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Sylva vs Dobson

156 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (+47% in Dobson) and growth since 2010 (+7.4 pts in Sylva).

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Sylva, NCAn outdoors townNorth Carolina · 2,646 people

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Dobson, NCA regional job hubNorth Carolina · 1,652 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

SylvaAn outdoors town

Outdoors#60 most walkable in NC0.2 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves SafetySafer than 4%of U.S. towns we grade Housing$330K typical home1% below the NC typical home All about Sylva →

DobsonA regional job hub

Work2,877 jobsbased in Dobson, a regional job hub College town1 collegeSurry Community College SchoolsBetter than 72%of NC districts All about Dobson →

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Property tax bill+47%

Tax bills are bigger in Dobson

Dobson $1,290Sylva $877

Growth since 2010+7.4 pts

Sylva has grown faster since 2010

Sylva -0.4%Dobson -7.8%

Average commute6 min

Dobson has the shorter commute

Sylva 24 minDobson 18 min

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $300 more a month in Sylva

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Sylva$1,850/mo

Typical home $330K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.44% · or rent about $797/mo · Housing →

Dobson$1,560/mo

Typical home $266K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.74% · or rent about $528/mo · Housing →

The difference: $300 a month, about $3,500 a year, between Sylva and Dobson.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every North Carolina ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety

D−SylvaSafer than 4% of U.S. towns –DobsonNot graded

Schools

–SylvaNot graded B+DobsonBetter than 72% of districts in the state

Health

C+SylvaHealthier than 41% of U.S. towns C+DobsonHealthier than 42% of U.S. towns

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

SylvaDobson

Snow a year4″8″

January low26°F 25°F

July high85°F 86°F

Growing season (days)184d 186d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)68th 20th

Outdoors & history

SylvaDobson

Trails0 mi 0 mi

Conserved land2.5%0.2%

Settled1889 1853

National Register places3 1

Archive photos12 12

Famous people born here—8

Community

SylvaDobson

Library hours a week54 hrs 41 hrs

Colleges in town—1

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

156 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

SylvaNC DobsonNC

Sylva ↔ Dobson156 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs North Carolina average

SylvaDobson

People

Population 2,646Highest 1,652Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -0.4%Highest NC: +9.5% -7.8%Lowest NC: +9.5%

Median age 31.4±5.9Lowest 20% below NC 35.8±2.3Highest 8% below NC

Dobson and Sylva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 28.4%±7.7Highest NC: 21.8% 20.5%±7.4Lowest NC: 21.8%

Sylva and Dobson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 14.6%±3.9Lowest NC: 17.2% 18.6%±2.3Highest NC: 17.2%

Dobson and Sylva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 30.7%Highest NC: 35.7% 24.3%Lowest NC: 35.7%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.1%±3.7Highest NC: 6.4% 3.5%±2.4Lowest NC: 6.4%

Sylva and Dobson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $44,086±$6kHighest 39% below NC $43,750±$19kLowest 40% below NC

Sylva and Dobson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $201,200±$31kHighest 30% below NC $173,900±$96kLowest 40% below NC

Sylva and Dobson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $797±$197Highest 35% below NC $528±$107Lowest 57% below NC

Sylva and Dobson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $877Lowest 54% below NC $1,290Highest 32% below NC

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 33.5%±12.7Lowest NC: 48.9% 42.2%±16.6Highest NC: 48.9%

Dobson and Sylva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 19.4%Lowest NC: 13% 22.4%Highest NC: 13%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 45.3%Lowest NC: 66.6% 48.7%Highest NC: 66.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 1979 12 yrs older than NC 1979 12 yrs older than NC

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 24 minHighest 6% below NC 18 minLowest 28% below NC

Work from home 2.9%±2.4Lowest NC: 16.3% 5.4%±7.3Highest NC: 16.3%

Dobson and Sylva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 17.5%Highest 17.4%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.3 miLowest 11.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 4.76Lowest 5.01Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Cullowhee (7%)Mount Airy (16%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in DobsonFew work in Sylva

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 2.5%Highest 0.2%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 0.2 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 6Highest 1Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 66.1Highest 47.3Lowest

Schools

School district —Surry County Schools

High school in town —Surry Central High

Students per teacherat that high school — 16.7

North Carolina average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Sylva neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Sylva’s Town Square.

Dobson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Dobson’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Sylva and Dobson

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Sylva

Dillsboro195 people · $270K homes

Towns like Sylva

Bryson City1,902 people · $243K homes

Murphy1,604 people · $250K homes

Murfreesboro3,170 people · $159K homes

Whiteville4,696 people · $188K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.