The Town FilesAndrews, North Carolina
Town in Cherokee County · population 1,667 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,600
- Household income
- $37,061
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 46.6
Andrews is a town of 1,667 people in Cherokee County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $98,600, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 79% of North Carolina towns, better for retirees than 71% of North Carolina towns.
How Andrews ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Andrews is worth $98,600, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $37,061, which is more affordable than 87% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $712 a month. 57.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Andrews | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,600 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $712 | $969 |
| Median household income | $37,061 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Andrews
| People | Andrews | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 10.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Andrews
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 25.3°F. About 59.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Andrews since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 7.8 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 37 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 2, 2012.
Severe weather in Cherokee County since 1996
Cherokee County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Cherokee County
Cherokee County had 7,976 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,626 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Andrews itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Andrews
3 public schools with 760 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrews Elementary | PK-5 | 348 | 15.8 |
| Andrews High | 9-12 | 222 | 14.8 |
| Andrews Middle | 6-8 | 190 | 14.6 |
Towns near Andrews
- Robbinsville, NC8.5 mi · 597 people · home $26,800
- Murphy, NC13.4 mi · 1,608 people · home $250,000
- Hiawassee, GA18.0 mi · 981 people · home $411,100
- Young Harris, GA18.3 mi · 1,098 people · home $295,200
- Blairsville, GA23.4 mi · 616 people · home $212,500
- Franklin, NC25.2 mi · 4,175 people · home $195,000
- Bryson City, NC26.5 mi · 1,558 people · home $243,400
- Tellico Plains, TN29.0 mi · 762 people · home $187,500
Andrews questions
Is Andrews, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Andrews scores better for retirees than 71% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 52%. 24.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.6).
How much does a house cost in Andrews?
The median owner-occupied home in Andrews is valued at $98,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,061, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $712 a month.
What is the weather like in Andrews?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 25.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.3 inches of precipitation a year and 3.7 inches of snow.
Does Andrews get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Andrews since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1974. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)