Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 33 min6:18 am – 8:51 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 46 min7:38 am – 5:24 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People5,788 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 42.92,385 householdsMedian household income $51,713Median home value $221,600Median rent $990 a month73% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $814 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting6.8% unemployment rate53% of adults are in the labour force, 2,354 employedMain industries: hospitality, food and recreation 29%, education and health care 18%, professional and business services 14%Average commute 17 minutes83% drive alone, 7% car-pool, 8% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages25% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher82% finished high school, 11% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 95%, Spanish 3%4% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 83°F, lows 63°FColdest month January: highs 46°F, lows 26°F57 in of rain a year, on about 91 dayswettest month March7 in of snow a year, on about 4 days12 days above 90°F, 122 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Cherokee station, 6 mi away
Parks and public landsGreat Smoky Mountains National Parknational park · under a mile · 279,592 acresNantahala National Forestnational forest · 5.4 mi · 532,900 acresJackson County - Green Energy Parkrecreation area · 3.7 miTown of Dillsboro - Monteith Farmstead and Community Parkrecreation area · 4.6 miCherokee National Forestnational forest · 7.5 mi · 661,139 acresNeedmore Game Landstate conservation land · 10.7 mi · 5,087 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes29 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19702 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 4.7 on 30 Nov 197345 mi away, near Alcoa, TennesseeMost recent: magnitude 4.1 on 10 May 202539 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 quality81% of days had good air in 2025296 of 365 days measured69 moderate daysMedian index 37, worst day 87main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Swain County, NC, 14 mi away
Internet at home76% of households have a broadband subscription43% have cable, fibre or DSL13% rely on a mobile data plan alone21% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterSmoky Mtn Country Club Estatesserves 318 people from ground waterNo health-based violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation2,096 ft639 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalCherokee Indian Hospital5.3 miPost officeWhittier Post Office3.0 miTown hallDillsboro Town Hall4.6 miPoliceCherokee Police Department5.2 miFire stationQualla Volunteer Fire Department Station 21.5 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 elementaryElementarySmokey Mountain Elementary School1.6 miCollegeSouthwestern Community College7.4 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportAsheville Regional Airport AVL44 miMajor airportMcGhee Tyson Airport TYS47 miInterstateI-4022 miUS highwayUS 441under a mileAmtrakClemson, SC CSN57 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 28789 ZIP area.
