Santa's Land billboard, Route 19, 1979
Maggie Valley’s story
52 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1979.
- 1974Maggie Valley is settled
Maggie ValleyNC
A town of 1,748, settled in 1974. Public schools that outperform most of North Carolina.
Photo: justinknabb · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,748
2025 Census estimate · +1% since 2020
Typical home
$383K
−3.3% in a year
Household income
$68K
median
Median age
51.1
years
Jobs based here
846
Balanced
Is Maggie Valley a good place to live?
The best of Maggie Valley’s subject grades is an A− for schools; the weakest is a C− for walkability. Maggie Valley’s property crime rate is 50.8 per 1,000 residents, where North Carolina’s towns sit at 24 and U.S. towns at 11.5. No town among the 291 in North Carolina we compare has a lower July high than Maggie Valley. Maggie Valley has 1 place on the National Register. Maggie Valley has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Maggie Valley stand out
Where Maggie Valley beats most towns.
A growing town
Maggie Valley has grown 48% since 2010
1,150 counted in 2010 and 1,687 in 2020; an estimated 1,748 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Maggie Valley grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Carolina), ordered by how far Maggie Valley is from typical.
SchoolsA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.5 of 20; 4.1% of households have no car; 0.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →Jobs & income$68K median household incomeCOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →HealthHaywood Regional Medical Center 6.7 miles awayBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 0% conserved landCOpen →HistoryDOpen →Civic life3.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateCold winters, 78° summer afternoons, 11″ of snow–Open →Housing market109 days on market–Open →Who lives here–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 56 attractions →Great Smoky Mountains National Park and 29 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Maggie Valley. Close and well known come first.
Big draw3 mi National ParkGreat Smoky Mountains National Park11.5M visitors a year
Big draw32 mi Theme parkDollywood3.1M visitors a year
3 mi ParkwayBlue Ridge Parkway16.5M visitors a yearin town Theme parkGhost Town in the Sky
Big draw25 mi MountainKuwohi
19 mi National forestPisgah National ForestSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Scott Basford, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Dollywood: Brian Stansberry (photographer), CC BY 2.5 · Blue Ridge Parkway: Ken Thomas, Public domain · Kuwohi: C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr., Public domain · Pisgah National Forest: Ken Thomas, Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Maggie Valley: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Maggie Valley, and how to reach them.
PowerHaywood Electric Member16.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMaggie Valley Sanitary Dist water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers95% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Maggie Valley’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn North Carolina you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person with same-day registration during the early voting period, or by mail (postmarked 25 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereHaywood County Board of ElectionsHaywood County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2019
ZIP codes28751, 28785, 2878628751 79% · 28785 18% · 28786 3%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Maggie Valley.
Who lives here
Older than North Carolina overall
People 65 and older are 33% of residents (17% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 17% of residents (23% statewide). At 51.1 years, Maggie Valley’s median age is above both North Carolina’s towns (40.1 years) and U.S. towns (40.5 years). 31% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 36% across North Carolina.
51.1median age · NC 39.1
| Maggie Valley | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.1 years | 40.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 31% | 29% | 29% |
Maggie ValleyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma8%
High school25%
Some college27%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s18%
Graduate14%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±5.8 points. Across North Carolina, 51.1% of residents are women.
| Maggie Valley | NC | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 7.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.5% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.1% | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.9% | 13.4% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 7.8% | 12.8% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.6% | 12.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.1% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 17.1% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 15.4% | 6.9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.5% | 9.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 24.7% | 24.8% | 26% |
| Some college | 27.1% | 19.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.8% | 10.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 17.5% | 22.2% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 13.5% | 13.5% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,700, single groups can be off by several points
SchoolsA−
Public schools in Maggie Valley beat 78% of North Carolina districts
Its public schools are run by the Haywood County Schools. One of its 2 schools is below, with why it’s listed.
78%of NC districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Valley ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 336 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduation
Climate
Maggie Valley has four seasons and pleasant summers
Maggie Valley has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. Among 291 North Carolina towns, just 1 have a lower January low than Maggie Valley.
11″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter26–45°
Spring41–62°
Summer57–77°
Fall42–63°
Oct 14
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
About one in nine working residents works right in Maggie Valley
Most working residents leave Maggie Valley for work: only 11% work in town. Maggie Valley’s average trip to work is 30 minutes. Jobs based in Maggie Valley grew to 846 in 2023, 124 more than in 2013.
11%work in town
| Maggie Valley | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 13% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 11% | 6.8% | 8% |
| Median household income | $68,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Maggie Valley11%
Asheville14%
Waynesville12%
Sylva4%
Canton2%
16 mi
median commute distance
846
jobs based in Maggie Valley
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 24% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade C+
Maggie Valley’s typical home value is about $383K
The typical Maggie Valley home is worth about $383,000, down 3.3% in a year, 15% above the North Carolina typical home.
$383KZillow home value
| Maggie Valley | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 74% | 67% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,067 a month | $1,085 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Maggie Valley$383K
North Carolina$332K
Market temperature
109
days on market
97%
sale-to-list price
−3.3%
value change, 1 year
8
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
HealthB
Maggie Valley is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns
Maggie Valley beats the North Carolina average on 12 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8. 46% of adults have high blood pressure in Maggie Valley.
60%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Maggie Valley | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 46% | 38% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 15% | 16% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 17% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 34% | 36% |
32 measures vs. North Carolina
12 better12 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Maggie Valley | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 7.4% | 12.2% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 5% | 8.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 13.5% | 7.9% |
Haywood Regional Medical Center
6.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
High risk in Maggie Valley, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 61% of U.S. communities. Since 1991, 20 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Maggie Valley.
61risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
20
paid flood claims since 1991
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Safety
Crime reported in Maggie Valley
Maggie Valley's reported crime rate is well above North Carolina's. The violent crime rate in Maggie Valley is 4.6 per 1,000 residents. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Maggie Valley4.6
North Carolina3.8
U.S.3.6
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Maggie Valley50.8
North Carolina20.1
U.S.17.7
8
violent crimes reported in 2024
89
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
OutdoorsC
Maggie Valley has set aside 0.4% of its land for conservation
2.7 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
0.4%conserved
| Maggie Valley | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.8 miles per square mile | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 0.4% | 3.4% | 4.3% |
0.4%
conserved · 9 of 2,268 acres
2.7 mi
of trails · 0.8 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Maggie Valley Playground | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Maggie Valley
19pages on Maggie Valley
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 78% of NC districts · 2 schoolsSafety4.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2024)HealthBBetter than NC on 12 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$383K typical home · down 3.3% in a yearWork & commuteC$68K median household income · 846 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 61% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Maggie Valley
Haywood Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Clyde7.5 mi$2,580 in-state tuitionSouthwestern Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Sylva14.7 mi$4,112 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Maggie Valley residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.
About Maggie Valley
Town in North Carolina, United States
Maggie Valley is a town in Haywood County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,687 at the 2020 census. A popular tourist destination, it is home to Cataloochee Ski Area and the former Ghost Town in the Sky amusement park. Maggie Valley is part of the Asheville metropolitan area. The community gets its name from Maggie Mae Setzer; her father John "Uncle Jack" Sidney Setzer founded the area's first post office and named it after one of his daughters.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 3,018 ft
- ZIP code
- 28751
- Area code
- 828
Questions about Maggie Valley
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Maggie Valley, NC a good place to live?
Public schools that outperform most of North Carolina.
Is Maggie Valley, NC expensive?
That is 6.2 years of the area's median household income ($61,912 across the Waynesville, NC area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.