Cherokee County, North Carolina
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 30,830
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 30,830
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 30,373
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 28,773
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 28,774
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) 7.1%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) 5.6%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 28,774
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 27,444
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 4.3%
Persons under 18 years, percent 15.8%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 32.8%
Female persons, percent 50.8%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 92.8%
Black alone, percent(a) 1.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 1.8%
Asian alone, percent(a) 0.7%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.1%
Two or More Races, percent 2.7%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 4.2%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 89.7%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 2,522
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 1.9%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 19,158
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 83.7%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $232,300
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,242
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $376
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $813
Building Permits, 2025 239
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 13,241
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.20
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 89.5%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 3.4%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 93.8%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 83.6%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 92.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 24.2%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 12.0%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 12.5%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 49.2%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 47.4%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 317,976
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 122,853
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) D
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 568,820
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $19,309
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 25.2
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $53,628
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $31,569
Persons in poverty, percent 15.4%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 649
Total employment, 2023 7,678
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 302,956
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 3.5%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 2,501
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 63.2
Population per square mile, 2010 60.3
Land area in square miles, 2020 455.54
Land area in square miles, 2010 455.43
FIPS Code 37039