What are the schools like in Sawmills, NC?

School district data for Sawmills is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Sawmills?

The median household income in Sawmills, NC is $63,388 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.0%.

What is the weather like in Sawmills, NC?

Sawmills has an average high temperature of 49.1°F in January and 87.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.3 inches.

Sawmills, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Sawmills, NC affordable or expensive?

Sawmills's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sawmills is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $156,100 and the median rent is $676 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Sawmills, NC?

Sawmills has a violent crime rate of 139.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1954.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sawmills, NC a Good Place to Live?

Sawmills is a small town of 5,026 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $63,388 and a 8.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Sawmills stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sawmills is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Sawmills 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: 89.2

Sawmills's overall cost of living index is 89.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sawmills costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Sawmills, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$156,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$676	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	73.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$63,388	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Sawmills's violent crime rate is 139.9 per 100,000 residents — 63% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

139.9 /100k

Property Crime

1954.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Metric	Sawmills, NC	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	80.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sawmills sees average highs of 49.1°F in January and 87.4°F in July, with 47.3 inches of annual precipitation and 0.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Sawmills, NC
Average High — January	49.1°F
Average High — July	87.4°F
Annual Precipitation	47.3"
Annual Snowfall	0.3"

Demographics

Metric	Sawmills, NC	National Avg
Population	5,026	—
Median Age	47.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	18.6%	22.2%
65 and over	17.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hudson, NC 2 mi Granite Falls, NC 3 mi Cajah's Mountain, NC 4 mi Rhodhiss, NC 4 mi Connelly Springs, NC 4 mi

Sawmills vs Other Cities

Sawmills, NC vs Hudson, NC Sawmills, NC vs Granite Falls, NC Sawmills, NC vs Cajah's Mountain, NC Sawmills, NC vs Rhodhiss, NC Sawmills, NC vs Connelly Springs, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sawmills, NC affordable or expensive?

Sawmills's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Sawmills roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $156,100 and median rent is $676/month.

What is the crime rate in Sawmills, NC?

Sawmills's violent crime rate is 139.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1954.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Sawmills?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Sawmills, NC a good place to live?

Sawmills, NC has a population of 5,026, a median household income of $63,388, and an unemployment rate of 8.0%. 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.

What is the weather like in Sawmills?

Sawmills averages 49.1°F in January and 87.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.3 inches with about 0.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Sawmills?

The population of Sawmills, North Carolina is 5,026 with a median age of 47.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Sawmills?

Key numbers for living in Sawmills: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $156,100, median household income $63,388, crime index 59 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sawmills side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.