Swain County, NC

County in North Carolina, South · ranked on 51 metrics

Rank among US counties

Swain County, NC is a county in North Carolina with a population of 14,001 (2,138th of 3,094). It ranks best for Average Commute (Minutes) (764th of 3,094), Unemployment Rate (%) (tied 1,127th of 3,094). It ranks lowest for Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (2,871st of 3,094), Median Household Income (2,593rd of 3,093), Poverty Rate (%) (2,536th of 3,094).

Population
14,001
2,138th highest of 3,094
Density
26.5
2,000th highest of 3,094
Growth since 2020
-0.75%
2,060th highest of 3,094
Area
528
1,953rd highest of 3,094
Region
South
North Carolina

At a glance

Median household income
$52,349
2,593rd highest of 3,093
Median home value
$207,000
1,318th highest of 3,092
Median rent
$742
2,473rd highest of 3,090
Unemployment
3.7%
1,846th highest of 3,094
Poverty rate
19.1%
559th highest of 3,094
College degree
21.4%
1,661st highest of 3,094
Adult obesity
40.8%
678th highest of 2,916
No health insurance
11.9%
1,027th highest of 2,916
Average commute
21 minutes
2,331st highest of 3,094
Home broadband
77.3%
2,871st highest of 3,094
Climate
52.2°F average
34°F in January, 69°F in July
2024 presidential vote
Republican +23.7
61.3% Republican, 37.6% Democratic

Strengths and weak spotsPercentileWhere a place sits among all places, from 0 to 100. 100 is the best, 50 is the middle, 0 is the worst.More in the glossary →

Percentile on 22 metrics that rank at least half of all US counties, given whether higher or lower is better.

Totals that track populationCounts like “number of burglaries” that mostly reflect how many people live somewhere, so big places rank high or low regardless.More in the glossary →

Best at

Highest percentiles, given whether higher or lower is better

  1. Cooling Degree Days per Year403
    Climate by County (1991–2020 Averages)
    tied 420th of 3,050
  2. Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)$742
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    tied 613th of 3,090
  3. Adults with a Yearly Checkup (%)77.7%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 607th of 2,916
  4. Average Commute (Minutes)20.5
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    764th of 3,094
  5. Adults Who Binge Drink (%)16.0%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 730th of 2,916
  6. Unemployment Rate (%)3.7%
    Unemployment Rate by County (BLS) · 2025
    tied 1,127th of 3,094
  7. Adults Sleeping Under 7 Hours (%)36.2%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2022
    tied 1,202nd of 3,094
  8. Adults with No Leisure-Time Exercise (%)26.5%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 1,453rd of 2,916
  9. Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)21.4%
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    1,661st of 3,094
  10. Heating Degree Days per Year5,036
    Climate by County (1991–2020 Averages)
    1,645th of 3,050

Worst at

Lowest percentiles, given whether higher or lower is better

  1. Homes with Broadband Internet (%)77.3%
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    2,871st of 3,094
  2. Adults Who Smoke (%)20.4%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 2,554th of 2,916
  3. Adults with Depression (%)27.9%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 2,533rd of 2,916
  4. Adults with Frequent Mental Distress (%)20.7%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 2,489th of 2,916
  5. Median Household Income$52,349
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    2,593rd of 3,093
  6. Poverty Rate (%)19.1%
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    2,536th of 3,094
  7. Adults with Obesity (%)40.8%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 2,218th of 2,916
  8. Adults with Diabetes (%)12.5%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 2,184th of 2,916
  9. Adults in Fair or Poor Health (%)23.7%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 2,181st of 2,916
  10. Median Income$52,349
    Poorest Counties
    1,500th of 2,000

Profile by category

Average percentile per category, from the median line. Select a category to list its metrics.

Strongest category Economics (41), weakest Health (37). Select a category to list its metrics.

Notable facts

Where it ranks first or last among US counties

Never first or last on a widely ranked metric.

Where it is

Shaded by population; select a place to open it

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Similar places

Closest percentiles on 19 widely reported measures from 6 categories, leaving out size and totals

  1. Cortland County, NY80% similar
    Compared on 14 of 19
  2. Las Animas County, CO80% similar
    Compared on 16 of 19
  3. Saline County, MO80% similar
    Compared on 14 of 19
  4. Cowley County, KS79% similar
    Compared on 16 of 19
  5. Hill County, MT79% similar

Data stories that include Swain County, NC

Each story charts two statistics across US counties, Swain County, NC among them. Its values are under each title.

Quick answers

What is the population of Swain County, NC?
Swain County, NC has a population of 14,001, 2,138th among 3,094 US counties.
What does Swain County, NC rank best at?
Among US counties, Swain County, NC ranks best for Average Commute (Minutes) (764th of 3,094); Unemployment Rate (%) (tied 1,127th of 3,094).
Where does Swain County, NC rank worst?
Swain County, NC ranks lowest for Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (2,871st of 3,094); Median Household Income (2,593rd of 3,093); Poverty Rate (%) (2,536th of 3,094).
How many statistics does Rankodex have for Swain County, NC?
Rankodex ranks Swain County, NC on 51 statistics compared with other US counties, compiled from World Population Review and the sources it cites.

Every metric

51 metrics with a value for this place, in 14 topics