North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Type of help
Claims assistance
Location
Canton
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to confirm how to get help.
Area served: Buncombe County, Cherokee County, Clay County, Graham County, Haywood County, Henderson County, Jackson County, Macon County, Madison County, Swain County, Transylvania County, Yancey County.
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The ACS estimates about 644, give or take 146 civilian veterans in Clay County.
Among North Carolina's 100 counties and equivalents, Clay County ranks 97th by its estimated number of veterans.
Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
Measure
Clay County
North Carolina
United States
Share with a service-connected rating
27 percent
below the North Carolina share; below the national share.
34 percent
30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher
10 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough
Not compared
Not compared
Veterans 75 and older in Clay County number about 250, give or take 116; their 39 percent share is above North Carolina's 23 percent.
Veterans under 35 account for 0 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Clay County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
Women veterans account for 3 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Clay County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
Income, work and education in Clay County
Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
Measure
Clay County
North Carolina
United States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income
$40,682 ± $21,790; small survey sample; treat as rough
Not compared
Not compared
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income
$33,489 ± $4,763
$38,302 ± $191
$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over
16.7% ± 11.1 points; small survey sample; treat as rough
Not compared
Not compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over
33.9% ± 11.4 points
30.1% ± 0.5 points
30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64
53.9% ± 23.2 points; small survey sample; treat as rough
Not compared
Not compared
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64
0.0% ± 32.8 points; small survey sample; treat as rough
Not compared
Not compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over
94.4% ± 5.6 points
95.8% ± 0.2 points
95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over
36.3% ± 13.5 points
32.2% ± 0.6 points
31.8% ± 0.2 points
Income is in 2024 dollars. These figures describe civilians. Poverty and disability shares use veterans whose poverty status is determined. Census disability measures daily functioning, not a VA service-connected rating. Tables and method.
VA projects fewer veterans here in 2035. VetPop2023 projections for small counties show direction only. Projection source and method.
VA disability compensation in Clay County
VA reports 420 veterans in Clay County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
In 2025, lenders reported 34 VA-backed home loans out of 284 home loans made in Clay County (12.0% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
The largest reported service groups are Vietnam era only (about 206, give or take 94) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 195, give or take 84).
Outside North Carolina, in Knoxville, TN, Knoxville Mobile Vet Center (opens in a new tab) is Clay County's second-nearest Vet Center, about 62 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Winston-Salem RO (station 318); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Clay County.
For VA’s service-location rules, see the presumptive conditions list. A location listing does not establish personal exposure or eligibility.
Veterans experiencing homelessness
On one night in January 2024, North Carolina Balance of State CoC counted 134 veterans experiencing homelessness (70 sheltered, 64 unsheltered).
NC-503 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid). This Balance of State area covers communities outside separate local CoCs.
The HUD workbook reports 157 veterans for the 2019 comparison.
This is a one-night count for the whole CoC area, not a county or annual total. CoC mapping method.
If you need housing help, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. You can call any time, day or night.
Census incorporated places and census-designated places, sorted by ACS 2020-2024 population. Figures are ACS estimates for the whole place, not only the part inside this county. Places are assigned by their 2024 Census internal point and may cross county boundaries. Sources and mapping method.
Qualifying North Carolina veterans with a 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability receive a $45,000 homestead assessed value exemption.
North Carolina offers Class I-B scholarships to eligible children of veterans receiving compensation for a 100 percent wartime service-connected disability.
Claim Raven is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. We do not recommend or endorse any attorney or claims agent. Listings come from VA's public accreditation records. Paid placements are advertising. Check an attorney's accreditation on VA's accreditation search (opens in a new tab) before you hire them.
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