Haywood County
NC · Pop. 62,432 · Mixed County
Haywood County is a mixed rural-suburban county in North Carolina, spanning 554 square miles with 62,432 residents at a density of 112.7 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, corn, haylage. A median home price of $255,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.6% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 157-day growing season, average summer highs of 80.7°F and average winter lows of 23.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 47.7 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Haywood Regional Medical Center is 3.2 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 95.1% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.6% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 95.1% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Haywood Regional Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 3.2 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.9% reflects a stable local job base.
- A low poverty rate of 11.3% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A 157-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
At a glance
Haywood County, NC is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 60/100
- Median home price
- $255k
- Property tax
- 0.6%
- Growing season
- 157 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 47.7"
- Broadband
- 95.1%
- Nearest hospital
- Haywood Regional Medical Center, 3.2 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Haywood County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Haywood County?
- Haywood County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 157-day growing season, average summer highs of 80.7°F, and average winter lows of 23.7°F. The established crops are hay, corn, haylage.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $255,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.6%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 95.1% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Haywood Regional Medical Center is 3.2 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore North Carolina Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
The largest listing site for rural property — farms, ranches, hunting land, and timberland.
AcreTrader
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More counties in North Carolina
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The closest counties to Haywood County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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