| | Sylva, NC | Burnsville, NC | United States |
| Population | 2,611 | 2,065 | 329,725,481 |
| Female Population | 52.1% | 49.3% | 50.5% |
| Male Population | 47.9% | 50.7% | 49.5% |
| Median Age | 30.3 | 41.2 | 38.4 |
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| Population - 2010 | 2,563 | 1,692 | 309,327,143 |
| Population - 2000 | 2,435 | 1,623 | 285,036,114 |
| Population - 1990 | 1,809 | 1,482 | 251,960,433 |
| Pop. 2000 to Now | 12.5% | 1.2% | 15.6% |
| Pop. 1990 to Now | 51.4% | 10.9% | 30.8% |
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| Population Density | 818.2 | 1,310.3 | 93.4 |
| Land Area | 3.2 | 1.6 | 3,531,905.4 |
| Water Area | 0.0 | 0.0 | 264,836.8 |
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| Est. Total Population By Age | | | |
| | Sylva, NC | Burnsville, NC | United States |
| Age 0 to 4 | 10.3% | 9.5% | 5.9% |
| Age 5 to 9 | 8.7% | 6.6% | 6.1% |
| Age 10 to 14 | 10.2% | 3.1% | 6.6% |
| Age 15 to 17 | 2.6% | 5.5% | 3.9% |
| Age 18 to 20 | 4.0% | 1.7% | 4.0% |
| Age 21 to 24 | 10.0% | 1.9% | 5.2% |
| Age 25 to 34 | 11.2% | 16.5% | 13.8% |
| Age 35 to 44 | 18.3% | 9.5% | 12.9% |
| Age 45 to 54 | 8.4% | 9.9% | 12.6% |
| Age 55 to 59 | 1.3% | 4.0% | 6.7% |
| Age 60 to 64 | 3.0% | 5.7% | 6.3% |
| Age 65 to 74 | 2.9% | 11.3% | 9.6% |
| Age 75 to 84 | 5.5% | 7.8% | 4.5% |
| Age 85 and over | 3.5% | 6.9% | 1.9% |
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| Race | | | |
| | Sylva, NC | Burnsville, NC | United States |
| White | 72.7% | 82.0% | 59.4% |
| Black | 3.3% | 3.0% | 12.2% |
| Asian | 0.5% | 0.2% | 5.6% |
| Native American | 1.6% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Hawaiian, Pacific Islander | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| Two or More Races | 10.2% | 1.6% | 3.2% |
| Hispanic | 11.8% | 12.6% | 18.4% |
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| Marriage & Family | | | |
| | Sylva, NC | Burnsville, NC | United States |
| Married Population | 29.5% | 48.1% | 49.8% |
| Currently Married | 28.0% | 45.1% | 48.0% |
| Married but Separated | 1.4% | 2.9% | 1.8% |
| Single Population | 70.5% | 51.9% | 50.2% |
| Never Married | 51.6% | 26.6% | 33.8% |
| Divorced | 9.5% | 18.9% | 10.8% |
| Widowed | 9.4% | 6.5% | 5.6% |
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| Household Size | 2.66 | 2.24 | 2.60 |
| Households | 944 | 865 | 124,010,992 |
| Family Households | 441 | 516 | 80,755,759 |
| Married couple, w/children | 29.3% | 18.4% | 30.5% |
| Married couple, no children | 26.1% | 48.8% | 42.9% |
| Non Family Households | 503 | 349 | 43,255,233 |
| Single householder, w/children | 31.7% | 26.6% | 15.8% |
| Single householder, no children | 12.9% | 6.2% | 10.8% |