The Town FilesCherokee, North Carolina
Community in Jackson County · population 2,195 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $189,900
- Household income
- $55,972
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 33.3
Cherokee is a community of 2,195 people in Jackson County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $189,900, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks quieter than 75% of North Carolina towns.
How Cherokee 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 Cherokee is worth $189,900, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $55,972, which is more affordable than 66% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,075 a month. 62.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cherokee | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $189,900 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,075 | $969 |
| Median household income | $55,972 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 62.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cherokee
| People | Cherokee | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 14.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 11.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Cherokee
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 26.4°F. About 56.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cherokee since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 6, 2022 about 8.2 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 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 24, 1996.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| September 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4617: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 14,477 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,540 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Cherokee itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Towns near Cherokee
- Sylva, NC8.9 mi · 2,578 people · home $201,200
- Bryson City, NC9.2 mi · 1,558 people · home $243,400
- Maggie Valley, NC13.7 mi · 1,687 people · home $320,500
- Cullowhee, NC13.9 mi · 7,682 people · home $382,300
- Waynesville, NC17.0 mi · 10,140 people · home $281,700
- Lake Junaluska, NC18.7 mi · 3,219 people · home $389,200
- Gatlinburg, TN19.7 mi · 3,577 people · home $332,000
- Cosby, TN21.6 mi · 807 people · home —
Cherokee questions
Is Cherokee, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cherokee scores better for retirees than 39% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 75%. 10.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.3).
How much does a house cost in Cherokee?
The median owner-occupied home in Cherokee is valued at $189,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,972, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,075 a month.
What is the weather like in Cherokee?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 26.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.7 inches of precipitation a year and 6.5 inches of snow.
Does Cherokee get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cherokee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 6, 2022. 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)