Below Average CostNear National AverageSwain County Schools
Aerial-View-Downtown-Bryson-City-CS · GreatSmokies / CC BY-SA 4.0Everett Street, Bryson City, NC (46647749271) · Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States / CC0Bryson City Depot, Bryson City, NC (45732828165) · Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States / CC0
Bryson City is a small town of 1,638 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $41,542
and a 1.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Bryson City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Bryson City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Bryson City city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 91.7
Bryson City's overall cost of living index is 91.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Bryson City costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Bryson City, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$229,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$697
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
52.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$41,542
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Bryson City's violent crime rate is 602.0 per 100,000 residents
— 58% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
602.0 /100k
Property Crime
1538.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Bryson City is served primarily by Swain County Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Bryson City, NC
National Avg
School District
Swain County Schools
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
26.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
79.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Bryson City sees average highs of 47.7°F in January
and 83.6°F in July,
with 58.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 6.5 inches of snow per year.
Bryson City's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Bryson City roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $229,000 and median rent is $697/month.
Bryson City's violent crime rate is 602.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1538.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Bryson City are operated by Swain County Schools.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1. 26.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Bryson City, NC has a population of 1,638, a median household income of $41,542, and an unemployment rate of 1.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Bryson City averages 47.7°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.6 inches
with about 6.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Bryson City, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28713.
The population of Bryson City, North Carolina is 1,638 with a median age of 39.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Bryson City: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $229,000, median household income $41,542, crime index 124 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bryson City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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