County population in 2014: 33,875 (20% urban, 80% rural); it was 29,811 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 6,325 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 4,959 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 10,433 Renter-occupied apartments: 3,307 (it was 2,395 in 2000)
% of renters here:
19%
State:
33%
Land area: 516 sq. mi.
Water area: 3.0 sq. mi.
Population density: 66 people per square mile (average).
Mar. 2016 cost of living index in Macon County: 83.5 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
Industries providing employment: Educational, health and social services (20.0%), Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (15.4%), Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (13.0%), Retail trade (12.6%), Finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing (11.3%).
Estimated median household income in 2015: $39,936 ($32,139 in 1999)
This county:
$39,936
North Carolina:
$47,830
Median contract rent in 2015 for apartments: $598 (lower quartile is $439, upper quartile is $767)
This county:
$598
State:
$648
Estimated median house or condo value in 2015: $171,159 (it was $97,400 in 2000)
Macon:
$171,159
North Carolina:
$160,100
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $104,087 - $276,048 Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $1,032 Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $285
Institutionalized population: 210
Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 1
Rapes: 3
Robberies: 1
Assaults: 15
Burglaries: 163
Thefts: 276
Auto thefts: 26
Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 2
Rapes: 2
Robberies: 1
Assaults: 20
Burglaries: 195
Thefts: 243
Auto thefts: 24
Single-family new house construction building permits:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2015: $803 (0.4%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2015: $728 (0.4%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2015: 19.1%
(17.0% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 33.2% for Black residents, 41.7% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 7.3% for American Indian residents, 52.1% for other race residents, 36.5% for two or more races residents)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2015: 18.0%
Macon County:
18.0%
North Carolina:
16.4%
(16.3% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 30.9% for Black residents, 38.7% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 6.4% for American Indian residents, 49.7% for other race residents, 31.4% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2015: 49 years old
(Males: 46 years old, Females: 51 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 51 years old, Black residents: 33 years old, American Indian residents: 59 years old, Asian residents: 41 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 25 years old, Other race residents: 21 years old)
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Macon County is $413 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $532 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $646 a month.
Current college students: 1,062 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 77.3% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 16.2%
Number of foreign born residents: 784 (43% naturalized citizens)
Macon County:
2.6%
Whole state:
5.3%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 206
1990 to 1994: 82
1985 to 1989: 103
1980 to 1984: 83
1975 to 1979: 40
1970 to 1974: 36
1970 to 1974: 20
1965 to 1969: 214
Note: State values scaled to Macon County population
Mean travel time to work (commute): 20.0 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 83.1%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 16,288
One, attached: 301
Two: 280
3 or 4: 234
5 to 9: 341
10 to 19: 116
20 or more: 36
Mobile homes: 3,077
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 73
Housing units in Macon County with a mortgage: 3,982 (248 second mortgage, 698 home equity loan, 0 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 3,427
Here:
53.7% with mortgage
State:
69.1% with mortgage
Religion statistics for Macon County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Evangelical Protestant
16,486
76
Mainline Protestant
4,508
24
Catholic
1,260
2
Other
514
5
None
11,209
-
Macon County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 7
Macon County:
2.15 / 10,000 pop.
State:
2.05 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 4
This county:
1.23 / 10,000 pop.
North Carolina:
0.92 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 20
Macon County:
6.14 / 10,000 pop.
North Carolina:
4.75 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 54
This county:
16.57 / 10,000 pop.
