The Town FilesCullowhee, North Carolina
Community in Jackson County · population 7,682 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $382,300
- Household income
- $35,929
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 21.0
Cullowhee is a community of 7,682 people in Jackson County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $382,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 97% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 95% of North Carolina towns.
How Cullowhee ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cullowhee is worth $382,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 10.6 times the median household income of $35,929, which is more affordable than 0% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $869 a month. 10.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cullowhee | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $382,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $869 | $969 |
| Median household income | $35,929 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 10.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 10.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2004 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cullowhee
| People | Cullowhee | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 3.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 4.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 45.8% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 57.4% | 89.5% |
Weather in Cullowhee
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 25.6°F. About 54.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cullowhee since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 28, 1976 about 1.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 2, 2012.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| September 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4617: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 14,477 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,540 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Cullowhee itself the ACS puts it at 11.8%.
Public schools in Cullowhee
1 public school with 609 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cullowhee Valley School | PK-8 | 609 | 14.9 |
Towns near Cullowhee
- Sylva, NC5.0 mi · 2,578 people · home $201,200
- Franklin, NC14.4 mi · 4,175 people · home $195,000
- Waynesville, NC15.9 mi · 10,140 people · home $281,700
- Lake Junaluska, NC19.2 mi · 3,219 people · home $389,200
- Canton, NC24.9 mi · 4,422 people · home $246,700
- Brevard, NC25.9 mi · 7,744 people · home $450,000
Cullowhee questions
Is Cullowhee, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cullowhee scores better for retirees than 32% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 16%. 3.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 21.0).
How much does a house cost in Cullowhee?
The median owner-occupied home in Cullowhee is valued at $382,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,929, so homes cost about 10.6 times income. Median rent is $869 a month.
What is the weather like in Cullowhee?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 25.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.2 inches of precipitation a year and 4.3 inches of snow.
Does Cullowhee get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cullowhee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 28, 1976. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)