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.Unlike some towns where white-collar or blue-collar occupations dominate the local economy, Mills River is neither predominantly one nor the other. Instead, it has a mixed workforce of both white- and blue-collar jobs. Overall, Mills River is a town of professionals, sales and office workers, and service providers. There are especially a lot of people living in Mills River who work in sales jobs (14.50%), management occupations (11.19%), and office and administrative support (8.89%). 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. Mills River is a good choice for families with children because of several factors. Many other families with children live here, making it a place where both parents and children are more likely to develop social ties with other families. The town’s good public school district and large population of college-educated adults provide an environment conducive to academic success. Many people own their own single-family homes, providing areas for children to play and stability in the community. Finally, Mills River’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country. As is often the case in a small town, Mills River doesn't have a public transportation system that people use for their commute.The education level of Mills River ranks among the highest in the nation. Of the 25-and-older adult population in Mills River, 43.46% have at least a bachelor's degree. The typical US community has just 21.84% of its adults holding a bachelor's degree or graduate degree. 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.
