Waynesville
RANK #934 / 996 NAT · #47 / 51 NC · POP 62,152
1YR FORECAST: -1.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +9%
Haywood County, North Carolina, distinguishes itself with its mountainous landscape, featuring 18 peaks over 6,000 feet, including the well-known Cold Mountain. Located just 20 minutes west of Asheville, the county offers convenient access to a larger city while maintaining a distinct small-town feel across its communities like Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Canton, Clyde, and Lake Junaluska. The area is a hub for outdoor recreation, bordering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and encompassing parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Pisgah National Forest. Residents and visitors engage in hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and skiing at Cataloochee Ski Area. All of the county's water, including the Pigeon River, originates within its borders.
Life in Haywood County appeals to those seeking an authentic Appalachian experience with access to natural amenities. The public school system is ranked highly within North Carolina. Commute options include Haywood Public Transit, which offers fixed routes connecting towns and transfers to Buncombe County. The economy is influenced by tourism, with recent developments focusing on affordable housing initiatives for seniors and the workforce. The county has seen an increase in its working population over the past decade.
Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 7.0x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Haywood County scores just 5/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #934 of 996 counties. median household income of $56,596 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Haywood County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $227,500 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.25 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $954/month on average.
Haywood County's population is growing — up +0.7% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of 0.0%). Home values shifted -4.7% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.61% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Haywood County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.