Cherokee County, North Carolina
Among the top 22% of US counties for affordability.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B+, better than 78% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade D, better than 21% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 21% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade C, better than 28% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B+, better than 77% of US counties
- top 13% for amenities nearby
- top 15% for property tax rate
- bottom 12% for property crime
Cherokee County is a county in North Carolina with about 29,000 residents. It grades B+ for affordability and D for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include amenities nearby, property tax rate, and park & nature access. It rates lower on violent crime and property crime.
Official websitecherokeecounty-nc.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Hot, humid summers · Cool winters · Wet · Light snow
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68%49%clearovercast
Precipitation 5.5 in4.1 in
muggy 97%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$49k20th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$44kbetter than 62% of US counties
Home Value$194k65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$819better than 50% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 66% of US counties
Property Tax Rate0.52%better than 85% of US counties
Income Tax4.50%better than 62% of US counties
Sales Tax7.00%better than 61% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden8.84%better than 65% of US counties
Unemployment4.9%better than 46% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)39°F64th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)78°F56th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation59.3 in95th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall4.4 inbetter than 64% of US counties
Sunny Days211 daysbetter than 23% of US counties
Summer Humidity68°Fbetter than 34% of US counties
Comfortable Days77 daysbetter than 44% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk56.7better than 42% of US counties
School Quality59.4better than 59% of US counties
Violent Crime1629/100kbetter than 12% of US counties
Property Crime2121/100kbetter than 12% of US counties
Community
Population28,86853rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age52.997th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.1628th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9729th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+5673rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)90.1%72nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)1.5%44th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)3.7%40th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.5%45th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.2%68th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time26 minbetter than 36% of US counties
Walkability5.6/20better than 36% of US counties
Airport Distance106 mibetter than 45% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access79.2%better than 28% of US counties
Amenities Nearby10.39better than 87% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 84% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Cherokee County an affordable place to live?
- Cherokee County is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $44k, better than 62% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Cherokee County?
- The median home value in Cherokee County is $194k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Cherokee County?
- Median household income in Cherokee County is $49k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Cherokee County?
- Median gross rent in Cherokee County is $819 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Cherokee County safe?
- Cherokee County is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1629/100k (better than 12%). Property crime is 2121/100k.
- What is the weather like in Cherokee County?
- Cherokee County averages 78°F in July and 39°F in January, with 59.3 in of annual precipitation and about 211 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Cherokee County?
- Public-school quality in Cherokee County is about average, scoring better than 59% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Cherokee County?
- The average one-way commute in Cherokee County is 26 min.
Other counties in North Carolina
Explore North Carolina
Data sources
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)