At a Glance
Median Income
$35,076
$12,587 per capita
Median Rent
$836/mo
34.7% of income on rent
Violent Crime
499/100K
6,828/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
29.4%
93.2% high school+
Unemployment
8.0%
21.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.7%
18.2% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
56°F
301 sunny days/yr
How Cullowhee Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Cullowhee's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Cullowhee a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.6 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Cullowhee residents earn a median household income of $35,076 , which is 53% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $12,587. The unemployment rate stands at 8.0% (122% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 21.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,271 business establishments, including 132 restaurants.
Safety & Crime
Cullowhee reports 499 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 31% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 6,828/100K.
Education
29.4% of adults in Cullowhee hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(13% below the national average).
93.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.5/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Cullowhee has an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C).
Winters average 37°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 54.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.
Data Overview
People
Population7,300
Median Age20.9 yrs
Density1,916/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans3.4%
Economy
C
Median Income$35,076
Per Capita$12,587
Unemployment8.0%
Poverty21.5%
County GDP$2,188M
Avg Weekly Wage$933
Housing
B+
Home Value
Rent$836
Ownership7.7%
Zillow$410,787
Housing Units1,969
Rent Burden34.7%
Crime
F
Violent499/100K
Property6,828/100K
Health
Obesity39.7%
Diabetes12.8%
Smoking18.2%
Heart Disease7.3%
Premature Death10,730/100K
Climate
Avg Temp56°F
Sunny Days301/yr
Rain54.2 in/yr
AQI40 (Good)
Elevation2,155 ft
Education
B
Bachelor's+29.4%
High School+93.2%
Graduate+16.4%
School Score5.5/10
Community
2024 VoteR 54% / D 45%
Commute20 min
Broadband57.2%
Internet Speed58 Mbps
EV Stations3
Libraries2
Did You Know?
The median home in Cullowhee was built in 2004.
The nearest airport is Asheville Regional (37 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.490 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
6.4% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
There are 132 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 9 fatal vehicle crashes.
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