Population
14,024
2025
−0.6% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Swain County, NC growth snapshot
Swain County had an estimated 14,024 residents in 2025, down 0.6% (83 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than North Carolina as a whole (+7.2%), and the 126th fastest growth of 146 counties in the Carolinas.
Data as of 2025 · updated
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
+41
2025
2.9 per 1,000 residents
+248 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Jobs
6,871
2025
−28.8% since 2020
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025. Average annual employment covered by unemployment insurance.
Average weekly wage
$974
2025
+29.1% since 2020
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025. Average weekly wage, all covered jobs.
Unemployment rate
3.7%
2025
−0.8 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
94
2025
−55.7% since 2021
6.7 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$52,349
2020–24
+14.9% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
3,724
2023
+5.1% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration added 41 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Employers counted 6,871 jobs in 2025, −28.8% since 2020 (146th of 146 Carolinas counties for job growth); the average weekly wage was $974.
Unemployment averaged 3.7% in 2025, 0.8 points lower than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 94 new homes in 2025, or 6.7 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $52,349 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +14.9% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,073rd.
Swain County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14,024 | −23 |
| 2024 | 14,047 | +88 |
| 2023 | 13,959 | −23 |
| 2022 | 13,982 | −152 |
| 2021 | 14,134 | +27 |
| 2020 | 14,107 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Swain County
Swain County lost 83 people since 2020 even though 248 more people moved in from other U.S. counties than left: deaths outnumbered births by 496, and net international migration added 169.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −105 | −496 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +41 | +169 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +41 | +248 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +0 | −4 | |
| Total change | −23 | −83 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In North Carolina | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 91st of 100 | 2,073rd of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 70th of 100 | 1,405th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 60th of 100 | 1,203rd of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 78th of 100 | 2,612th of 3,107 |
| Average weekly wage | 54th of 100 | – |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 41st of 100 | 1,203rd of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 39th of 100 | 376th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the full county report — $99
The quarterly County Growth Report for Swain County, NC as a PDF: growth, jobs, wages, permits, announcements, sales where allowed, ranks against peer counties and a methods page. Pay once, no subscription.
See a sample report (PDF) · Other counties and options
Every purchase also includes a CSV of every table in the report, ready for a spreadsheet.
- Not useful? Email us within 14 days for a full refund
- Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
- Secure Stripe checkout (Apple Pay/Google Pay)
- Instant PDF download
- PDF + CSV of every table
Refund terms: Terms. · How we compute every number
Neighbouring counties
Swain County lost population faster than all 6 of its neighbouring counties (−0.6%, 2020–25).
5 of its 6 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Swain County's $52,349 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swain County, NC This county | 14,024 | −0.6% | 2.9 | 6.7 | $52,349 |
| Graham County, NC | 8,190 | +1.9% | 9.8 | 3.4 | $49,684 |
| Sevier County, TN | 101,342 | +2.5% | −3.1 | 11.2 | $62,581 |
| Macon County, NC | 39,232 | +5.8% | 15.5 | 6.4 | $59,061 |
| Blount County, TN | 143,820 | +6.0% | 14.2 | 5.5 | $77,365 |
| Jackson County, NC | 45,039 | +6.9% | 1.1 | 5.2 | $55,815 |
| Haywood County, NC | 63,369 | +1.8% | 7.7 | 8.1 | $61,912 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
All 100 North Carolina counties · All Carolinas counties and metros
Questions
What is the population of Swain County?
About 14,024 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
Is Swain County growing?
No. Its population fell 0.6% between 2020 and 2025, about 83 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). North Carolina as a whole changed +7.2% over the same years. That ranks 126th of 146 Carolinas counties for population growth.
How many people moved to Swain County?
On net, about 41 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
How many jobs are in Swain County?
Employers there reported 6,871 jobs covered by unemployment insurance in 2025, −28.8% since 2020 (BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages). The average weekly wage was $974 in 2025.
What is the unemployment rate in Swain County?
It averaged 3.7% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
How many new homes are being built in Swain County?
Building permits authorized 94 new housing units in 2025, 6.7 per 1,000 residents (Census Bureau Building Permits Survey). Permits count homes authorized, not finished.
What is the median household income in Swain County?
$52,349 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
How does Swain County compare with other North Carolina counties?
Among North Carolina counties it ranks 91st of 100 for population growth; 70th of 100 for net domestic migration per 1,000 residents; 60th of 100 for private-sector job growth; 78th of 100 for median household income. Nationally it ranks 2,073rd of 3,107 counties for population growth.
See Swain County tract by tract
Beacon CRE maps growth, permits, workforce, flood risk, opportunity zones, listings and recent sales for every county and census tract in the Carolinas, with grades that explain themselves.
Card required, cancel anytime before the trial ends. Prefer an invoice? Request a pilot.
Get the Carolinas CRE Growth Brief
One email a month: the NC and SC counties gaining people, jobs and new homes fastest, with the numbers behind them. Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.