Sylva, NC Profile: Facts & Data

Sylva, North Carolina - Basic Facts

The Town of Sylva had a population of 2,607 as of July 1, 2024.

The primary coordinate point for Sylva is located at latitude 35.3737 and longitude -83.226 in Jackson County. The formal boundaries for the Town of Sylva encompass a land area of 3.19 sq. miles and a water area of 0 sq. miles. Jackson County is in the Eastern time zone (GMT -5).

The Town of Sylva has a C1 Census Class Code which indicates an active incorporated place that does not serve as a county subdivision equivalent. It also has a Functional Status Code of "A" which identifies an active government providing primary general-purpose functions.

The Town of Sylva is located within Township of Sylva, a minor civil division (MCD) of Jackson County.

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Sylva, NC Data & Demographics (As of July 1, 2024)

POPULATION
Total Population	2,607 (100%)
Population in Households	2,473 (94.9%)
Population in Families	1,712 (65.7%)
Population in Group Quarters¹	134 ( 5.1%)
Population Density	822
Diversity Index²	51


INCOME
Median Household Income	$47,158
Average Household Income	$70,444
% of Income for Mortgage⁴	35%
Per Capita Income	$28,754
Wealth Index⁵	50
Socioeconomic Status Index⁶	Low (42.9)

HOUSING
Total HU (Housing Units)	1,262 (100%)
Owner Occupied HU	535 (42.4%)
Renter Occupied HU	526 (41.7%)
Vacant Housing Units	201 (15.9%)
Median Home Value	$266,200
Average Home Value	$302,056
Housing Affordability Index³	75

HOUSEHOLDS
Total Households	1,061
Average Household Size	2.33
Family Households	551
Average Family Size	3.00

HOUSING

Total HU (Housing Units)

1,262 (100%)

Owner Occupied HU

535 (42.4%)

Renter Occupied HU

526 (41.7%)

Vacant Housing Units

201 (15.9%)

Median Home Value

$266,200

Average Home Value

$302,056

Housing Affordability Index³

HOUSEHOLDS

Total Households

1,061

Average Household Size

2.33

Family Households

551

Average Family Size

3.00

NOTES

Group Quarters - a place where people live or stay in a group living arrangement. Includes college residents halls, nursing facilities, military barracks, and correctional facilities.
The Diversity Index is a scale of 0 to 100 that represents the likelihood that two persons, chosen at random from the same area, belong to different races or ethnic groups. If an area's entire population belongs to one race AND one ethnic group, then the area has zero diversity. An area's diversity index increases to 100 when the population is evenly divided into two or more race/ethnic groups.
The Housing Affordability Index base is 100 and represents a balance point where a resident with a median household income can normally qualify to purchase a median price home. Values above 100 indicate increased affordability, while values below 100 indicate decreased affordability.
The % of Income for Mortgage quantifies the percentage of median household income dedicated to mortgage payments on a home priced at the median value (assuming a 30-year mortgage and a 20% down payment).
The Wealth Index is based on a number of indicators of affluence including average household income and average net worth, but it also includes the value of material possessions and resources. It represents the wealth of the area relative to the national level. Values above or below 100 represent above-average wealth or below-average wealth compared to the national level.
The Socioeconomic Index ranges from zero (lowest relative status) to 100 (highest relative status). This measure quantifies disparities in social position of an area's inhabitants and is built from a broad range of demographic, housing, and socioeconomic inputs. More information on this measure can be found in Esri's SEI tutorial.

GROWTH RATE / YEAR	2020-2024	2024-2029
Population	0.26%	0.41%
Households	0.65%	0.45%
Families		0.40%
Median Household Income		2.18%
Per Capita Income		2.82%
Owner Occupied HU		2.05%

GROWTH RATE / YEAR

2020-2024

2024-2029

Population

0.26%

0.41%

Households

0.65%

0.45%

Families

0.40%

Median Household Income

2.18%

Per Capita Income

2.82%

Owner Occupied HU

2.05%

Sylva, NC - Peer Comparisons by Rank and Percentile

The table below compares Sylva to the other 777 incorporated cities, towns and CDPs in North Carolina by rank and percentile using July 1, 2024 data. The location Ranked # 1 has the highest value. A location that ranks higher than 75% of its peers would be in the 75th percentile of the peer group.

Variable Description	Rank	Percentile
Total Population	# 282	64th
Population Density	# 297	62nd
Median Household Income	# 600	23rd
Housing Affordability Index	# 156	20th
Per Capita Income	# 504	35th
Diversity Index	# 433	44th

Variable Description

Rank

Percentile

Total Population

# 282

64th

Population Density

# 297

62nd

Median Household Income

# 600

23rd

Housing Affordability Index

# 156

20th

Per Capita Income

# 504

35th

Diversity Index

# 433

44th

North Carolina Census Data Comparison Tool

Sylva, NC Profile: Facts & Data

Sylva, North Carolina - Basic Facts

Sylva, NC Data & Demographics (As of July 1, 2024)

POPULATION

INCOME

HOUSING

HOUSEHOLDS

GROWTH RATE / YEAR

Sylva, NC - Peer Comparisons by Rank and Percentile

Sylva, NC - Most Popular Things to Do

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Jackson County