County profile · North Carolina
Mitchell County, NC market data
How Mitchell County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 15,062
- +1.1% since 2020
- Households
- 6,587
- Median household income
- $57,602
- +24.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $220,100
- Jobs located here
- 4,757
- Highest market score
- 63
- Lawn, cleaning and pest control, #398 of 1,771 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Mitchell County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Mitchell 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
Mitchell County has an estimated 15,062 people and 6,587 households. Population estimates show Mitchell County grew 1.1% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Mitchell County is $57,602, 29% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 24.9%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Mitchell County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 135, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (56).
Of the business types scored in Mitchell County, lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (63); gas stations (60); and fast food and sandwich shops (58) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies, that ranks #398 of 1,771 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (53% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (39% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Mitchell County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Mitchell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 63 | #398 of 1,771 | 5 | 7.6 | $1.7M | 102 | 4 |
| Gas stations | 60 | #773 of 2,358 | 11 | 16.7 | $1.8M | 77 | 5 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 58 | #804 of 2,222 | 5 | 7.6 | $4.2M | 138 | 11 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 52 | #963 of 2,087 | 6 | 9.1 | $1.8M | 141 | 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 49 | #1,150 of 2,272 | 13 | 19.7 | $1.3M | 107 | 7 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 49 | #1,253 of 2,402 | 14 | 21.3 | $2.6M | 76 | 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 46 | #1,243 of 2,088 | 5 | 7.6 | $724K | 109 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 43 | #1,175 of 1,886 | 5 | 7.6 | $1.3M | 131 | 5 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 42 | #1,299 of 2,063 | 5 | 7.6 | $4.2M | 114 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 42 | #1,413 of 2,210 | 12 | 18.2 | $897K | 102 | 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 41 | #1,562 of 2,405 | 55 | 83.5 | $384K | 103 | 27 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 38 | #1,825 of 2,385 | 27 | 41.0 | $189K | 89 | 3 |
| Convenience stores | 37 | #1,586 of 2,261 | 7 | 10.6 | $5.2M | 66 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 35 | #1,501 of 2,070 | 5 | 7.6 | $7.2M | 78 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 33 | #1,913 of 2,378 | 16 | 24.3 | $385K | 87 | 9 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 32 | #2,012 of 2,394 | 34 | 51.6 | $189K | 124 | 25 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 28 | #2,104 of 2,405 | 33 | 50.1 | $640K | 96 | 15 |
| Real estate | 28 | #2,122 of 2,229 | 22 | 33.4 | Index only | 94 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 25 | #2,117 of 2,176 | 21 | 31.9 | Index only | 78 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 23 | #2,214 of 2,401 | 32 | 48.6 | $192K | 72 | 14 |
| Hair salons | 18 | #2,252 of 2,339 | 20 | 30.4 | $255K | 59 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.1 | $5.3M | 127 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.1 | $1.6M | 90 | 20 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.1 | $1.5M | 61 | 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.6 | $746K | 74 | 5 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.6 | $2.8M | 97 | 4 |
| Pet businesses | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.6 | $1.6M | 188 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.6 | $7M | 138 | 11 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.6 | $1.7M | 194 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $3.1M | Too few | 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $595K | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $1.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $8.3M | Too few | 11 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $8.3M | Too few | 4 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $1.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $2.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $3.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $3.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $4.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $2.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $5.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $6.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $6.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $10.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $10.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $4.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $6.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $3.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 7 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Mitchell 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 | $6.2M | $934 | 98 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $20.3M | $3,079 | 119 |
| Food away from home | $21.1M | $3,204 | 79 |
| Groceries | $36.2M | $5,497 | 87 |
| Personal care products and services | $5.1M | $774 | 77 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.2M | $340 | 59 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $3.6M | $549 | 56 |
| Medical and dental services | $6.4M | $977 | 76 |
| Pets | $4.9M | $750 | 83 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $10.8M | $1,634 | 79 |
| Vehicle insurance | $17.4M | $2,649 | 135 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $16.5M | $2,509 | 83 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $8.5M | $1,294 | 92 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $89.1M | $13,528 | 81 |
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 Mitchell County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 15,062+1.1% since 2020
- Households
- 6,587
- Median age
- 47.8
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 76%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 221 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 68
- Median household income
- $57,602+24.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $78,464
- Median home value
- $220,100
- Jobs located here
- 4,757
- Daytime population
- 13,884Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Mitchell 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 Mitchell 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
- Yancey County, NC18,797 people
- Avery County, NC17,680 people
- McDowell County, NC44,817 people
- Watauga County, NC55,123 people
- Madison County, NC21,867 people
- Burke County, NC87,795 people
- Caldwell County, NC80,536 people
- Buncombe County, NC274,360 people
Questions
How fast is Mitchell County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Mitchell County at 15,062 people in 2025, up 1.1% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 6,587 households. Median household income rose 24.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Mitchell County, NC spend?
Households in Mitchell County spend about $89.1M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $36.2M on groceries and $21.1M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Mitchell County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 135, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (56).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Mitchell County, NC?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Mitchell County are for lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (63); gas stations (60); and fast food and sandwich shops (58). Mitchell County ranks #398 of 1,771 scored counties for lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies.
How does Mitchell County, NC compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Mitchell County is $57,602 a year, 29% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $220,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Mitchell County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (53% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (39% 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. 21 of the 56 business types have a score in Mitchell 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 Mitchell 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 Mitchell 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 Mitchell 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.