County · North Carolina
Haywood County, North Carolina
Haywood County, North Carolina. Haywood County had 63,369 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.1% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). It holds 6 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs and 2 census-designated) and 21 census tracts. GEOID 37087.
Haywood County is the county of the Waynesville, NC micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
63,369
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 62,089 · ACS 2020-2024: 62,662
Median household income
$61,912
±$2,423 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$279,200
±$9,537 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$1,067
±$50 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
How many people live in Haywood County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 62,089 residents in Haywood County. The Census Bureau estimates 63,369 for July 1, 2025, up 2.1% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 62,662 over 554 square miles of land.
| Measure | Haywood County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 62,662 | 10,730,404 | +1,609 |
| Households | 27,123±647 | 4,282,345 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.29±0.05 | 2.44 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 35,560±41 | 4,895,668 | no clear change |
Haywood County's population since 2000
From 54,033 in 2000 to 63,369 in 2025: up 17.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Haywood County?
Haywood County holds 6 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Waynesville with 11,006 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Waynesville | 10,140 | $54,923 |
|---|---|---|
| Canton | 4,422 | $69,924 |
| Lake Junaluska | 3,219 | $66,165 |
| Maggie Valley | 1,687 | $68,125 |
| Clyde | 1,368 | $56,406 |
| West Canton | 1,265 | $34,464 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Haywood County?
The median resident of Haywood County is 47.8 years old; 17.6% are under 18 and 25.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 90.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.0%. 2.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Haywood County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8±0.3 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.6% | 21.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 25.7%±0.2 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.0% | 11.3% | +1.0 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 90.4%±0.2 pts | 60.0% | −2.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.9%±0.3 pts | 20.0% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.1 pts | 3.3% | −0.2 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.1 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.7%±0.4 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.8%±0.5 pts | 9.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.8%±0.7 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.7%±1.0 pts | 7.4% | – |
| With a disability | 17.3%±1.2 pts | 13.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 11.4%±1.3 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.3%±1.2 pts | 90.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 29.5%±2.0 pts | 35.7% | +3.5 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.5%±1.2 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.9%±0.7 pts | 3.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Haywood County earn?
Half of Haywood County's 27,123 households earn less than $61,912 a year (±$2,423), against $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $63,576 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Haywood County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,912±$2,423 | $72,388 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $80,833±$3,305 | $101,208 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,367±$1,499 | $41,385 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 13.1%±1.9 pts | 13.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 19.2%±5.5 pts | 17.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.5%±2.0 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.4%±2.1 pts | 90.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Haywood County?
Owners occupy 74.9% of Haywood County's occupied homes and renters 25.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $279,200 by its owner (±$9,537). The median renter pays $1,067 a month including utilities, and 42.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Haywood County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $279,200±$9,537 | $288,900 | +$58,044 |
| Median gross rent | $1,067±$50 | $1,228 | +$101 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.8%±5.3 pts | 39.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,447±$50 | $1,631 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.9%±2.1 pts | 66.6% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 35,560±41 | 4,895,668 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.6%±0.9 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.0%±2.7 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.8%±2.0 pts | 65.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 17.1%±1.6 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.7%±0.6 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.8%±1.1 pts | 4.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Haywood County building?
Builders took permits for 514 new housing units across Haywood County in 2025 (352 single-family), 8.1 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Haywood County get to work?
78.3% of Haywood County's workers drive alone and 9.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.1%.
| Measure | Haywood County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.0%±1.7 pts | 62.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1%±1.0 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.3%±2.8 pts | 71.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.1%±1.7 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 2.5%±1.8 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.2%±1.5 pts | 16.3% | +5.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.8 min±1.2 | 25.1 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Haywood County's census tracts?
Haywood County is divided into 21 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $43,250 (Tract 9211) to $86,719 (Tract 9205.01).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Haywood County compare with North Carolina's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 45th of 100 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 66th of 100 |
| Residents per square mile | 50th of 100 |
| Median household income | 46th of 100 |
| Median home value | 27th of 100 |
| Median gross rent | 34th of 100 |
| Poverty rate | 62nd of 100 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27th of 100 |
| Median age | 19th of 100 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Haywood County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.