HomeNorth CarolinaJackson County
Jackson County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Jackson County, North Carolina had an estimated 45,281 residents on July 1, 2024, up 5.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 43,110, across 491 square miles. County output reached $2.19 bn in 2024, 1,113 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 27 7(a) approvals worth $21.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Jackson County
How many people live in Jackson County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202443,771
- Households18,430
- Average household size2.37
- Median household income$55,815
- Median age38.1
- Median gross rent$904 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$284,700
- Home value to household income5.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher31.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over28,269
- Population under 187,164
- Share under 1816.4 percent
- Population 65 and over8,847
- Share 65 and over20.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6427,760
- Civilian labor force20,865
- Unemployment rate4.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over57.0 percent
- Rank by population among North Carolina counties59th of 100
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1126th of 3,222
Jackson County is the 59th largest of 100 North Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 5.1 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 20.2 percent against 16.4 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Jackson County
Is Jackson County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202445,281
- Census 2020 base population43,110
- Population change since the 2020 census base5.04 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024231
- Births, 2024375
- Deaths, 2024421
- Natural change, 2024-46
- Net domestic migration, 2024135
- Net international migration, 2024144
- Total net migration, 2024279
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,915
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents524th of 3,144
The county has grown 5.04 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Jackson County
Where are people moving to Jackson County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,404
- People arriving, from those returns2,316
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,209
- Net household movement195
- Adjusted gross income arriving$105.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$29.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$75,298
- Average income of a leaving household$63,355
- Largest single originSwain County (156 households)
- Largest single destinationSwain County (128 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swain County | 156 | 298 | $7.7 m |
| Haywood County | 102 | 184 | $4.3 m |
| Macon County | 78 | 130 | $5.2 m |
| Buncombe County | 74 | 104 | $4.1 m |
| Henderson County | 24 | 45 | $1.2 m |
| Transylvania County | 22 | 40 | $1.3 m |
| Mecklenburg County | 21 | 38 | $1.6 m |
| Palm Beach County | 20 | 29 | $1.8 m |
Households arriving report $11,943 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Swain County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Jackson County
What is the Jackson County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.19 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.10 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.2 percent
- GDP change over five years30.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Carolina areas BEA publishes57th of 100
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1204th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$49,981
Output grew 4.2 percent in the latest year and 30.3 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Jackson County
Employment by industry in Jackson County
- Covered employment, annual average14,477
- Establishments reporting1,271
- Average annual pay$48,540
- Average weekly wage$933
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,503
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$27,570
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,070
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$60,934
- Retail trade, employment1,814
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,307
- Construction, employment796
- Construction, average annual pay$55,676
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, employment773
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment599
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 2,503 | 136 | $27,570 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,070 | 110 | $60,934 |
| Retail trade | 1,814 | 175 | $34,307 |
| Construction | 796 | 188 | $55,676 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 773 | 28 | $47,997 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 599 | 106 | $48,016 |
| Other services, except public administration | 405 | 100 | $38,960 |
| Manufacturing | 289 | 26 | $56,291 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 2,503 jobs, 17.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Jackson County
How many businesses are in Jackson County?
- Establishments, all industries1,113
- Employment at those establishments13,583
- Annual payroll$576.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Jackson County
Building permits in Jackson County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024254
- Declared construction value permitted$313.4 m
- Single family units authorized254
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$1,233,981
- Units authorized per 1,000 households13.8
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Jackson County
SBA loans in Jackson County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded27
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$21.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$785,381
- Median 7(a) approval$232,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,218,800
- Largest single approval$4,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)346
- Jobs per approval12.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active15
- Distinct industries receiving approvals17
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer25.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms7
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter20
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.5 m
- Average 504 approval$729,500
- Median 504 approval$729,500
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval6.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved8.9
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$22.7 m
The average approval of $785,381 sits well above the median of $232,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 25.9 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Jackson County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Jackson County
Do SBA loans in Jackson County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded5
- Paid in full5
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure16
- Status: Paid in full5
- Status: Cancelled5
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 5 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Jackson County
SBA lending by place in Jackson County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Sylva, approvals18
- Cullowhee, approvals3
- Whittier, approvals3
- Cashiers, approvals2
- Glenville, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Sylva | 18 | $14,422,300 |
| Cullowhee | 3 | $4,074,500 |
| Whittier | 3 | $125,000 |
| Cashiers | 2 | $2,333,500 |
| Glenville | 1 | $250,000 |
Sylva accounts for 18 approvals against 3 in Cullowhee. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Jackson County
How large is Jackson County?
- Land area491 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Carolina counties46th of 100
- Width, east to west24.3 mi
- Height, north to south35.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land89
- Establishments per square mile2.27
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Jackson County
Flood risk in Jackson County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Jackson County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 370282
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP7
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Jackson County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Jackson County (community 370282), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Jackson County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Jackson County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Jackson County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202443,771
- Households18,430
- Average household size2.37
- Median household income$55,815
- Median age38.1
Common questions
Jackson County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Jackson County, North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 45,281 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 43,771, in 18,430 households, ranking 59th of 100 North Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Jackson County's population growing?
The population has grown 5.04 percent since the 2020 census base of 43,110, to 45,281 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 375 births against 421 deaths, with net migration of 279. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Jackson County?
$55,815. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $284,700, which is 5.1 times income, and median gross rent is $904 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Jackson County?
1,113 establishments, employing 13,583 people with an annual payroll of $576.3 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Jackson County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 2,503 jobs, 17.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 14,477 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,540, or $933 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Jackson County?
27 7(a) approvals totaling $21.2 m since FY2020, across 15 lenders, with a median approval of $232,000, plus 2 504 approvals worth $1.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Jackson County?
254 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $313.4 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Jackson County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Jackson County come from?
The largest single origin is Swain County, with 156 households. Arriving households report an average income of $75,298 against $63,355 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Jackson County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Jackson County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Jackson County
Cities and places in Jackson.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Jackson County. All 10 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cullowhee | CDP | 7,973 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Sylva | town | 2,646 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Cherokee | CDP | 2,059 | None recorded | 40.6 percent here, 59.4 percent Swain County |
| Highlands | town | 1,074 | None recorded | 8.5 percent here, 91.5 percent Macon County |
| Cashiers | CDP | 683 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Webster | town | 470 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Forest Hills | village | 329 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Dillsboro | town | 195 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Glenville | CDP | 138 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Whittier | CDP | 0 | 3 | Wholly in this county |