CountyScore

Macon County

North Carolina · NC

#25 in North Carolina
70
County Score

County Report Card

About Macon County, North Carolina

Macon Scores 56% Above National Livability Median

Macon County's composite score of 78.0 far exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it well into the top tier of U.S. counties. This substantial advantage reflects strong livability fundamentals across multiple measured dimensions.

Among North Carolina's Top Performers

Macon ranks notably above the state average composite score of 72.7, placing it in the upper tier among North Carolina's 100 counties. The county demonstrates some of the state's strongest livability metrics.

Lowest Tax Rate and Outstanding Affordability

Macon leads with a 90.2 tax score and the lowest effective tax rate of just 0.427% among these eight counties, maximizing household budgets. Cost affordability scores 83.7 with median rent of $791/month and median home value of $229,000, delivering exceptional value.

Limited Income Growth Opportunities

Macon's income score of 18.2 reflects a median household income of $53,298, modest compared to higher-income counties in this group. Missing data on schools, safety, health, and environmental factors prevents complete assessment of quality-of-life factors beyond affordability.

Best for Budget-Savvy, Flexible-Income Residents

Macon excels for retirees, remote workers, and anyone seeking maximum affordability with minimal taxes. The county's exceptional cost structure makes it ideal for those whose income is stable or passive rather than employment-dependent.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax90.2Cost83.7SafetyComing SoonHealth63.6SchoolsComing SoonIncome18.2Risk26.2WaterComing Soon
🏛90.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠83.7
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼18.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤63.6
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡26.2
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Macon County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

St. Clair County
Alabama
70
Median income: $78,993
Sumter County
Alabama
70
Median income: $37,981
Sitka City and Borough
Alaska
70
Median income: $101,207
Lee County
Arkansas
70
Median income: $36,860
Pike County
Georgia
70
Median income: $84,184

Deep Dives

Macon County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Macon County

via TaxByCounty

Macon County ranks among the nation's lowest

At 0.427%, Macon County's effective tax rate places it in the bottom 10% nationally—exceptionally low by U.S. standards. Homeowners pay just $979 in median annual taxes, 64% below the national median of $2,690, making Macon one of America's most tax-friendly counties.

Macon is North Carolina's second-lowest taxing

Macon County's 0.427% effective rate ranks second-lowest in North Carolina, trailing only Jackson County (0.369%), and sits 39% below the state average of 0.701%. Annual median taxes of $979 fall 32% below the state median of $1,433.

Macon provides exceptional regional relief

Macon's 0.427% rate significantly undercuts neighboring Jackson (0.369%) and far outpaces Lee County (0.798%) in tax friendliness. At $979 annually, Macon homeowners pay roughly half what similar properties cost in Lee, offering dramatic savings across the mountain region.

Macon homeowners enjoy minimal tax burden

The median Macon County home valued at $229,000 carries an annual property tax of just $979. Even with mortgage-related assessments, bills rarely exceed $1,049, positioning Macon among the nation's most affordable counties for property taxation.

Macon residents should still check valuations

Despite Macon's extraordinarily low tax rates, homeowners should verify their assessed values against market comparables. Filing an appeal if your assessment appears inflated could trim an already-modest bill even further.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Macon County

via CostByCounty

Macon's affordability slightly beats the nation

Macon renters spend 17.8% of income on housing, modestly below the national median of 18.6%, thanks to rents of just $791 monthly. With a median household income of $53,298 well below the national average of $74,755, residents manage decent affordability despite income constraints.

Macon ranks above average for North Carolina

Macon's 17.8% rent-to-income ratio beats the state average of 18.6%, placing it solidly in North Carolina's more affordable half despite below-average incomes. Low rents of $791 are the primary driver of this relative advantage.

Macon delivers solid affordability regionally

Macon's 17.8% rent-to-income ratio outperforms Jackson County (19.2%) and Lee County (18.3%), while slightly trailing Jones County (15.6%) and Lincoln County (14.9%). Its $791 rent makes it one of the region's cheaper options.

Low income balanced by low rents

Macon renters pay $791 monthly while homeowners pay $693, figures well below state averages on a median income of $53,298. These modest costs mean housing claims roughly 18% of typical budgets—manageable even for residents with limited incomes.

