1st Advantage MortgageAbout 78% of Macon County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $59,061. 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
- A quick profile of Macon County
- Renting and owning in Macon County
- Household income in Macon County
- The Macon County job picture
- How Macon County compares with nearby counties
- Macon County towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Macon County
- More Macon County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Macon County
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Macon County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Macon County
With an estimated 37,941 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Macon County ranks 64th of 100 in North Carolina for population. Land area is 516 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 74 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Macon County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Franklin is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 4,268 people (11% of the county total).
Renting and owning in Macon County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $803 in Macon County versus $1,228 statewide. 38% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. With a median value of $251,900, a typical Macon County house costs 4.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 78%. Median construction year: 1987.
| Measure | Macon County | North Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $803/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $251,900 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 32% | 13% | n/a |
Because most Macon County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Household income in Macon County
The median household income in Macon County is $59,061; statewide it is $72,388, so Macon County runs 18% below North Carolina as a whole. Only 54 North Carolina counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Macon County | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.8% | +6.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.6% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.7% | -7.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.0% | -2.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 26% of Macon County households make $100,000 or more, and 30% make less than $35,000. 11.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.0%). A household earning below the $59,061 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Macon County job picture
The biggest employer of Macon County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in arts, lodging and food service, at 13% locally and 8% for North Carolina. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Macon County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.1% | -2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.4% | +2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.8% | +4.5 pts |
| Construction | 11.8% | +4.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.4% | -2.2 pts |
| Other services | 6.5% | +1.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Macon County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How Macon County compares with nearby counties
Rabun County is closest, 19 miles from center to center; the sixth, Swain County, is 29 miles off. Income ranges from $49,684 in Graham County to $67,493 in Rabun County; 2 of these neighbors top Macon County's median. The list crosses into Georgia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macon County | - | $59,061 | $803/mo | 78% |
| Rabun County, GA | 19 mi | $67,493 | $1,047/mo | 77% |
| Jackson County, NC | 19 mi | $55,815 | $904/mo | 61% |
| Clay County, NC | 20 mi | $56,971 | $804/mo | 81% |
| Towns County, GA | 25 mi | $59,135 | $808/mo | 82% |
| Graham County, NC | 27 mi | $49,684 | $676/mo | 81% |
| Swain County, NC | 29 mi | $52,349 | $742/mo | 73% |
Macon County towns compared
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 14% of Macon County residents live in one of the 2. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | town | 4,268 | $47,888 | $725 | 3 mi |
| Highlands | town | 1,074 | $71,509 | $650 | 14 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Macon County
Here is the Macon County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $4,922 gross per month ($59,061 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $803, takes 16% of that
- Under a 36% cap, $1,772 total minus rent leaves $969
- $1,313: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Macon County figures
28% of Macon County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 14% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Macon County | North Carolina | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.7 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.9% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.2% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.7% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.8% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Macon County
Based on the Macon County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 14% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 15% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 50, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Macon County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Who licenses lenders for Macon County residents
Macon County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Macon County a high-income county?
Its $59,061 median ranks 55th of 100 North Carolina counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Macon County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $803 a month; 38% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Macon County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Macon County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Macon County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Franklin, Highlands.
Are Macon County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.