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Yancey County, NC
1 city or town and 3 ZIP codes in Yancey County, North Carolina.
Population
18,797
Land area
313sq mi
People per sq mi
60
ZIP codes
3
Cities and towns in Yancey County
Yancey County at a glance
- Yancey County is 73% less dense than North Carolina as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $58,709 a year, 19% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $243,100 (16% below North Carolina) and median rent is $882 a month.
Local data for Yancey County, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Yancey County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$58,709
Poverty rate
15.2%
Median home value
$243,100
Prices +2.2% in a year
Median rent
$882/mo
Homeownership
79.4%
Bachelor's or higher
25.1%
Median age
49.2
Average commute
27.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (2,760), German Americans (1,755), Mexican Americans (675).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.0%
Aug 2026, -1.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,621
4,927 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$48,908
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$788M
FY 2026, $42,657 per person
PPP loans
$13.61M
325 loans, 2,078 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$110K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Yancey County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone78.6%
- Carpooled7.0%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked1.5%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.2%
- Worked from home11.7%
Average one-way commute: 27.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Yancey County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
589
Most often winter weather
Flood insurance policies
188
1.6% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
83° / 27°F
45.9 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone6 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Yancey County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.6%
U.S. 33.3% +2.3 pts
Diabetes
13.7%
U.S. 12.1% +1.6 pts
Smoking
15.9%
U.S. 12.8% +3.1 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.4%
U.S. 11.1% -0.7 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Yancey County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Yancey County, NC?
- Burnsville is the largest city or town in Yancey County, with about 2,082 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Yancey County?
- Yancey County includes 3 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 28714, 28740, 28755.
- What is the population of Yancey County, NC?
- About 18,797 people live in Yancey County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Yancey County?
- Yancey County borders Buncombe County, McDowell County, Madison County, Unicoi County, TN, Mitchell County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023