Macon appeals to budget-conscious relocators

If you're seeking affordable mountain living with low housing costs, Macon delivers: $791 rents and $229,000 median home values offer genuine value on modest incomes. The tradeoff is limited high-wage job availability, so this works best for remote workers or retirees seeking affordability.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Macon County

via IncomeByCounty

Macon County incomes lag national average

Macon County's median household income of $53,298 falls $21,457 short of the national median of $74,755, placing it in the lower 30% nationally. This 29% gap reflects limited employment diversity and rural economic constraints.

Below-average earnings in North Carolina

Macon County's $53,298 median income sits 13% below North Carolina's state average of $61,072, indicating above-average economic vulnerability. Per capita income of $35,682 slightly exceeds the state average of $33,920, a rare bright spot suggesting moderate individual earning power.

Macon County ranks among lower earners

Macon County's $53,298 median income nearly matches Jackson County ($53,479) and falls well behind Johnston County ($79,838) and Iredell County ($78,678). The $25,000+ gap to top earners reflects Macon's reliance on agriculture, tourism, and limited manufacturing.

Moderate housing affordability in Macon

Macon County's 17.8% rent-to-income ratio remains manageable, but median home values of $229,000 represent a substantial commitment relative to lower household incomes. Residents should carefully assess mortgage feasibility before committing to home purchases.

Strategic saving builds Macon County futures

Macon County residents benefit from employer-sponsored retirement plans and regular savings discipline to build wealth despite below-average incomes. Low-cost investment options and long-term time horizons can meaningfully compound modest monthly contributions.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Macon County

via HealthByCounty

Solid lifespan, high uninsured rates

Macon County residents live to an average of 75.4 years, about 0.8 years above the U.S. average of 74.6 years. However, 17.4% report poor or fair health, and a striking 16.2% lack health insurance—one of the highest uninsured rates in the region.

Above-average life, above-average uninsured

At 75.4 years, Macon's life expectancy exceeds North Carolina's 74.4-year average by one year. Yet the county's 16.2% uninsured rate significantly outpaces the state average of 12.5%, suggesting coverage gaps despite decent life expectancy.

Middle-range outcomes, high uninsured

Macon's 75.4-year life expectancy falls between Iredell (76.5) and Jackson (76.3), but its 16.2% uninsured rate exceeds all nearby counties. This gap signals that Macon residents live reasonably long lives but struggle to access preventive care.

Critical coverage gap despite strong providers

Macon faces a paradox: 16.2% uninsured—the highest in its peer group—while offering 56 primary care providers and 224 mental health providers per 100,000. This suggests that even where providers exist, residents lack the insurance to pay for their services.

Close the coverage gap today

With 1 in 6 Macon residents uninsured, coverage is urgent and available. Explore marketplace plans at Healthcare.gov, ask about Medicaid eligibility, and use community health centers that offer sliding-scale fees based on income.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Macon County

via RiskByCounty

Macon County's risk moderately exceeds U.S. levels

Macon County scores 73.79 on the composite risk scale, placing it in the Relatively Low category but above the national average. The score reflects balanced multi-hazard exposure, with wildfire emerging as an above-average threat for this Appalachian county.

Macon ranks above the North Carolina average

At 73.79, Macon County's composite score exceeds the state average of 66.72, positioning it in the upper-middle tier of North Carolina counties for natural disaster risk. The county's profile reflects its mountainous western geography and associated hazards.

Macon faces higher wildfire risk than Jackson County

Macon (73.79) and Jackson County (80.47) are neighboring western counties with similar overall risk, but Macon's wildfire score of 58.52 substantially exceeds Jackson's 46.34. Both counties share comparable flood and earthquake exposure typical of the Blue Ridge region.

Wildfires and floods are Macon's chief hazards

Wildfire risk reaches 58.52 in Macon—above the state average and the highest score among these eight counties—while flood risk stands at 70.80. Tornado risk remains moderate at 60.91, and earthquake and hurricane risks are below 70, offering some regional relief.

Prepare for wildfire and flood threats now

Macon residents should maintain homeowners insurance that covers both flood damage and ensure their homes meet wildfire-resistant building standards. Create a defensible space around your property by clearing dead vegetation, secure your gutters, and keep an evacuation kit ready during fire season.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.