Bryson City, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Swain County County

3.5 /5.0
B+ Good
1,676 Population 769/sq mi density
$43,387 Median Income $26,379 per capita
$246,700 Home Value $322,659 Zillow
$721 Median Rent 28.3% income on rent
56°F Avg Temperature
B+
Overall
3.5 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.7 / 5.0
$43,387 median income, 1.2% unemployment
B
Affordability
3.5 / 5.0
$246,700 home value, $721/mo rent
B
Education
3.4 / 5.0
30.4% bachelor's degree or higher

Bryson City, NC

At a Glance

Median Income
$43,387
42% below
$26,379 per capita
Home Value
$246,700
12% below
Zillow: $322,659
Median Rent
$721/mo
38% below
28.3% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
30.4%
10% below
81.4% high school+
Unemployment
1.2%
67% below
8.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.1%
22% above
17.9% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
56°F

How Bryson City Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Bryson City's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
58%
Home Value
88%
Rent
62%
Poverty
71%
Bachelor's
90%
Unemployment
33%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Bryson City a Good Place to Live?

B+
3.5 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Bryson City residents earn a median household income of $43,387 , which is 42% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $26,379. The unemployment rate stands at 1.2% (67% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 8.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 515 business establishments, including 82 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Bryson City is $246,700 , 12% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $322,659. Median rent is $721/month, with 28.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 94.3 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1978.

Education

30.4% of adults in Bryson City hold a bachelor's degree or higher (10% below the national average). 81.4% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.3/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Bryson City has an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C). Winters average 37°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 58.6 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38.

Data Overview

People

Population1,676
Median Age40.2 yrs
Density769/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born0.9%
Veterans3.2%

Economy

B+
Median Income$43,387
Per Capita$26,379
Unemployment1.2%
Poverty8.8%
County GDP$916M
Avg Weekly Wage$894

Housing

B
Home Value$246,700
Rent$721
Ownership48.6%
Zillow$322,659
Housing Units817
Rent Burden28.3%

Health

Obesity39.1%
Diabetes11.0%
Smoking17.9%
Heart Disease6.2%
Premature Death19,177/100K

Climate

Avg Temp56°F
Rain58.6 in/yr
AQI38 (Good)
Elevation1,734 ft

Education

B
Bachelor's+30.4%
High School+81.4%
Graduate+6.3%
School Score5.3/10

Community

2024 VoteR 61% / D 38%
Commute19 min
Broadband69.8%
Internet Speed27 Mbps
EV Stations3
Libraries1

Did You Know?

The median home in Bryson City was built in 1978.
The nearest airport is Mc Ghee Tyson (41 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.447 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
13.9% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 3 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.