County profile · North Carolina
Yancey County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Yancey County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 19,084
- +3.2% since 2020
- Households
- 8,130
- Median household income
- $58,709
- +39.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $243,100
- Jobs located here
- 4,832
- Highest market score
- 79
- Gas stations, #161 of 2,358 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Yancey County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Yancey 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 19,084 people live in Yancey County, in 8,130 households. Population estimates show Yancey County grew 3.2% from 2020 to 2025, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Yancey County is $58,709 a year, 27% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 39.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Yancey County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 143, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (63).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Yancey County are for gas stations (79), insurance agencies (77) and auto repair shops (72). Yancey County ranks #161 of 2,358 scored counties for gas stations.
For its number of households, Yancey County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for grocery and convenience stores (25% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for salons, barbers and spas (66% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Yancey County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Yancey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas stations | 79 | #161 of 2,358 | 6 | 7.4 | $4.5M | 187 | 9 |
| Insurance agencies | 77 | #299 of 2,272 | 12 | 14.8 | $1.9M | 151 | 5 |
| Auto repair shops | 72 | #298 of 2,378 | 16 | 19.7 | $513K | 115 | 4 |
| Pet businesses | 71 | #250 of 2,200 | 7 | 8.6 | $932K | 106 | 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 71 | #371 of 2,405 | 54 | 66.4 | $511K | 138 | 22 |
| Hair salons | 70 | #272 of 2,339 | 7 | 8.6 | $941K | 219 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 69 | #300 of 2,385 | 13 | 16.0 | $507K | 238 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 68 | #424 of 2,087 | 5 | 6.2 | $2.8M | 220 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 66 | #477 of 2,210 | 8 | 9.8 | $1.8M | 199 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 66 | #491 of 2,405 | 30 | 36.9 | $921K | 139 | 11 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 65 | #541 of 2,394 | 31 | 38.1 | $265K | 174 | 8 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 64 | #458 of 2,063 | 5 | 6.2 | $5.5M | 149 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 61 | #552 of 2,088 | 6 | 7.4 | $834K | 126 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 52 | #792 of 1,656 | 6 | 7.4 | $1.4M | 77 | 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 52 | #1,087 of 2,222 | 12 | 14.8 | $2.3M | 75 | 10 |
| Convenience stores | 51 | #1,089 of 2,261 | 8 | 9.8 | $5.7M | 73 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 49 | #1,259 of 2,402 | 19 | 23.4 | $2.4M | 71 | 5 |
| Auto repair and car care | 49 | #1,277 of 2,401 | 34 | 41.8 | $242K | 90 | 12 |
| Real estate | 42 | #1,515 of 2,229 | 21 | 25.8 | Index only | 125 | 15 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 39 | #1,648 of 2,176 | 19 | 23.4 | Index only | 110 | 9 |
| Grocery stores | 37 | #1,462 of 2,070 | 8 | 9.8 | $5.7M | 62 | 4 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.9 | $810K | 81 | 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.9 | $1.3M | 96 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.9 | $6.9M | 136 | 10 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.9 | $2.1M | 82 | 5 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.7 | $2.7M | 109 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.7 | $2.7M | 89 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.7 | $491K | 72 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.7 | $2.2M | 85 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.5 | $3.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.5 | $4.1M | Too few | 5 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.5 | $10.5M | Too few | 7 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.5 | $10.5M | Too few | 10 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.5 | $5.5M | Too few | 12 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.5 | $5.5M | Too few | 16 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.5 | $2.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.5 | $3.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.5 | $3.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.5 | $4.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.5 | $3.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.5 | $3.3M | Too few | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $27.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $8.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $8.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $8.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | Index only | Too few | 4 |
| 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 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 4 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | 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 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Yancey 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 | $8.2M | $1,011 | 105 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $26.8M | $3,291 | 127 |
| Food away from home | $27.6M | $3,397 | 83 |
| Groceries | $45.9M | $5,648 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $6.6M | $810 | 81 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3.2M | $398 | 69 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $5M | $616 | 63 |
| Medical and dental services | $8.2M | $1,012 | 79 |
| Pets | $6.5M | $802 | 88 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $14M | $1,723 | 84 |
| Vehicle insurance | $22.7M | $2,793 | 143 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $21.1M | $2,594 | 86 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $10.9M | $1,345 | 95 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $113.8M | $13,995 | 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 Yancey County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 19,084+3.2% since 2020
- Households
- 8,130
- Median age
- 48.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 79%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 313 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 60
- Median household income
- $58,709+39.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $83,965
- Median home value
- $243,100
- Jobs located here
- 4,832
- Daytime population
- 17,017Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Yancey 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 Yancey 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
- Mitchell County, NC14,992 people
- Madison County, NC21,867 people
- McDowell County, NC44,817 people
- Avery County, NC17,680 people
- Buncombe County, NC274,360 people
- Burke County, NC87,795 people
- Watauga County, NC55,123 people
- Henderson County, NC118,484 people
Questions
How fast is Yancey County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Yancey County at 19,084 people in 2025, up 3.2% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 8,130 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 39.1%, before inflation.
How much do households in Yancey County, NC spend?
Households in Yancey County spend about $113.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $45.9M on groceries and $27.6M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Yancey County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 143, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (63).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Yancey County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Yancey County, gas stations (79), insurance agencies (77) and auto repair shops (72) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For gas stations, that ranks #161 of 2,358 scored counties.
How does Yancey County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Yancey County is $58,709, 27% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $243,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for grocery and convenience stores (25% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for salons, barbers and spas (66% 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 Yancey 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 Yancey 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 Yancey 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 Yancey 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.