City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Cherokee, NC

Cherokee's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

1,631
Residents
$48,173
Median income
$192,700
Median home
$1,161
Median rent (state)
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Starting with Cherokee, NC - add up to three more cities on the compare page.

See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Cherokee.

Place dossier plate

Sheet NC-CHEROKEE-NC · Cherokee, NC 1,631 pop · income 17th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-MID · COL-BELOW · SAFE-UNK · RANK-BOTTOM · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-LOW · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 1,631
  • INC-MID $48,173
  • COL-BELOW 94.3
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-BOTTOM 17th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Colorado City
  • HOME-LOW $192,700
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Colorado City, TX (+ $0 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Cherokee

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Cherokee on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Cherokee on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 1,631.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $48,173. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Cherokee - the verdict

Nationally, Cherokee sits in the 17th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

17th
percentile, household income
41st
percentile, home value
48th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Cherokee, NC

1,631 people live in Cherokee, North Carolina - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Households in Cherokee report a median income of $48,173 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 30.3%. Typical homes in Cherokee are valued around $192,700, and the median resident age is 40.3 years. Educational attainment runs 20.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 50.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA puts Cherokee's yearly average temperature at 55.2°F with 56.7 inches of precipitation per year and 6.5 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts North Carolina at 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,161 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 66.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Cherokee's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from comparison shortlist to housing and income to work and mobility to climate and hazard context; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Cherokee, city-specific coverage includes commute-mode shares. No matched row is reported here for local building permits, matched public-school count, FBI reported-crime rates, within-city Census tract profiles, annual population history; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

Question 1

Which cities make useful reference points for Cherokee?

Within North Carolina, the closest population matches are Sharpsburg (1,629 residents, $39,792 income); Hoopers Creek (1,623 residents, $64,792 income); Plain View (1,647 residents, $75,058 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Rector, AR (1,631 residents); Webster, FL (1,631 residents); Greenback, TN (1,631 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

Question 2

How far does income reach against housing in Cherokee?

The home-value-to-income reference is comparatively stretched: the ACS median home value is 4.0 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 30.3%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Housing value is high relative to the citywide income median. That flags a question for comparison, not a verdict: tenure, household composition, financing costs, and the age of the ACS estimate can all change what a resident actually pays.

Compare the housing trade-off →

3. Work and mobility

What does the journey to work look like in Cherokee?

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. The profile is strongly car-oriented, so a relocation comparison should put trip distance, vehicle access, and household fuel costs ahead of a citywide commute average. The same-state peer links offer a more relevant benchmark than a national label.

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 93.4%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Compare commute patterns →

Question 4

What physical conditions frame life in Cherokee?

NOAA normals put the annual mean temperature at 55.2°F, with 56.7 inches of precipitation and 6.5 inches of annual snowfall. FEMA's state-averaged National Risk Index score for North Carolina is 66.7 out of 100. Climate normals describe long-run weather; the FEMA score on PlainCities is a state average of county NRI inputs and combines hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and resilience.

The two sources should not be blended into one comfort or safety score. Use the climate values for baseline conditions and the risk index as a prompt to inspect specific hazards, insurance, and local emergency guidance for a particular address.

Read the source boundaries →

Population

1,631 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$48,173 /yr

Low income · poverty 30.3% (Highest-decile poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Near national cost · BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

City profile score · Cherokee, NC

29/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Cost of living B-
94.3 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Bachelor's+ share F
20.3%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Household income F
$48,173

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Poverty rate F
30.3%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Cherokee profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Cost of living, Bachelor's+ share, Household income, Poverty rate. Cost of livingBachelor's+ shareHousehold incomePoverty rate 29 F
Cherokee profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Cost of living: 67/100 (B-) · 94.3 index
  • Bachelor's+ share: 35/100 (F) · 20.3%
  • Household income: 18/100 (F) · $48,173
  • Poverty rate: 0/100 (F) · 30.3%

How does Cherokee compare to other US cities?

Where Cherokee sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 17% higher than other cities
Home value 41% pricier than other cities
Median rent 48% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Cherokee against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Cherokee near the bottom of North Carolina's cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Cherokee ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Cherokee only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#491 of 700
30th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 746
0th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#349 of 708
51st percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#56 of 746
92nd percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#409 of 746
45th percentile in North Carolina
How in-state ranks are ordered

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

17thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

17th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Cherokee's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$192,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 59% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Cherokee $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Cherokee's home-value-to-income ratio: 4.0×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
moderate
3.0–5.0×
National rank
#10,710 of 15,516
More affordable than 31% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#8,374 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 4.0×, Cherokee sits in the moderate band: national rank #10,710 of 15,516 and #8,374 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). Income and home value move in the same broad scale; check same-state peers before treating the multiple as an advantage or a warning.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$48,173 Cherokee, NC median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Cherokee, NC Cherokee, NC's median household income ($48,173) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Cherokee, NC-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Cherokee, NC median $48,173/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Cherokee, NC median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Cherokee, NC.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 30.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 50.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,631
Median Income
$48,173
Median Home Value
$192,700
Median Age
40.3
Poverty Rate
30.3%
Labor force participation
50.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.3%

Climate

Avg Temperature
55.2°F
Annual Precipitation
56.7"
Annual Snowfall
6.5"

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
93.4%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.0%
Work from Home
0.0%
Other
1.6%

Based on 625 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

North Carolina statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $215

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across North Carolina at $215 (electricity about $115 , water and sewer about $45 ).

These are North Carolina statewide averages, not a meter reading for Cherokee. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

North Carolina's BEA cost-of-living index is 94.3 (Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Cherokee is $1,161/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to North Carolina statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 66.7 / 100 (Moderate).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a North Carolina statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Cherokee sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Cherokee compares to similar-size North Carolina cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Cherokee (this city) 1,631 $48,173
Sharpsburg 1,629 $39,792
Hoopers Creek 1,623 $64,792
Plain View 1,647 $75,058
NOAA Normals
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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