June 2026 residential building permits data releasedExplore

North Carolina · PUMA · 2024 ACS PUMS

Jackson (South), Macon, Cherokee & Clay Counties

A Census profile of the Jackson (South), Macon, Cherokee & Clay Counties Public Use Microdata Area in North Carolina, from the 2024 American Community Survey. It is home to 124,930 people, with a median household income of $60,915 and a median age of 45.8.

Cities & areas covered: Jackson County, Macon County, Cherokee County, Clay County.

124,930
Population
$60,915
Median HH income
29.4%
Bachelor's+
$265,000
Median home value

How Jackson (South), Macon, Cherokee & Clay Counties compares to North Carolina

  • Median household income here is $60,915, $13,198 below the North Carolina figure of $74,113.
  • The bachelor's-degree rate here is 29.4%, 8.1% below the North Carolina figure of 37.5%.
  • Homeownership here is 74.4%, 7.5% above the North Carolina figure of 66.9%.
  • The poverty rate here is 13.0%, 0.4% above the North Carolina figure of 12.6%.

Jackson (South), Macon, Cherokee & Clay Counties vs. North Carolina vs. the U.S.

Every figure is a weighted estimate from the 2024 ACS PUMS. The NC and U.S. columns are the state and population-weighted national averages, for comparison.

StatisticThis PUMANC
Median household income$60,915$74,113
Median family income$68,022$92,895
Mean wage (workers)$47,526$61,965
Median personal income (15+)$30,458$33,503
Poverty rate13.0%12.6%
Unemployment rate3.2%4.0%
Labor force participation (16+)52.7%63.6%
Mean hours worked / week36.938
Mean Interest, dividends, and net rental income$4,273$2,513
Mean Selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income20.0%22.0%
Mean All other income$935$862
Mean Public assistance income$46$26
Mean Total person's earnings$27,314$41,326
Mean Income-to-poverty ratio277.5308.1
Mean Retirement income$4,396$3,530
Mean Self-employment income$2,173$2,336
Mean Supplementary Security Income$221$264
Mean Social Security income$6,146$3,995

Jackson (South), Macon, Cherokee & Clay Counties — FAQ

What is the population of the Jackson (South), Macon, Cherokee & Clay Counties PUMA?+

The Jackson (South), Macon, Cherokee & Clay Counties PUMA in North Carolina has a population of 124,930, per the 2024 American Community Survey (ACS) PUMS.

What is the median household income in Jackson (South), Macon, Cherokee & Clay Counties, NC?+

Median household income in the Jackson (South), Macon, Cherokee & Clay Counties PUMA is $60,915, compared with $74,113 across North Carolina and $83,310 nationally.

What cities and counties are in the Jackson (South), Macon, Cherokee & Clay Counties PUMA?+

The Jackson (South), Macon, Cherokee & Clay Counties PUMA covers Jackson County, Macon County, Cherokee County, Clay County. PUMAs are built from whole counties or, in denser areas, groups of census tracts, so one PUMA can span several places.

What is a PUMA?+

A PUMA (Public Use Microdata Area) is a U.S. Census geography of roughly 100,000 or more people — the most detailed level at which ACS PUMS microdata is released. North Carolina contains 76 PUMAs.

Where does this Jackson (South), Macon, Cherokee & Clay Counties data come from?+

These figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 ACS Public Use Microdata Sample — a de-identified, weighted sample of individual records. PUMSdata is an independent product and is not affiliated with the Census Bureau.