Mills River is a somewhat small town located in the state of North Carolina. With a population of 7,206 people and three associated neighborhoods, Mills River is the 127th largest community in North Carolina.

Mills River real estate is some of the most expensive in North Carolina, although Mills River house values don't compare to the most expensive real estate in the U.S.

Of important note, Mills River is also a town of artists. Mills River has more artists, designers and people working in media than 90% of the communities in America. This concentration of artists helps shape Mills River’s character.

Because of many things, Mills River is a very good place for families to consider. With an enviable combination of good schools, low crime, college-educated neighbors who tend to support education because of their own experiences, and a high rate of home ownership in predominantly single-family properties, Mills River really has some of the features that families look for when choosing a good community to raise children. Is Mills River perfect? Of course not, and if you like frenetic nightlife, it will be far from your cup of tea. But overall this is a solid community, with many things to recommend it as a family-friendly place to live.

As is often the case in a small town, Mills River doesn't have a public transportation system that people use for their commute.

Mills River is one of the most well-educated cities in the nation. 43.46% of adults in Mills River have at least a bachelor's degree. Compare that to the average community in America, which has just 21.84% with a bachelor's degree or higher.

The per capita income in Mills River in 2022 was $38,303, which is upper middle income relative to North Carolina and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $153,212 for a family of four. However, Mills River contains both very wealthy and poor people as well.

Mills River is a somewhat ethnically-diverse town. The people who call Mills River home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Mills River residents report their race to be White, followed by Asian. Important ancestries of people in Mills River include German, English, Irish, Italian, and Scottish.

The most common language spoken in Mills River is English. Other important languages spoken here include Spanish and Native American languages.