1st Advantage MortgageIn Haywood County, North Carolina, the typical household earns $61,912 a year and the typical rent is $1,067. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's North Carolina license first.
On this page
- Haywood County at a glance
- Renting and owning in Haywood County
- How much Haywood County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Haywood County
- Places inside Haywood County
- Counties near Haywood County
- Who lives in Haywood County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Haywood County
- Budget math at the Haywood County median
- Who licenses lenders for Haywood County residents
- Steps before you apply in Haywood County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Haywood County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Haywood County's population at 62,662; only 44 of North Carolina's 100 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 554 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 113 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 6 Census places inside Haywood County, Waynesville leads by population with about 10,502; 4 of the 6 are incorporated.
Renting and owning in Haywood County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,067 in Haywood County versus $1,228 statewide. By the Census definition, 52% of Haywood County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $279,200, or 4.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 75%. Half the housing stock was built before 1983.
| Haywood County | North Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,067/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $279,200 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 25% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Haywood 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. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
How much Haywood County households make
Half of Haywood County households take in less than $61,912 a year and half take in more, 14% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
| Households earning | Haywood County | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.2% | +4.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.6% | +2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.6% | -1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -4.8 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 29% clear $100,000. 13.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.436 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Haywood County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Haywood County
The biggest employer of Haywood County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by manufacturing (12%). The sharpest difference from the state is in arts, lodging and food service, at 12% locally and 8% for North Carolina. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.1% in Haywood County. 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.0% of the total (5.3% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Haywood County workers | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.6% | +1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.2% | +0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +0.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.5% | +3.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.4% | -1.3 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | -0.7 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Places inside Haywood County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Haywood County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 22,979 people, so roughly 63% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $69,924 at the median in Canton, $34,464 in West Canton. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waynesville | town | 10,502 | $54,923 | $1,070 | 5 mi |
| Canton | town | 4,419 | $69,924 | $790 | 8 mi |
| Lake Junaluska | CDP | 3,175 | $66,165 | $1,137 | 2 mi |
| Maggie Valley | town | 2,112 | $68,125 | $1,067 | 5 mi |
| West Canton | CDP | 1,412 | $34,464 | $1,223 | 7 mi |
| Clyde | town | 1,359 | $56,406 | $1,033 | 4 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Counties near Haywood County
Jackson County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, Swain County, is 27 miles off. Income ranges from $48,016 in Cocke County to $74,436 in Buncombe County; 2 of these neighbors top Haywood County's median. The list crosses into Tennessee, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haywood County | - | $61,912 | $1,067/mo | 75% |
| Jackson County, NC | 21 mi | $55,815 | $904/mo | 61% |
| Buncombe County, NC | 26 mi | $74,436 | $1,362/mo | 66% |
| Transylvania County, NC | 26 mi | $66,184 | $967/mo | 75% |
| Cocke County, TN | 26 mi | $48,016 | $798/mo | 75% |
| Madison County, NC | 26 mi | $58,531 | $780/mo | 77% |
| Swain County, NC | 27 mi | $52,349 | $742/mo | 73% |
Who lives in Haywood County, in numbers
30% of Haywood County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 11.4%, against 9.9% for North Carolina.
| Haywood County | North Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.5% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.7% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.4% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.3% |
| 60+ min | 4.0% |
Before borrowing in Haywood County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Haywood County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Haywood County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Mobile home upkeep. 17% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Older households. A 47.8 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Tight rental budgets. With 52% of Haywood County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Budget math at the Haywood County median
Here is the Haywood County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,159 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $1,067 uses 21%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $790 left for all other debt payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,152 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Haywood County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who licenses lenders for Haywood County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Haywood County borrowers answers to the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: North Carolina guide.
Steps before you apply in Haywood County
Quick steps for Haywood County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Haywood County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the North Carolina license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Haywood County earn?
The median is $61,912; 29% earn $100,000 or more and 27% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Haywood County?
$1,067 a month at the median, about 21% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Haywood County?
By population: Waynesville, Canton, Lake Junaluska, Maggie Valley, West Canton. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Haywood County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Haywood County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In North Carolina it is the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks.