Cherokee: Demographics & People
About 2,059 people live in Cherokee, in 937 households. Population grew 26.2% from 1,631 (2022) to 2,059 (2024). Median age 33.3 years. (9.3y younger than Swain County; 2.9y younger than North Carolina). Children under 18 are 23% of the population. Population is 10% White (non-Hispanic) and 5% Asian. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.55). 60% of households are family-led. County is gaining 847 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 32% adult obesity, 16% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household (vs North Carolina avg 2.5).
- 40% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs North Carolina 42%).
- 51 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs North Carolina 64).
Population & Trend
Population grew 26.2% from 1,631 (2022) to 2,059 (2024) — about 43.7× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~2,634 (extrapolated at 13.1%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 3,546.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 43,109 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 26.2% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,631 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 2,059 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 2,059 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
| Population Estimate | 3,546 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 33.3y is 5.6 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 23% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 33.3 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 23.2% |
| Age Summary · Character | young professional |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 2,059 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 477 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 619.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 744.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 219 |
| Population under 18 | 477 |
| Median age | 33.3 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 2,059 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.55 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 170 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 34 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 85 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 55.4% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 58.8% |
| Asian population | 4.8% (vs North Carolina 3.2%) |
| Black population | 1.9% (vs North Carolina 26.0%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 3.1% (vs North Carolina 12.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 9.9% (vs North Carolina 51.1%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (7)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.8% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 5% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 1,558 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 366 |
| Share born in this state | 75.7% |
| Share born in another state | 24.3% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 17.8% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.8% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.7% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 35 |
Households & Family Composition
937 households. Averaging 2.1 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 60% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 455 families, 3% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 333 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 455 |
| Married couples with children | 12 |
| Single-parent households | 73 |
| Average household size | 2.08 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 19.3% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 16 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 16 |
| Family households | 560 households (vs North Carolina 17,226) |
| Households that are families | 59.8% (vs North Carolina 58.5%) |
| Total households | 937 households (vs North Carolina 25,235) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 11.1% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 847 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 11.1% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 33,244 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 32,397 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 847 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 195 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 12.3% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 28 residents live in group quarters (1.4% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 28 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 11 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | NC-11 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 37099 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 37 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 099 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Jackson |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 12.8% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 10.70 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 15.20 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 37099 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Jackson County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,400 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 37099 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Jackson County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 77.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 59.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 37.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 43,938 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 7.60 |
| Family Score · Schools | 12 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 23.2% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 2,059, booming, young professional, middle-class, service economy |
| Town Summary · Population | 2,059 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
| Town Summary · County | Jackson County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade