Transylvania County Demographics

A map of Transylvania County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	29,516	28,542	87.6%	86.5%
Hispanic	1,753	1,698	5.2%	5.1%
Black	1,201	1,027	3.6%	3.1%
Multiracial	790	1,307	2.3%	4.0%
Asian	229	173	0.7%	0.5%
Native American/Other	202	239	0.6%	0.7%

Transylvania County, North Carolina has an estimated population of 33,691, a slight increase from the 32,986 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 87.6% White, 5.2% Hispanic, 3.6% Black, 2.3% Multiracial, 0.7% Asian, and 0.6% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Transylvania County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Transylvania has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Transylvania County, that probability was 24.6% in 2020 and 22.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Transylvania County is ranked the 68th most populous county in North Carolina, out of 100 counties. Transylvania County was ranked the 69th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Transylvania County's White Population

29,516 residents of Transylvania County, or 87.6% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Transylvania County is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Transylvania County ranks 10th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Transylvania County's White population has grown by an estimated 3.4%. White residents' share of Transylvania County's population has increased from 86.5% to 87.6%.

Transylvania County is more White than neighboring Pickens County (82.7% White), Henderson County (79.5% White), Jackson County (78.4% White), and Buncombe County (80.8% White). Transylvania County is less White than neighboring Haywood County (90.4% White).

Transylvania County's Black Population

1,201 residents of Transylvania County, or 3.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Transylvania County is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Transylvania County ranks 85th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Transylvania County's Black population has grown by an estimated 16.9%. Black residents' share of Transylvania County's population has increased from 3.1% to 3.6%.

Transylvania County is more Black than neighboring Henderson County (2.6% Black), Jackson County (2.1% Black), and Haywood County (0.9% Black). Transylvania County is less Black than neighboring Pickens County (5.7% Black), and Buncombe County (4.8% Black).

Transylvania County's Asian Population

229 residents of Transylvania County, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Transylvania County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Transylvania County ranks 65th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Transylvania County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 32.4%. Asian residents' share of Transylvania County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Transylvania County is more Asian than neighboring Haywood County (0.4% Asian). Transylvania County is less Asian than neighboring Pickens County (1.6% Asian), Henderson County (1.1% Asian), Jackson County (1% Asian), and Buncombe County (1.1% Asian).

Transylvania County's Hispanic Population

1,753 residents of Transylvania County, or 5.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Transylvania County is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Transylvania County ranks 71st statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Transylvania County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 3.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Transylvania County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 5.2%.

Transylvania County is more Hispanic than neighboring Haywood County (5% Hispanic). Transylvania County is less Hispanic than neighboring Pickens County (5.4% Hispanic), Henderson County (13.1% Hispanic), Jackson County (8% Hispanic), and Buncombe County (8.6% Hispanic).

Transylvania County's Native American/Other Population

202 residents of Transylvania County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Transylvania County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Transylvania County ranks 54th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Transylvania County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 15.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of Transylvania County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Transylvania County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Buncombe County (0.5% Native American/Other). Transylvania County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Henderson County (0.9% Native American/Other), Jackson County (6.9% Native American/Other), and Haywood County (0.7% Native American/Other).

Transylvania County's Multiracial Population

790 residents of Transylvania County, or 2.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Transylvania County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Transylvania County ranks 27th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Transylvania County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 39.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Transylvania County's population has decreased from 4.0% to 2.3%.

Transylvania County is less Multiracial than neighboring Pickens County (4% Multiracial), Henderson County (2.7% Multiracial), Jackson County (3.5% Multiracial), Haywood County (2.7% Multiracial), and Buncombe County (4.3% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.