The Town Files

Haywood County, North Carolina

62,662 people. The median home is worth $279,200 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $61,912.

Towns in Haywood County

Towns in Haywood County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Waynesville10,140$281,700$54,92346.0
Canton4,422$246,700$69,92436.7
Lake Junaluska3,219$389,200$66,16546.8
Maggie Valley1,687$320,500$68,12551.1
Clyde1,368$200,000$56,40643.9
West Canton1,265$197,000$34,46442.9

People and housing

Haywood CountyTypical North Carolina town
Median home value$279,200$228,900
Median rent$1,067$969
Median household income$61,912$60,458
Median age47.841.1
Bachelor's degree or higher29.5%24.5%
Below the poverty line13.1%14.3%

Jobs and pay

17,496 jobs in 2024, average pay $46,227 a year.

Largest industries in Haywood CountyRetail3,254 jobs · $35,868Hotels & restaurants2,701 jobs · $24,883Health care & social assistan…2,390 jobs · $51,018Manufacturing1,429 jobs · $55,614Construction1,037 jobs · $58,967Administrative & support949 jobs · $52,815
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Haywood County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 564 storm events in Haywood County from 1996 to 2026, with 13 deaths.

Storm events in Haywood County by type since 1996Hail59Flood8Drought37High Wind31Heavy Snow79Debris Flow7Flash Flood26Strong Wind7Winter Storm17Winter Weather186
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Haywood County has been included in 21 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3637: Severe Winter Storm
September 28, 2024Tropical StormDR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene
September 26, 2024Tropical StormEM-3617: Hurricane Helene
October 1, 2022HurricaneEM-3586: Hurricane Ian
September 8, 2021HurricaneDR-4617: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred
August 2, 2020HurricaneEM-3534: Hurricane Isaias
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).