2024 09 29 West NC 4, 2024
Swannanoa’s story
Swannanoa in pictures
Census counts: 4,132 in 2000, 5,021 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2024 and a map from 1990 on.
Explore the history →
SwannanoaNC
A town of 6,901 in North Carolina.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Harrison Keely · CC BY 4.0
Population
6,901
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$349K
−5% in a year
Household income
$70K
median
Median age
37.1
years
Jobs based here
1,392
A commuter town
TownGrade
B+
#36 of 286 in NC
Is Swannanoa a good place to live?
Homes are affordable here, though not without reasons. Swannanoa’s overall grade is B+, better than 70% of U.S. towns. It ranks 36th of 286 in North Carolina. Its standout strength is cost of living: a typical home costs about $349K, 4.9 years of the Asheville metro’s $72K median household income. The trade-off is incomes — the median household income is $70K, and 17% of residents live below the poverty line. This North Carolina town is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 76% of U.S. towns. Its other grades sit near the middle: B for schools and B− for hazard risk.
Figures: home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · schools, state test and graduation results · FEMA National Risk Index.
What makes Swannanoa stand out
Where Swannanoa beats most towns.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 76% of U.S. towns
4.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Typical home value
Swannanoa$349K
North Carolina$332K
Cost of livingB+
More affordable than 73% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Swannanoa for work
Where Swannanoa’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,392jobs based in Swannanoa
3%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Swannanoa grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Carolina), ordered by how far Swannanoa is from typical.
Jobs & incomeIncomes and work trail most townsC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.7 of 20; 1.5% of households have no carA−Open →Cost of livingAhead of most towns comparedB+Open →HealthMemorial Mission Hospital and Asheville Surgery Ce 9.2 miles awayB+Open →SchoolsGraded on exam and test resultsBOpen →Hazard riskInland flooding tops the listB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 6% conserved landC+Open →HistoryLess recorded history than most townsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 50 attractions →Mount Mitchell and 17 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Swannanoa. Close and well known come first.
Big draw13 mi MountainMount Mitchell
5 mi ParkwayBlue Ridge Parkway16.5M visitors a year
Big draw34 mi National ParkGreat Smoky Mountains National Park11.5M visitors a year
28 mi National forestPisgah National Forest
14 mi State parkChimney Rock State Park
34 mi Park & preserveLinville Gorge WildernessSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Mount Mitchell: Unknown, Public domain · Blue Ridge Parkway: Ken Thomas, Public domain · Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Scott Basford, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Pisgah National Forest: Ken Thomas, Public domain · Chimney Rock State Park: Jmturner, Public domain · Linville Gorge Wilderness: No machine-readable author provided. Amcbride~commonswiki assumed (based on copy, Public domain
Getting set up
Moving to Swannanoa: who provides what
Swannanoa is unincorporated, so Buncombe County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerDuke Energy13.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Asheville water system2 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesBuncombe CountyBuncombe County provides services here
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 hereBuncombe County Board of ElectionsBuncombe County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2025
ZIP codes28778, 2871128778 93% · 28711 7%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 Swannanoa.
Swannanoa is healthier than towns with similar incomes, has home values still below their peak and has milder winter nights than most of the country, though not than most of North Carolina.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
About one in three of Swannanoa’s working residents commute to Asheville
The average commute for its 1,961 working residents takes 18.9 minutes, against 25.1 across North Carolina. Jobs based here grew from 910 in 2013 to 1,392.
In Swannanoa, 3.1% of working residents work locally, below both North Carolina’s towns (6.8%) and U.S. towns (8%). Its average trip to work comes in at 19 minutes. Jobs in Swannanoa grew by 482 from 2013 to 2023, reaching 1,392. Half of commuters travel less than 10 miles.
3%work in town
| Swannanoa | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 17% | 13% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.1% | 6.8% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Swannanoa3%
Asheville36%
Black Mountain10%
Charlotte4%
Raleigh2%
10 mi
median commute distance
1,392
jobs based in Swannanoa
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 76% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsB
On state tests, Swannanoa’s schools beat 62% of North Carolina districts
Below: Two of its 3 schools, each with why it was picked. Public schools: the Buncombe County Schools.
62%of NC districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owen MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 457 | B− |
| Community High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 127 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduation
HealthB+
Swannanoa is healthier than two in three U.S. towns
Against the 10,498 U.S. towns with household incomes like Swannanoa’s, it is healthier than 83%, so its B+ isn’t only a matter of income.
