County profile · North Carolina
Transylvania County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Transylvania County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 34,211
- +2.9% since 2020
- Households
- 14,584
- Median household income
- $66,184
- +31.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $373,600
- Jobs located here
- 9,403
- Highest market score
- 71
- Auto repair and car care, #337 of 2,401 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Transylvania County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Transylvania 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 34,211 people live in Transylvania County, in 14,584 households. Population estimates put the population change in Transylvania County from 2020 to 2025 at +2.9%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Transylvania County is $66,184 a year, 18% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 31.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Transylvania 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 (66).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Transylvania County are for auto repair and car care businesses (71), gas stations (69) and dentists and orthodontists (68). Transylvania County ranks #337 of 2,401 scored counties for auto repair and car care businesses.
Transylvania County is part of the Brevard area. For its number of households, Transylvania County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pet grooming and boarding businesses (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (59% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Transylvania County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Transylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto repair and car care | 71 | #337 of 2,401 | 39 | 26.7 | $350K | 130 | 14 |
| Gas stations | 69 | #429 of 2,358 | 16 | 11.0 | $2.8M | 115 | 15 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 68 | #318 of 1,886 | 10 | 6.9 | $1.5M | 157 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 68 | #414 of 2,378 | 22 | 15.1 | $620K | 139 | 12 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 68 | #423 of 2,210 | 14 | 9.6 | $1.9M | 211 | 7 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 67 | #454 of 2,087 | 10 | 6.9 | $2.6M | 204 | 7 |
| Insurance agencies | 63 | #703 of 2,272 | 23 | 15.8 | $1.6M | 131 | 13 |
| Convenience stores | 61 | #722 of 2,261 | 12 | 8.2 | $7.1M | 90 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 61 | #759 of 2,402 | 25 | 17.1 | $3.4M | 100 | 9 |
| Veterinarians | 59 | #516 of 1,485 | 5 | 3.4 | $2.4M | 90 | 4 |
| Chiropractors | 58 | #516 of 1,490 | 6 | 4.1 | $2.6M | 107 | 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 54 | #984 of 2,222 | 17 | 11.7 | $3M | 99 | 28 |
| Nail salons | 53 | #592 of 1,328 | 6 | 4.1 | $2.1M | 123 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 52 | #1,028 of 2,200 | 27 | 18.5 | $451K | 51 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | 50 | #725 of 1,422 | 8 | 5.5 | $1.9M | 80 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 49 | #854 of 1,656 | 6 | 4.1 | $2.6M | 144 | 32 |
| Grocery stores | 49 | #1,049 of 2,070 | 10 | 6.9 | $8.5M | 91 | 7 |
| Hair salons | 47 | #1,322 of 2,339 | 28 | 19.2 | $440K | 102 | 8 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 45 | #816 of 1,334 | 5 | 3.4 | $1.9M | 94 | 4 |
| Child care and preschools | 45 | #966 of 1,611 | 10 | 6.9 | $593K | 59 | 7 |
| Pizza | 44 | #1,281 of 2,090 | 15 | 10.3 | $3.4M | 68 | 28 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 43 | #1,196 of 1,889 | 15 | 10.3 | $3.4M | 83 | 8 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 42 | #1,629 of 2,385 | 57 | 39.1 | $216K | 102 | 12 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 41 | #1,633 of 2,394 | 90 | 61.7 | $171K | 112 | 42 |
| Gyms | 38 | #1,293 of 1,792 | 9 | 6.2 | $1.1M | 81 | 6 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 37 | #1,535 of 2,063 | 23 | 15.8 | $2.2M | 61 | 8 |
| Home repair trades | 37 | #1,610 of 2,057 | 20 | 13.7 | $2M | 81 | 44 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 37 | #1,763 of 2,405 | 79 | 54.2 | $652K | 98 | 42 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 36 | #1,335 of 1,707 | 11 | 7.5 | $3.6M | 76 | 23 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 34 | #1,111 of 1,461 | 11 | 7.5 | $1.1M | 44 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 34 | #1,458 of 1,771 | 18 | 12.3 | $1.1M | 68 | 38 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 34 | #1,874 of 2,405 | 159 | 109.0 | $324K | 87 | 79 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 32 | #1,733 of 2,088 | 19 | 13.0 | $501K | 76 | 10 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 31 | #1,259 of 1,493 | 14 | 9.6 | $1.5M | 50 | 29 |
| Spas and skin care | 29 | #1,556 of 1,769 | 19 | 13.0 | $648K | 74 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 28 | #2,128 of 2,229 | 63 | 43.2 | Index only | 77 | 49 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 27 | #2,100 of 2,176 | 60 | 41.1 | Index only | 64 | 34 |
| Electricians | 26 | #1,040 of 1,160 | 7 | 4.8 | $5.6M | 47 | 21 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 23 | #742 of 777 | 5 | 3.4 | $1.9M | 47 | 6 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.7 | $3.1M | 163 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.7 | $3.4M | 135 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.7 | $3M | 67 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.7 | $3.4M | 136 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $4.5M | 147 | 4 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $6.8M | 67 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $1.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $13M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $7.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | Index only | Too few | 11 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $19.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $20.4M | Too few | 9 |
| Dry cleaners | 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 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 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 Transylvania 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 | $13.6M | $935 | 98 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $44M | $3,019 | 116 |
| Food away from home | $51.5M | $3,534 | 87 |
| Groceries | $84.6M | $5,804 | 92 |
| Personal care products and services | $12.3M | $845 | 84 |
| Child care and other personal services | $5.9M | $407 | 70 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $9.5M | $653 | 66 |
| Medical and dental services | $15.4M | $1,057 | 82 |
| Pets | $12.2M | $836 | 92 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $25.9M | $1,779 | 87 |
| Vehicle insurance | $37.7M | $2,587 | 132 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $39.5M | $2,709 | 90 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $20.4M | $1,400 | 99 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $210.3M | $14,421 | 87 |
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 Transylvania County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 34,211+2.9% since 2020
- Households
- 14,584
- Median age
- 50.3
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 75%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 378 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 89
- Median household income
- $66,184+31.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $88,954
- Median home value
- $373,600
- Jobs located here
- 9,403
- Daytime population
- 30,592Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Transylvania 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 Transylvania 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
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- Haywood County, NC62,662 people
- Jackson County, NC43,771 people
- Buncombe County, NC274,360 people
- Polk County, NC19,891 people
- Macon County, NC37,941 people
- Swain County, NC14,013 people
- Madison County, NC21,867 people
Questions
How fast is Transylvania County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Transylvania County at 34,211 people in 2025, up 2.9% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 14,584 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 31.8%, before inflation.
How much do households in Transylvania County, NC spend?
Households in Transylvania County spend about $210.3M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $84.6M on groceries and $51.5M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Transylvania County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 132, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (66).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Transylvania County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Transylvania County, auto repair and car care businesses (71), gas stations (69) and dentists and orthodontists (68) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For auto repair and car care businesses, that ranks #337 of 2,401 scored counties.
How does Transylvania County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Transylvania County is $66,184, 18% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $373,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pet grooming and boarding businesses (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (59% 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. 39 of the 56 business types have a score in Transylvania 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 Transylvania 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 Transylvania 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 Transylvania 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.