019 to 2023, Sylva's population declined 3.2% from 2,687 to 2,600, while its median home value rose 35.4% from $144,400 to $195,500.

26.6% of residents live below the poverty line. Households average 2.38 people.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 2,600
Median age: 30.3 yrs
Median household income: $41,926
Median home value: $195,500
Median gross rent: $768
Housing units: 1,272
Homeownership rate: 40.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 34.4%
Unemployment rate: 13.3%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

2,6872,600

Median household income

$35,583$41,926

Median home value

$144,400$195,500

Median gross rent

$697$768

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	2,687	$35,583	$144,400	$697
2020	2,696	$36,637	$162,900	$753
2021	2,611	$38,881	$155,700	$719
2022	2,601	$38,704	$175,000	$798
2023	2,600	$41,926	$195,500	$768

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

Age distribution

Under 58.8%

5 to 1720.9%

18 to 2416.7%

25 to 3413.2%

35 to 4413.2%

45 to 548.8%

55 to 645.3%

65 to 745.2%

75 and over7.8%

	Count	Share
Under 5	228	8.8%
5 to 17	544	20.9%
18 to 24	433	16.7%
25 to 34	344	13.2%
35 to 44	344	13.2%
45 to 54	230	8.8%
55 to 64	138	5.3%
65 to 74	135	5.2%
75 and over	204	7.8%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	1,927	74.1%
Black or African American	48	1.8%
American Indian & Alaska Native	134	5.2%
Asian	37	1.4%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	11	0.4%
Two or more races	102	3.9%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	341	13.1%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma18.7%

High school graduate27.8%

Some college or associate's19.1%

Bachelor's degree16.8%

Graduate or professional degree17.6%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	261	18.7%
High school graduate	388	27.8%
Some college or associate's	266	19.1%
Bachelor's degree	235	16.8%
Graduate or professional degree	245	17.6%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 25 min

Drove alone71.1%

Carpooled22.0%

Public transit0.0%

Walked2.1%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home2.9%

Other means1.9%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	742	71.1%
Carpooled	230	22.0%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	22	2.1%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	30	2.9%
Other means	20	1.9%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	506	49.9%
15 to 29 min	180	17.8%
30 to 44 min	113	11.1%
45 to 59 min	13	1.3%
60+ min	202	19.9%

Households

Average household size: 2.38
Poverty rate: 26.6% (665 of 2,496)

	Count	Share
Family households	376	36.0%
Nonfamily households	667	64.0%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1974

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	1,043	82.0%
Vacant	229	18.0%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	420	40.3%
Renter-occupied	623	59.7%

1-unit, detached61.6%

1-unit, attached0.5%

2 to 4 units13.3%

5 to 19 units2.8%

20 or more units0.0%

Mobile home & other21.9%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	784	61.6%
1-unit, attached	6	0.5%
2 to 4 units	169	13.3%
5 to 19 units	35	2.8%
20 or more units	0	0.0%
Mobile home & other	278	21.9%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3766500
Type (LSAD): 43
Land area: 3.17 sq mi
Water area: 0 sq mi
Center point: 35.3754, -83.2185