Median Age
24 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 52% of Residents
Under 20
26%
Over 65
5%
Cullowhee
Cullowhee, NC Area Guide
Avg Rent
$799
Population
6,262
Renter Mix
70% Rent
A college community in the heart of Nantahala
College
•
Nature
•
Outdoors
•
Wooded
•
The small city of Cullowhee is a secluded, heavily-wooded community in the heart of North Carolina’s Nantahala National Forest. The rolling hills and beautiful forests form the backdrop to a charming college town, anchored by Western Carolina University; serving over 11,000 students and employing hundreds of locals as faculty and staff, the university is the main economic and cultural driver for the community.
The local rental market includes a number of options to suit any budget, from apartments near campus to single-family homes just outside the city limits. While Cullowhee itself hosts a few popular hangouts like Tuck’s Tap & Grille, a much wider selection of shopping, dining, and nightlife options can be found just a few minutes up the road in Sylvia and Dillsboro.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$33,602
Average: $43,011
Education
1,447
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
2,615
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Cullowhee has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
70%
Non-Renters
30%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
13%
Other Education
87%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Cullowhee, NC is $799 for one bedroom, $1,052 for two bedrooms, and $1,005 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Cullowhee has increased by 4.7% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$799/month
70 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Cullowhee, NC is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
20
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
90
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-8
619 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
619 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Balsam Mountain Trust
Top Apartments in Cullowhee
Houses for Rent in Cullowhee
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.