The Town FilesMacon County, North Carolina
37,941 people. The median home is worth $251,900 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $59,061.
Towns in Macon County
| Town | People | Median home | Income | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | 4,175 | $195,000 | $47,888 | 48.1 |
| Highlands | 1,072 | $700,900 | $71,509 | 62.7 |
People and housing
| Macon County | Typical North Carolina town | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $251,900 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $803 | $969 |
| Median household income | $59,061 | $60,458 |
| Median age | 49.7 | 41.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 14.3% |
Jobs and pay
12,334 jobs in 2024, average pay $46,461 a year.
Storms since 1996
NOAA recorded 479 storm events in Macon County from 1996 to 2026, with 5 deaths.
Federal disaster declarations
Macon County has been included in 17 FEMA declarations since 1953.
| 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 |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4487: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).