Sylva, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Jackson County County

2.6 /5.0
C+ Fair
2,600 Population 820/sq mi density
$41,926 Median Income $19,021 per capita
$195,500 Home Value $330,281 Zillow
$768 Median Rent 32.7% income on rent
56°F Avg Temperature
482 Violent Crime/100K 4,301 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.6 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
F
Economy
1.4 / 5.0
$41,926 median income, 13.3% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.0 / 5.0
$195,500 home value, $768/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
482 violent crimes/100K (27% above avg)
B+
Education
3.8 / 5.0
34.4% bachelor's degree or higher

Sylva, NC

At a Glance

Median Income
$41,926
44% below
$19,021 per capita
Home Value
$195,500
31% below
Zillow: $330,281
Median Rent
$768/mo
34% below
32.7% of income on rent
Violent Crime
482/100K
27% above
4,301/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
34.4%
2% above
81.3% high school+
Unemployment
13.3%
269% above
30.3% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
37.1%
16% above
16.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
56°F

How Sylva Compares to the U.S. Average

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

Income
56%
Home Value
69%
Rent
66%
Poverty
244%
Bachelor's
102%
Unemployment
369%
Crime
127%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Sylva 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

Sylva residents earn a median household income of $41,926 , which is 44% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $19,021. The unemployment rate stands at 13.3% (269% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 30.3% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,271 business establishments, including 132 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Sylva is $195,500 , 31% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $330,281. Median rent is $768/month, with 32.7% 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 1971.

Safety & Crime

Sylva reports 482 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 27% above the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 4,301/100K.

Education

34.4% of adults in Sylva hold a bachelor's degree or higher (2% above the national average). 81.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.5/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Sylva has an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C). Winters average 37°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 54.2 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population2,600
Median Age30.3 yrs
Density820/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born9.0%
Veterans4.1%

Economy

F
Median Income$41,926
Per Capita$19,021
Unemployment13.3%
Poverty30.3%
County GDP$2,188M
Avg Weekly Wage$933

Housing

A
Home Value$195,500
Rent$768
Ownership40.3%
Zillow$330,281
Housing Units1,257
Rent Burden32.7%

Crime

F
Violent482/100K
Property4,301/100K

Health

Obesity37.1%
Diabetes11.4%
Smoking16.3%
Heart Disease6.3%
Premature Death10,730/100K

Climate

Avg Temp56°F
Rain54.2 in/yr
Elevation2,079 ft

Education

B+
Bachelor's+34.4%
High School+81.3%
Graduate+14.9%
School Score5.5/10

Community

2024 VoteR 54% / D 45%
Commute25 min
Broadband75.7%
Internet Speed58 Mbps
EV Stations3
Libraries2

Did You Know?

The median home in Sylva was built in 1971.
The nearest airport is Asheville Regional (38 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.490 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
13.4% of the population has a disability.
There are 132 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 9 fatal vehicle crashes.