HomeNorth CarolinaMacon County
Macon County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Macon County, North Carolina had an estimated 38,717 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 37,016, across 516 square miles. County output reached $2.13 bn in 2024, 1,282 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 35 7(a) approvals worth $28.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Macon County
How many people live in Macon County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202437,941
- Households18,406
- Average household size2.06
- Median household income$59,061
- Median age49.7
- Median gross rent$803 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$251,900
- Home value to household income4.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher27.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree10.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over28,732
- Population under 186,723
- Share under 1817.7 percent
- Population 65 and over11,079
- Share 65 and over29.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6420,139
- Civilian labor force17,023
- Unemployment rate2.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over54.5 percent
- Rank by population among North Carolina counties64th of 100
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1253rd of 3,222
Macon County is the 64th largest of 100 North Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 4.3 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 29.2 percent against 17.7 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.
Macon County
Is Macon County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202438,717
- Census 2020 base population37,016
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.60 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024287
- Births, 2024340
- Deaths, 2024581
- Natural change, 2024-241
- Net domestic migration, 2024482
- Net international migration, 202445
- Total net migration, 2024527
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,571
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents595th of 3,144
The county has grown 4.60 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.
Macon County
Where are people moving to Macon County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,112
- People arriving, from those returns1,955
- Tax returns filed by households leaving843
- Net household movement269
- Adjusted gross income arriving$148.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$80.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$133,313
- Average income of a leaving household$80,408
- Largest single originJackson County (83 households)
- Largest single destinationJackson County (78 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 83 | 161 | $5.5 m |
| Rabun County | 42 | 89 | $2.2 m |
| Buncombe County | 41 | 59 | $2.6 m |
| Haywood County | 29 | 54 | $1.3 m |
| Broward County | 24 | 37 | $1.9 m |
| Fulton County | 21 | 38 | $3.5 m |
Households arriving report $52,905 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 Jackson 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.
Macon County
What is the Macon County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.13 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.09 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20241.7 percent
- GDP change over five years26.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Carolina areas BEA publishes58th of 100
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1224th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$56,133
Output grew 1.7 percent in the latest year and 26.1 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.
Macon County
Employment by industry in Macon County
- Covered employment, annual average12,334
- Establishments reporting1,457
- Average annual pay$46,461
- Average weekly wage$893
- Retail trade, employment2,217
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,426
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,006
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$32,673
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,420
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$51,047
- Construction, employment1,064
- Construction, average annual pay$50,008
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment1,030
- Other services, except public administration, employment513
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 2,217 | 212 | $35,426 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,006 | 132 | $32,673 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,420 | 118 | $51,047 |
| Construction | 1,064 | 260 | $50,008 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,030 | 136 | $68,989 |
| Other services, except public administration | 513 | 130 | $44,969 |
| Manufacturing | 399 | 31 | $46,467 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 396 | 89 | $44,697 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,217 jobs, 18.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Macon County
How many businesses are in Macon County?
- Establishments, all industries1,282
- Employment at those establishments10,736
- Annual payroll$464.5 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents33.8
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.
Macon County
Building permits in Macon County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024218
- Declared construction value permitted$125.5 m
- Single family units authorized218
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$575,564
- Units authorized per 1,000 households11.8
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.
Macon County
SBA loans in Macon County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded35
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$28.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$801,063
- Median 7(a) approval$229,000
- 10th percentile approval$32,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,982,560
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)305
- Jobs per approval8.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active20
- Distinct industries receiving approvals27
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer17.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms6
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter27
- Franchise loans5
- Franchise share of approvals14.3 percent
- Most active lenderNortheast Bank (4)
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$3.5 m
- Average 504 approval$1,759,000
- Median 504 approval$1,759,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval4.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved2.6
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$31.6 m
The average approval of $801,063 sits well above the median of $229,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 17.1 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.
Macon County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Macon County
Do SBA loans in Macon County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded6
- Paid in full4
- Charged off2
- Status: Paid in full4
- Status: Cancelled7
- Status: Exempt from disclosure19
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed3
Only 6 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.
Macon County
SBA lending by place in Macon County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Franklin, approvals26
- Highlands, approvals8
- Scaly Mountain, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin | 26 | $18,128,100 |
| Highlands | 8 | $9,659,100 |
| Scaly Mountain | 1 | $250,000 |
Franklin accounts for 26 approvals against 8 in Highlands. 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.
Macon County
How large is Macon County?
- Land area516 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Carolina counties39th of 100
- Width, east to west35.6 mi
- Height, north to south23.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land74
- Establishments per square mile2.48
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.
Macon County
Flood risk in Macon County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Macon County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 370150
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Macon 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 Macon County (community 370150), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Macon 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 Macon 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 Macon County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202437,941
- Households18,406
- Average household size2.06
- Median household income$59,061
- Median age49.7
Common questions
Macon County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Macon County, North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 38,717 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 37,941, in 18,406 households, ranking 64th of 100 North Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Macon County's population growing?
The population has grown 4.60 percent since the 2020 census base of 37,016, to 38,717 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 340 births against 581 deaths, with net migration of 527. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Macon County?
$59,061. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $251,900, which is 4.3 times income, and median gross rent is $803 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Macon County?
1,282 establishments, employing 10,736 people with an annual payroll of $464.5 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 Macon County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,217 jobs, 18.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 12,334 jobs at an average annual pay of $46,461, or $893 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Macon County?
35 7(a) approvals totaling $28.0 m since FY2020, across 20 lenders, with a median approval of $229,000, plus 2 504 approvals worth $3.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Macon County?
218 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $125.5 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Macon 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 Macon County come from?
The largest single origin is Jackson County, with 83 households. Arriving households report an average income of $133,313 against $80,408 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Macon 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 Macon 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.
Macon County
Cities and places in Macon.
2 Census places lie wholly or partly in Macon County. All 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | town | 4,268 | 26 | Wholly in this county |
| Highlands | town | 1,074 | 8 | 91.5 percent here, 8.5 percent Jackson County |
A further 1 of the county's 35 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Macon County, the largest being Scaly Mountain (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.