The Town FilesBryson City, North Carolina
Town in Swain County · population 1,558 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $243,400
- Household income
- $44,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 35.0
Bryson City is a town of 1,558 people in Swain County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $243,400, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 89% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 88% of North Carolina towns, better for retirees than 76% of North Carolina towns.
How Bryson City 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 Bryson City is worth $243,400, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $44,167, which is more affordable than 10% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $783 a month. 42.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bryson City | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $243,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $783 | $969 |
| Median household income | $44,167 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 42.8% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.5% | — |
Who lives in Bryson City
| People | Bryson City | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 1.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 15.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in Bryson City
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 26.0°F. About 58.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 96 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bryson City since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 3, 1974 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on June 20, 2002.
Severe weather in Swain County since 1996
Swain County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 20, 2025 | Fire | FM-5580: Sam Davis Road Fire |
| March 26, 2025 | Fire | FM-5577: Alarka Fire |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
Jobs and pay in Swain County
Swain County had 11,309 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,512 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Bryson City itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Bryson City
6 public schools with 2,090 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swain County High School | 9-12 | 559 | 13.6 |
| Swain County Middle School | 6-8 | 467 | 16.7 |
| Swain County West Elementary | K-5 | 419 | 14.4 |
| Swain County East Elementary | K-5 | 350 | 13.5 |
| Mountain Discovery (charter) | K-8 | 193 | 17.5 |
| Cherokee Extension School | K-12 | 102 | — |
Towns near Bryson City
- Cherokee, NC9.2 mi · 2,195 people · home $189,900
- Sylva, NC13.4 mi · 2,578 people · home $201,200
- Cullowhee, NC17.0 mi · 7,682 people · home $382,300
- Franklin, NC17.5 mi · 4,175 people · home $195,000
- Gatlinburg, TN20.8 mi · 3,577 people · home $332,000
- Robbinsville, NC21.7 mi · 597 people · home $26,800
- Maggie Valley, NC22.7 mi · 1,687 people · home $320,500
- Townsend, TN24.4 mi · 550 people · home $370,700
Bryson City questions
Is Bryson City, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bryson City scores better for retirees than 76% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 66%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.0).
How much does a house cost in Bryson City?
The median owner-occupied home in Bryson City is valued at $243,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,167, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $783 a month.
What is the weather like in Bryson City?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 26.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.6 inches of precipitation a year and 6.5 inches of snow.
Does Bryson City get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bryson City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 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)