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 2,920, give or take 419 civilian veterans in Jackson County.
Jackson County is tied for the 54th largest veteran population among North Carolina's 100 counties and equivalents, using ACS point estimates.
Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
Measure
Jackson County
North Carolina
United States
Share with a service-connected rating
35 percent
above the North Carolina share; above the national share.
34 percent
30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher
12 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough
Not compared
Not compared
Jackson County has about 638, give or take 130 veterans 75 and older, making up 22 percent of its veterans compared with 23 percent in North Carolina.
Veterans under 35 account for 10 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Jackson County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
Jackson County has about 302, give or take 145 women veterans, making up 10 percent of its veterans compared with 12 percent in North Carolina.
Income, work and education in Jackson County
Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
Measure
Jackson County
North Carolina
United States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income
$39,455 ± $8,653
$52,418 ± $511
$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income
$30,662 ± $2,093
$38,302 ± $191
$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over
5.3% ± 3.0 points; small survey sample; treat as rough
Not compared
Not compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over
23.2% ± 5.7 points
30.1% ± 0.5 points
30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64
52.3% ± 11.9 points
71.6% ± 0.7 points
73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64
1.3% ± 4.3 points; small survey sample; treat as rough
Not compared
Not compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over
96.5% ± 2.4 points
95.8% ± 0.2 points
95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over
34.5% ± 9.0 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 slightly fewer veterans here by 2035; both years round to about 2,000. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA disability compensation in Jackson County
VA reports 830 veterans in Jackson County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
In 2025, lenders reported 43 VA-backed home loans out of 851 home loans made in Jackson County (5.1% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
The largest reported service groups are Vietnam era only (about 1,060, give or take 259) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 567, give or take 220).
Cleanup and former military sites in Jackson County
No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Jackson 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.
Cullowhee (unincorporated community): about 7,973 residents
Sylva (town): about 2,646 residents
Cashiers (unincorporated community): about 683 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
Webster (town): about 470 residents
Forest Hills (village): about 329 residents
More places (3)
Dillsboro (town): about 195 residents
Glenville (unincorporated community): about 138 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
Whittier (unincorporated community): about 0 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
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.
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