State:
7.57 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Macon County:
9.9%
North Carolina:
9.8%
Adult obesity rate:
Macon County:
27.7%
State:
28.3%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
15.2%
State:
15.6%
Agriculture in Macon County:
Average size of farms: 65 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $13,249 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $450.75 The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 19.13% The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 47.13% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $10,287 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 23.97% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $68,473 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 96.54% Average age of principal farm operators: 59 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 20.74 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 0.30% Corn for grain: 86 harvested acres Vegetables: 233 harvested acres Land in orchards: 19 acres
Earthquake activity:
Macon County-area historical earthquake activity is slightly above North Carolina state average. It is 81% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 11/30/1973 at 07:48:41, a magnitude 4.7 (4.7 MB, 4.6 ML, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 55.8 miles away from Macon County center On 8/2/1974 at 08:52:09, a magnitude 4.9 (4.3 MB, 4.9 LG) earthquake occurred 101.9 miles away from the county center On 4/29/2003 at 08:59:39, a magnitude 4.9 (4.4 MB, 4.6 MW, 4.9 LG, Depth: 12.2 mi) earthquake occurred 136.4 miles away from the county center On 7/27/1980 at 18:52:21, a magnitude 5.2 (5.1 MB, 4.7 MS, 5.0 UK, 5.2 UK, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 213.4 miles away from the county center On 4/18/2008 at 09:36:59, a magnitude 5.4 (5.1 MB, 4.8 MS, 5.4 MW, 5.2 MW, Depth: 8.9 mi) earthquake occurred 338.5 miles away from Macon County center On 9/7/1988 at 02:28:09, a magnitude 4.6 (4.5 MB, 4.6 LG) earthquake occurred 208.6 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
North Carolina Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, Incident Period: July 03, 2013 to July 14, 2013, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4146: September 25, 2013, FEMA Id: 4146, Natural disaster type: Storm, Mudslide, Landslide, Flood
North Carolina Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3222: September 05, 2005, FEMA Id: 3222, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
North Carolina Hurricane Ivan, Incident Period: September 16, 2004 to September 23, 2004, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1553: September 18, 2004, FEMA Id: 1553, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
North Carolina Tropical Storm Frances, Incident Period: September 07, 2004 to September 12, 2004, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1546: September 10, 2004, FEMA Id: 1546, Natural disaster type: Tropical Storm
North Carolina Blizzard, Incident Period: January 06, 1996 to January 12, 1996, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1087: January 13, 1996, FEMA Id: 1087, Natural disaster type: Blizzard
North Carolina Severe Storm, High Winds, Flooding, Incident Period: October 04, 1995 to October 06, 1995, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1073: October 23, 1995, FEMA Id: 1073, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood, Wind
North Carolina Severe Snowfall and Winter Storm, Incident Period: March 13, 1993 to March 17, 1993, Emergency Declared EM-3110: March 17, 1993, FEMA Id: 3110, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm, Snowfall
North Carolina SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, Incident Period: June 25, 1973, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-394: June 25, 1973, FEMA Id: 394, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
The number of natural disasters in Macon County (8) is smaller than the US average (13). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 6 Emergencies Declared: 2
Office and administrative support occupations (8%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (7%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (6%)
Office and administrative support occupations (18%)
Sales and related occupations (11%)
Education, training, and library occupations (9%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (9%)
Management occupations (8%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (8%)
Personal care and service occupations (7%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Mexico (16%)
United Kingdom (15%)
Germany (8%)
Guatemala (6%)
Korea (6%)
Canada (5%)
Taiwan (5%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Macon County (%):
United States or American (22%)
English (15%)
German (13%)
Irish (10%)
Scotch-Irish (8%)
Scottish (6%)
Italian (3%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 10,086 (80%)
Carpooled: 1,628 (13%)
Bus or trolley bus: 21 (0%)
Streetcar or trolley car: 8 (0%)
Motorcycle: 15 (0%)
Bicycle: 14 (0%)
Walked: 172 (1%)
Other means: 53 (0%)
Worked at home: 579 (5%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders ($)
People in group quarters in Macon County, North Carolina in 2000:
178 people in job corps and vocational training facilities
161 people in nursing homes
73 people in orthopedic wards and institutions for the physically handicapped
69 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
31 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
13 people in homes for the mentally retarded
8 people in other types of correctional institutions
People in group quarters in Macon County, North Carolina in 2010:
198 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
192 people in workers' group living quarters and job corps centers
37 people in group homes intended for adults
8 people in correctional facilities intended for juveniles
4 people in group homes for juveniles (non-correctional)
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2010 was $43,095.
