County profile · North Carolina
Macon County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Macon County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 39,232
- +5.8% since 2020
- Households
- 18,406
- Median household income
- $59,061
- +29.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $251,900
- Jobs located here
- 12,682
- Highest market score
- 76
- Child care and preschools, #145 of 1,611 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Macon County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Macon County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 39,232 people live in Macon County, in 18,406 households. Population estimates put the population change in Macon County from 2020 to 2025 at +5.8%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Macon County is $59,061 a year, 27% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 29.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Macon County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 132, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (63).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Macon County are for child care centers and preschools (76), insurance agencies (74) and gas stations (68). Macon County ranks #145 of 1,611 scored counties for child care centers and preschools.
For its number of households, Macon County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for real estate agents and brokers (65% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for dentists and orthodontists (46% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Macon County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Macon County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child care and preschools | 76 | #145 of 1,611 | 6 | 3.3 | $1.2M | 119 | 5 |
| Insurance agencies | 74 | #356 of 2,272 | 20 | 10.9 | $2.4M | 190 | 17 |
| Gas stations | 68 | #469 of 2,358 | 26 | 14.1 | $2.1M | 90 | 17 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 67 | #305 of 1,461 | 6 | 3.3 | $2.4M | 96 | 3 |
| Barbershops | 65 | #331 of 1,356 | 5 | 2.7 | $3M | 158 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 61 | #723 of 2,261 | 15 | 8.1 | $6.9M | 88 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 60 | #565 of 1,886 | 13 | 7.1 | $1.4M | 146 | 11 |
| Nail salons | 58 | #457 of 1,328 | 7 | 3.8 | $2.1M | 127 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 56 | #311 of 887 | 5 | 2.7 | Index only | 132 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | 55 | #587 of 1,422 | 8 | 4.3 | $2.3M | 97 | 5 |
| Pizza | 54 | #870 of 2,090 | 15 | 8.1 | $4.1M | 81 | 31 |
| Car washes and detailing | 53 | #643 of 1,451 | 6 | 3.3 | $2.9M | 113 | 5 |
| Tire shops | 53 | #699 of 1,530 | 7 | 3.8 | $2.5M | 98 | 4 |
| Hair salons | 53 | #1,006 of 2,339 | 30 | 16.3 | $496K | 115 | 11 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 51 | #1,181 of 2,402 | 44 | 23.9 | $2.4M | 69 | 11 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 50 | #663 of 1,334 | 6 | 3.3 | $1.9M | 94 | Under 3 |
| Property management | 49 | #466 of 910 | 6 | 3.3 | Index only | 77 | 6 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 49 | #1,054 of 2,063 | 17 | 9.2 | $3.6M | 98 | 10 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 49 | #1,198 of 2,222 | 26 | 14.1 | $2.4M | 78 | 31 |
| Gyms | 47 | #1,040 of 1,792 | 13 | 7.1 | $878K | 67 | 4 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 47 | #1,236 of 2,088 | 25 | 13.6 | $457K | 69 | 4 |
| Pet businesses | 47 | #1,250 of 2,200 | 24 | 13.0 | $608K | 69 | 11 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 46 | #1,016 of 1,771 | 18 | 9.8 | $1.4M | 83 | 42 |
| Veterinarians | 45 | #871 of 1,485 | 7 | 3.8 | $2.1M | 77 | 8 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 45 | #1,456 of 2,385 | 62 | 33.7 | $240K | 113 | 19 |
| Auto repair shops | 44 | #1,479 of 2,378 | 41 | 22.3 | $418K | 94 | 26 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 43 | #920 of 1,493 | 12 | 6.5 | $2.1M | 71 | 35 |
| Grocery stores | 42 | #1,295 of 2,070 | 14 | 7.6 | $7.4M | 80 | 11 |
| Auto repair and car care | 42 | #1,553 of 2,401 | 69 | 37.5 | $249K | 93 | 37 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 42 | #1,588 of 2,394 | 109 | 59.2 | $171K | 112 | 56 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 41 | #547 of 777 | 6 | 3.3 | $1.9M | 47 | 4 |
| Pet stores | 41 | #640 of 974 | 5 | 2.7 | $2.9M | 65 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 41 | #799 of 1,177 | 9 | 4.9 | $5.4M | 64 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 41 | #880 of 1,327 | 7 | 3.8 | $2.5M | 79 | 7 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 38 | #1,205 of 1,656 | 12 | 6.5 | $1.6M | 87 | 36 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 36 | #1,445 of 1,889 | 19 | 10.3 | $3.3M | 79 | 13 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 35 | #1,361 of 1,707 | 14 | 7.6 | $3.5M | 73 | 34 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 31 | #1,991 of 2,405 | 212 | 115.2 | $292K | 79 | 99 |