Swannanoa tracks North Carolina closely on all 32 CDC measures. Among adults locally, 30% sleep under 7 hours. In Swannanoa, 78% of adults had a checkup this year, against 80% in North Carolina’s towns and 79% across U.S. towns. 26% of adults locally have been diagnosed with depression; 32% have obesity.
66%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Swannanoa | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 34% | 36% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 25% | 23% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 36% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 78% | 80% | 79% |
32 measures vs. North Carolina
0 better32 too close to call0 worse
Asheville-Oteen VA Medical Center
5.5 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
58th
percentile among NC towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Compared with most of North Carolina and the rest of the country, a typical July afternoon in Swannanoa is cooler
January nights average 26.5°: milder than most of the country, but colder than 94% of North Carolina places with climate records; July afternoons average 83.1°.
About 2 inches of snow falls in a winter. Among 290 North Carolina towns, just 7 have a lower January low than Swannanoa. Also worth knowing: winters here are chilly and summers pleasant, with plenty of rain.
2″snow a winter
| Swannanoa | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 83°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 27°F | 31°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter28–49°
Spring42–66°
Summer60–82°
Fall44–67°
Oct 23
typical first frost
Apr 19
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
A typical North Carolina spread of ages in Swannanoa
Age groups here sit within 4 points of the North Carolina average. The midpoint age for Swannanoa comes to 37.1 years. 26% never finished high school. Four-year graduates: 27% of adults 25 and older here, 36% across North Carolina.
37.1median age · NC 39.1
| Swannanoa | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 years | 40.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 24% | 22% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 16% | 18% | 18% |
SwannanoaNorth CarolinaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
21%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma26%
High school26%
Some college15%
Associate’s6%
Bachelor’s20%
Graduate8%
Women and men · all residents
48% women, 52% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.8 points. Across North Carolina, 51.1% of residents are women.
| Swannanoa | NC | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 20.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 3% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.6% | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 18.2% | 13.4% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 17.9% | 12.8% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7.4% | 12.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 9.9% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11.9% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 4.6% | 6.9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 25.8% | 9.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 25.9% | 24.8% | 26% |
| Some college | 15% | 19.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 5.9% | 10.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 19.7% | 22.2% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 7.7% | 13.5% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
OutdoorsC+
5.9% of Swannanoa is conserved land
0.7 miles of trail wind through 1 park or preserve. Swannanoa’s concentration of trails is 0.1 miles per square mile.
5.9%conserved
| Swannanoa | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 5.9% | 3.4% | 4.3% |
5.9%
conserved · 239 of 4,080 acres
0.7 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Grovemont Park | 0.1 mi | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade B+
Swannanoa earns a B+ for cost of living
The typical value, about $349K, is 8% below its February 2025 peak. 78.4% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 48.9% across North Carolina.
For households in Swannanoa, the share who live in a home they own is 79%. In the year to September 2026, typical home values slipped 5%.
$349KZillow home value
Typical home value
Swannanoa$349K
North Carolina$332K
−5%
value change, 1 year
4
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
Natural hazards: moderate risk in Swannanoa, mostly inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 51% of U.S. communities. Paid flood insurance claims in Swannanoa since 2004: 59. 64% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by cold waves at 19%. Households locally have drawn federal disaster aid in 4 declared disasters, most recently in 2024.
51risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
59
paid flood claims since 2004
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Swannanoa
17pages on Swannanoa
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
6 within 15 miles of the center of Swannanoa
Warren Wilson CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Swannanoa3.1 mi$41,500 tuitionAsheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Asheville9.6 mi$2,882 in-state tuitionUniversity of North Carolina AshevilleUniversity or college · Public · Asheville10 mi$7,501 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 Swannanoa residents are enrolled in college, about the same as North Carolina.
About Swannanoa
Census-designated place in North Carolina, US
Swannanoa is a census-designated place (CDP) in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. The population 5,021 at the 2020 census up from 4,576 at the 2010 census. The community is named for the Swannanoa River, which flows through the settlement. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 6.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,195 ft
- ZIP code
- 28778
- Area code
- 828
Swannanoa’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Swannanoa.
Black MountainSwannanoa
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NC rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swannanoa | #36 | B+ | B+ | — | B | B+ |
| Black Mountain | #51 | B | D | B | B | A |
Swannanoa reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Swannanoa with a neighbor →
Questions about Swannanoa
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Swannanoa, NC a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Swannanoa grades B+ overall, better than 70% of U.S. towns and #36 of 286 in North Carolina. It grades B+ for health and B for schools. Jobs & income is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Swannanoa, NC expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.