Cost of Living in Swain County, North Carolina
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Swain County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Swain County ranks #227 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 7%)
Sourced county brief
Swain County Median Monthly Owner Costs Estimated at $465
Median monthly owner costs in Swain County were $465. This figure is significantly below the North Carolina unweighted county mean of $927. The median home value for owner-occupied units was estimated at $207,000, while the unweighted county mean was $235,312. Median gross rent was $742 per month, which is below the state's unweighted county mean of $977. The median renter-household income was recorded as $39,222. The official GRAPI (gross rent as a percentage of household income) was 24.1%. This official percentage is 4.8 percentage points lower than the North Carolina unweighted county mean of 28.9%. These housing statistics are derived from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Swain County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 24.1% of renter household income in Swain County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $742 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $465. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $29,680 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The North Carolina unweighted mean of county median rents is $977 per month. Swain County's $742 median is 24.0% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Swain County
Rent Burden
17.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,221
per month
Owner Cost Burden
10.7%
of gross income
The median home in Swain County may be a stretch
Median home value is $207,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,653 vs. your max of $1,221.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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