Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 33 min6:18 am – 8:51 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 46 min7:37 am – 5:24 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People18,064 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 42.48,295 householdsMedian household income $57,727Median home value $243,700Median rent $827 a month63% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $876 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting2.6% unemployment rate55% of adults are in the labour force, 7,758 employedMain industries: education and health care 30%, hospitality, food and recreation 14%, construction 11%Average commute 21 minutes83% drive alone, 7% car-pool, 3% walk or cycle, 6% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages28% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher92% finished high school, 11% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 96%, Spanish 2%1% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 85°F, lows 63°FColdest month January: highs 49°F, lows 26°F54 in of rain a year, on about 95 dayswettest month June4 in of snow a year, on about 3 days13 days above 90°F, 101 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Cullowhee station, 4 mi away
Nearby landmarksKings Mountainpeak · 1.1 miSouthwestern Community Collegecollege · under a mileBlack Mountainpeak · 3.5 miLake Dillsborolake · 2.4 miWestern Carolina Universitycollege · 3.5 miHodge Lakelake · 2.9 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsGreat Smoky Mountains National Parknational park · 7.1 mi · 279,592 acresJackson County - Mark Watson Parkrecreation area · 1.6 miJackson County Greenwayrecreation area · 2.2 miCherokee National Forestnational forest · 10.9 mi · 661,139 acresNantahala Game Landstate conservation land · 13.5 mi · 300 acresGorges State Parkstate park · 22.8 mi · 8,122 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes19 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19701 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 4.1 on 10 May 202546 mi away, near Greenback, TennesseeMost recent: magnitude 4.1 on 10 May 202546 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowJackson County, NC, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsCold wave Relatively HighLightning Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality97% of days had good air in 2025336 of 348 days measured12 moderate daysMedian index 32, worst day 97main pollutant: ozoneSource: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Macon County, NC, 18 mi away
Internet at home82% of households have a broadband subscription58% have cable, fibre or DSL12% rely on a mobile data plan alone16% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterTuckaseigee Water & Sewer Authserves 7,528 people from surface water4 health-based violations since 2021latest Feb 2025: surface water treatment, treatment technique4 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation2,311 ft704 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalHarris Regional Hospital2.1 miPost officeWebster Post Officeunder a mileTown hallWebster Town Hall1.0 miPoliceSylva Police Department1.5 miFire stationSylva Fire Department1.4 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi2 schools1 high, 1 otherHighSmoky Mountain High Schoolunder a mileSchoolFairview Schoolunder a mileCollegeSouthwestern Community Collegeunder a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportAsheville Regional Airport AVL38 miMajor airportMcGhee Tyson Airport TYS54 miInterstateI-4020 miUS highwayUS 23 Bus1.3 miAmtrakClemson, SC CSN51 miTransit3 stops within a mileJackson County Transit (JCT)Sources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 28779 ZIP area.