5.37% of this county's 2011 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2010 ($39,385 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
5.37%
North Carolina average:
7.13%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
1.58% relocated from other counties in North Carolina ($9,751 average AGI)
3.79% relocated from other states ($29,634 average AGI)
Macon County:
3.79%
North Carolina average:
3.45%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2010 and 2011:
5.39% of this county's 2010 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2011 ($33,433 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
5.39%
North Carolina average:
6.77%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
1.66% relocated to other counties in North Carolina ($10,174 average AGI)
3.73% relocated to other states ($23,259 average AGI)
Macon County:
3.73%
North Carolina average:
3.07%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2010 and 2011:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 10.2 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 10.6
Births per 1000 population in Macon County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 12.4 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 12.9 Deaths per 1000 population from 2007 to 2014: 12.5
Deaths per 1000 population in Macon County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 6.8 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 10.1
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Macon County
Population without health insurance coverage in 2013: 25.3% Persons under 19 years old without health insurance coverage in 2013: 11.1%
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Macon County
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Macon County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 8,358 (7,262 aged, 1,096 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 922 (13%)
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Most common underlying causes of death in Macon County, North Carolina in 1999 - 2014:
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (454)
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, so described (139)
Congestive heart failure (119)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 13% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 11%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 6.37 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 7,271 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 519 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 50,016
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,145 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,474 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 12
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 28 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 84
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 19
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 193.2. This is more than state average.
Mechanisms of suicide:
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
Firearm - 119.6
Other - 73.6
Household type by relationship:
Households: 33,483
In family households: 27,737 (7,173 male householders, 2,518 female householders)
7,721 spouses, 7,695 children (6,996 natural, 239 adopted, 460 stepchildren), 718 grandchildren, 298 brothers or sisters, 285 parents, 377 other relatives, 727 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 5,746 (2,105 male householders (1,717 living alone)), 2,795 female householders (2,504 living alone)), 846 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 439 (210 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 5,413 2-persons, 1,888 3-persons, 1,372 4-persons, 609 5-persons, 264 6-persons, 145 7-or-more-persons.
4,243 married couples with children.
1,174 single-parent households (314 men, 860 women).
96.5% of residents of Macon County speak English at home.
1.6% of residents speak Spanish at home (52% speak English very well, 7% speak English well, 25% speak English not well, 15% don't speak English at all).
1.0% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (65% speak English very well, 32% speak English well, 3% speak English not well).
0.9% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (69% speak English very well, 6% speak English well, 25% speak English not well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $212,425,000 ($6,763 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $15,695,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $112,857,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $39,655,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $126,000 Federal grants: $37,805,000 Federal procurement contracts: $6,338,000 ($2,894,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $15,644,000 ($4,814,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $796,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $1,925,000 Federal Government insurance: $9,261,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,676
Here:
52 per 1000 residents
State:
72 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 2,012
Here:
63 per 1000 residents
State:
44 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +186
Here:
+6 per 1000 residents
State:
+18 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: +2,542
Here:
+79 per 1000 residents
State:
+27 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Macon County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 1.79 millions of gallons per day (9% from ground, 91% from surface)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
5.5
State:
5.9
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.5
State:
4.3
Year house built
2014 or later: 82
2010 to 2013: 259
2000 to 2009: 4,599
1990 to 1999: 4,904
1980 to 1989: 5,111
1970 to 1979: 4,515
1960 to 1969: 2,176
1950 to 1959: 1,439
1940 to 1949: 1,084
1939 or earlier: 1,228
Note: State values scaled to Macon population
Rooms in houses/apartments in Macon County, North Carolina
Note: State values scaled to Macon County population
no vehicle: 576
1 vehicle: 3,219
2 vehicles: 4,514
3 vehicles: 1,610
4 vehicles: 345
5+ vehicles: 169
no vehicle: 229
1 vehicle: 1,127
2 vehicles: 789
3 vehicles: 180
4 vehicles: 62
5+ vehicles: 8
59% of Macon County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 38% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 23% lived in North Carolina.
Macon County:
58.5%
State average:
54.4%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 14,012
Northeast: 2,930
Midwest: 2,939
South: 8,285
West: 721
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $93,500
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 1%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 1%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Macon County
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47.0 years
37.0 years
(48.6%)
(51.4%)
, Faulkner County, Arkansas 
, White County, Arkansas 
