At a Glance
Median Income
$56,534
$29,087 per capita
Home Value
$180,500
Zillow: $228,940
Median Rent
$719/mo
23.4% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
16.1%
80.3% high school+
Unemployment
8.5%
13.1% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
34.0%
19.0% smoking rate
How Sawmills Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Sawmills's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Sawmills a Good Place to Live?
B
3.3 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Sawmills residents earn a median household income of $56,534 , which is 25% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $29,087. The unemployment rate stands at 8.5% (136% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 13.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,594 business establishments, including 136 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Sawmills is $180,500 , 36% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $228,940. Median rent is $719/month, with 23.4% 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 1983.
Education
16.1% of adults in Sawmills hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(52% below the national average).
80.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.8/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Sawmills has an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C).
Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 47.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.
Data Overview
People
Population5,027
Median Age43.2 yrs
Density761/mi²
Male / Female56% / 44%
Foreign Born0.7%
Veterans3.0%
Economy
C+
Median Income$56,534
Per Capita$29,087
Unemployment8.5%
Poverty13.1%
County GDP$3,308M
Avg Weekly Wage$973
Housing
A+
Home Value$180,500
Rent$719
Ownership67.3%
Zillow$228,940
Housing Units2,401
Rent Burden23.4%
Health
Obesity34.0%
Diabetes10.8%
Smoking19.0%
Heart Disease6.7%
Premature Death12,863/100K
Climate
Avg Temp59°F
Rain47.1 in/yr
AQI40 (Good)
Elevation1,160 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+16.1%
High School+80.3%
Graduate+5.9%
School Score5.8/10
Community
2024 VoteR 76% / D 23%
Commute22 min
Broadband88.0%
Internet Speed154 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries3
Did You Know?
The median home in Sawmills was built in 1983.
The nearest airport is Hickory Regional (7 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.438 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
20.8% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 154 Mbps.
There are 136 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 16 fatal vehicle crashes.