1st Advantage MortgageIn Graham County, North Carolina, the typical household earns $49,684 a year and the typical rent is $676. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Graham County
- How much Graham County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Graham County
- What it costs to live in Graham County
- The counties around Graham County
- Towns and communities in Graham County
- More Graham County figures
- Reading the Graham County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Graham County
- Checklist for Graham County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Graham County residents
- More guides for Graham County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Graham County
Graham County is home to about 8,072 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 98th most populous of 100 county-level areas in North Carolina. Land area is 292 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 28 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Graham County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (3 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Robbinsville, with about 577 residents, or 7% of the county. With so few households sampled, Graham County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How much Graham County households make
Half of Graham County households take in less than $49,684 a year and half take in more, 31% below the North Carolina median of $72,388. That places it 86th among North Carolina's 100 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Graham County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.4% | +3.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 52.0% | +10.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.2% | -7.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -6.0 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 22% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 6.7%, 6 points lower than the state's 13.0%. For a borrower in Graham County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Jobs and commutes in Graham County
By the Census industry count, 30% of employed Graham County residents work in education and health care and 14% in construction. Education and health care stands out: 30% of workers here, versus 23% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 7.0% in Graham County. Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 10.6% of the total (5.3% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Graham County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.5% | +7.0 pts |
| Construction | 14.1% | +6.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | -3.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.1% | -2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | -0.6 pts |
| Public administration | 7.2% | +3.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What it costs to live in Graham County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $676 in Graham County versus $1,228 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48% of renter households here. With a median value of $170,600, a typical Graham County house costs 3.4 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 81%. The median year built is 1989.
| Measure | Graham County | North Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $676/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $170,600 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 33% | 13% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Graham County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The counties around Graham County
Six nearby counties, 20 to 27 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Blount County leads the group on income ($77,365), Swain County trails ($52,349), and Graham County out-earns 0 of the six. The list crosses into Tennessee, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graham County | - | $49,684 | $676/mo | 81% |
| Cherokee County, NC | 20 mi | $53,628 | $813/mo | 84% |
| Clay County, NC | 21 mi | $56,971 | $804/mo | 81% |
| Blount County, TN | 24 mi | $77,365 | $1,090/mo | 77% |
| Monroe County, TN | 25 mi | $56,895 | $714/mo | 72% |
| Swain County, NC | 26 mi | $52,349 | $742/mo | 73% |
| Macon County, NC | 27 mi | $59,061 | $803/mo | 78% |
Towns and communities in Graham County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Graham County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 659 people, so roughly 92% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robbinsville | town | 577 | $17,802 | $364 | 2 mi |
| Lake Santeetlah | town | 82 | $85,625 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Fontana Dam | town | 0 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
More Graham County figures
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 12.5%, against 9.9% for North Carolina.
| Graham County | North Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.6% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.3% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.5% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.6% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.7% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.0% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Graham County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.5% |
| 60+ min | 11.5% |
Reading the Graham County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Graham County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 13% of Graham County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Vehicle repairs. 19% of Graham County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 26% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 46, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
Room for a loan payment in Graham County
How much room does a median Graham County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,140 before taxes
- 16% goes to median rent ($676)
- At 36%, room after rent is $815 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Checklist for Graham County applicants
A short checklist for Graham County borrowers:
- Price the Graham County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in North Carolina.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Graham County residents
Consumer lenders serving Graham County are licensed by the state, not the county; in North Carolina that is the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Graham County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Graham County a high-income county?
Its $49,684 median ranks 86th of 100 North Carolina counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Graham County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $676 against $1,228 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Graham County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 81% of Graham County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Graham County?
By population: Robbinsville, Lake Santeetlah, Fontana Dam. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Graham County or elsewhere in North Carolina, the same rules apply.