| Home repair trades | 30 | #1,845 of 2,057 | 31 | 16.8 | $1.6M | 65 | 61 |
| Electricians | 29 | #1,000 of 1,160 | 8 | 4.3 | $6.1M | 51 | 23 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 29 | #2,084 of 2,405 | 116 | 63.0 | $534K | 80 | 57 |
| Real estate | 29 | #2,107 of 2,229 | 104 | 56.5 | Index only | 57 | 58 |
| Spas and skin care | 28 | #1,571 of 1,769 | 20 | 10.9 | $744K | 85 | 8 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 28 | #2,087 of 2,176 | 93 | 50.5 | Index only | 51 | 44 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 26 | #1,827 of 2,087 | 49 | 26.6 | $648K | 51 | 31 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 26 | #1,957 of 2,210 | 70 | 38.0 | $453K | 51 | 31 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $4.7M | 195 | 4 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $760K | 112 | 5 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $4.7M | 149 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $8.3M | 130 | 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $8.3M | 81 | 4 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $15.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $17.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $18.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Macon County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $17.2M | $932 | 97 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $55.6M | $3,019 | 116 |
| Food away from home | $61.9M | $3,365 | 83 |
| Groceries | $103.5M | $5,626 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $14.9M | $809 | 81 |
| Child care and other personal services | $7.1M | $388 | 67 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $11.4M | $620 | 63 |
| Medical and dental services | $18.7M | $1,014 | 79 |
| Pets | $14.6M | $793 | 87 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $31.7M | $1,724 | 84 |
| Vehicle insurance | $47.6M | $2,589 | 132 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $48.6M | $2,639 | 87 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $25M | $1,357 | 96 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $258M | $14,015 | 84 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Macon County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 39,232+5.8% since 2020
- Households
- 18,406
- Median age
- 49.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 78%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 516 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 74
- Median household income
- $59,061+29.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $82,980
- Median home value
- $251,900
- Jobs located here
- 12,682
- Daytime population
- 35,660Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Macon County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Macon County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
- Jackson County, NC43,771 people
- Swain County, NC14,013 people
- Clay County, NC11,610 people
- Graham County, NC8,072 people
- Haywood County, NC62,662 people
- Transylvania County, NC33,691 people
- Cherokee County, NC29,562 people
- Henderson County, NC118,484 people
Questions
How fast is Macon County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Macon County at 39,232 people in 2025, up 5.8% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 18,406 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 29.8%, before inflation.
How much do households in Macon County, NC spend?
Households in Macon County spend about $258M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $103.5M on groceries and $61.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Macon County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 132, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (63).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Macon County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Macon County, child care centers and preschools (76), insurance agencies (74) and gas stations (68) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For child care centers and preschools, that ranks #145 of 1,611 scored counties.
How does Macon County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Macon County is $59,061, 27% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 5.8% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $251,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for real estate agents and brokers (65% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for dentists and orthodontists (46% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 46 of the 56 business types have a score in Macon County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Macon County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Macon County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Macon County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.