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Cherokee, NC
Full City Profile · North Carolina · Swain County County
2.7
/5.0
C+
Fair
1,631
Population
135/sq mi density
$48,173
Median Income
$25,300 per capita
$192,700
Home Value
$325,379 Zillow
$799
Median Rent
19.9% income on rent
55°F
Avg Temperature
301 sunny days/yr
499
Violent Crime/100K
6,828 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.7 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.8 / 5.0
$48,173 median income, 0.8% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.4 / 5.0
$192,700 home value, $799/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
499 violent crimes/100K (31% above avg)
C+
Education
2.6 / 5.0
20.3% bachelor's degree or higher
Cherokee experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 36°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 56.7 inches. The area receives 6.5 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.
Temperature
36°F Jan (2°C)
73°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 55.2°F |
| 2% above US avg | |
| January Average | 36°F (2°C) |
| July Average | 73°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 301 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 2,439 ft (743 m) |
| Area | 12.1 sq mi (31.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 135/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 35.4860°N, 83.3011°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Swain County County |
| Nearest Airport | Asheville Regional (AVL) 43 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 40.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0420 ppm |
| PM2.5 (Fine Particles) | 6.2 μg/m³ |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 49.1 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 93.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 25.0 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | No Rating |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36°F (2°C) | 5.3 in | Coldest |
| February | 38°F (3°C) | 5.2 in | |
| March | 45°F (7°C) | 6.3 in | Wettest |
| April | 53°F (11°C) | 4.7 in | |
| May | 60°F (16°C) | 5.5 in | |
| June | 67°F (19°C) | 5.1 in | |
| July | 73°F (23°C) | 5.2 in | Warmest |
| August | 70°F (21°C) | 5.0 in | |
| September | 65°F (18°C) | 4.5 in | |
| October | 54°F (12°C) | 3.9 in | Driest |
| November | 45°F (7°C) | 4.9 in | |
| December | 38°F (3°C) | 5.2 in |
Cherokee has a seasonal temperature swing of 36°F / from 36°F in January to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 60.7 inches, with March being the wettest month (6.3") and October the driest (3.9").