County · North Carolina
Macon County, North Carolina
Macon County, North Carolina. Macon County had 39,232 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.0% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). It holds 2 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs) and 10 census tracts. GEOID 37113.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
39,232
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 37,014 · ACS 2020-2024: 37,941
Median household income
$59,061
±$6,098 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$251,900
±$16,620 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$803
±$56 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
How many people live in Macon County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 37,014 residents in Macon County. The Census Bureau estimates 39,232 for July 1, 2025, up 6.0% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 37,941 over 516 square miles of land.
| Measure | Macon County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 37,941 | 10,730,404 | +3,128 |
| Households | 18,406±675 | 4,282,345 | +2,485 |
| Average household size | 2.04±0.08 | 2.44 | −0.12 |
| Housing units | 27,216±42 | 4,895,668 | +1,608 |
Macon County's population since 2000
From 29,811 in 2000 to 39,232 in 2025: up 31.6%. 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 Macon County?
Macon County holds 2 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Franklin with 4,403 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
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 Macon County?
The median resident of Macon County is 49.7 years old; 17.7% are under 18 and 29.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 10.0%. 5.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Macon County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.7±0.5 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.7%±0.2 pts | 21.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 29.2%±0.4 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10.0% | 11.3% | +3.0 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 85.2%±0.3 pts | 60.0% | −3.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.4%±0.5 pts | 20.0% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.3 pts | 3.3% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±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 | 2.4%±0.6 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.9%±1.0 pts | 9.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.2%±1.4 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.4%±1.3 pts | 7.4% | – |
| With a disability | 15.4%±1.5 pts | 13.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 13.7%±1.9 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.8%±1.5 pts | 90.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 27.9%±2.9 pts | 35.7% | +4.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.6%±1.7 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.5%±0.8 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 Macon County earn?
Half of Macon County's 18,406 households earn less than $59,061 a year (±$6,098), against $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $56,005 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Macon County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,061±$6,098 | $72,388 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $82,980±$5,649 | $101,208 | – |
| Per capita income | $38,705±$2,546 | $41,385 | +$3,094 |
| People below the poverty line | 11.6%±2.4 pts | 13.0% | −3.8 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 12.8%±7.2 pts | 17.7% | −12.4 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.9%±2.0 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 83.3%±2.4 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 Macon County?
Owners occupy 77.6% of Macon County's occupied homes and renters 22.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $251,900 by its owner (±$16,620). The median renter pays $803 a month including utilities, and 34.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Macon County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $251,900±$16,620 | $288,900 | +$48,097 |
| Median gross rent | $803±$56 | $1,228 | −$127 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.0%±8.6 pts | 39.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,247±$66 | $1,631 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 77.6%±3.4 pts | 66.6% | +4.7 pts |
| Housing units | 27,216±42 | 4,895,668 | +1,608 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.2%±1.0 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.4%±3.4 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 76.5%±2.4 pts | 65.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 14.8%±1.9 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.3%±0.5 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.1%±0.7 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 Macon County building?
Builders took permits for 251 new housing units across Macon County in 2025 (239 single-family), 6.4 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 Macon County get to work?
80.3% of Macon County's workers drive alone and 9.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.8%.
| Measure | Macon County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 53.3%±2.2 pts | 62.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8%±1.2 pts | 4.7% | −1.9 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 80.3%±3.2 pts | 71.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.5%±2.2 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 1.5%±1.1 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.4%±2.4 pts | 16.3% | +4.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.6 min±1.7 | 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 Macon County's census tracts?
Macon County is divided into 10 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $42,041 (Tract 9704) to $71,014 (Tract 9705.01).
| Tract 970137113970100 | 3,513±592 | $62,371 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 970237113970200 | 4,533±560 | $63,213 |
| Tract 9703.0237113970302 | 4,659±487 | $57,488 |
| Tract 9703.0337113970303 | 1,801±270 | $53,810 |
| Tract 9703.0437113970304 | 2,523±507 | $46,864 |
| Tract 970437113970400 | 3,980±438 | $42,041 |
| Tract 9705.0137113970501 | 1,700±280 | $71,014 |
| Tract 9705.0237113970502 | 2,101±429 | $71,000 |
| Tract 970637113970600 | 6,447±694 | $67,318 |
| Tract 970737113970700 | 6,684±762 | $54,682 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Macon County compare with North Carolina's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 64th of 100 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 32nd of 100 |
| Residents per square mile | 68th of 100 |
| Median household income | 55th of 100 |
| Median home value | 33rd of 100 |
| Median gross rent | 75th of 100 |
| Poverty rate | 74th of 100 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32nd of 100 |
| Median age | 12th 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 Macon 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.