Transylvania County, North Carolina: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Brevard
Transylvania County is one of the places the data center build-out is physically happening. Electrical contractors employ 129, up 84.3% since 2019 against up 19.7% statewide, at an average $63,880 a year. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Transylvania County. Transylvania County is home to Brevard and Rosman. Construction employs 789, up 32.6% since 2019, and construction is 1.5 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Employers here counted 9,751 jobs in 2025, up 4.0% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Transylvania County
Transylvania County is home to Brevard and Rosman.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Transylvania County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 33,255 | 34,211 | ▲ 2.9% | 68th of 100 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 9,380 | 9,751 | ▲ 4.0% | 45th of 100 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $35,595 | $51,720 | ▲ 45.3% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 595 | 789 | ▲ 32.6% | 15th of 60 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 70 | 129 | ▲ 84.3% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.7% | 3.2% | ▼ 0.5pts | — |
Unemployment was 3.2% in August 2026, against 3.7% in 2019. Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC is the largest utility serving Transylvania County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.94¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.11¢ median for North Carolina utilities. 34,211 people live here, up 2.9% since 2020.
Who powers Transylvania County
Utilities with service territory in Transylvania County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,919,372 | 13.94¢ | 42% |
| Haywood Electric Member Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 29,078 | 16.60¢ | 8% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
No operating power plant is located in Transylvania County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Transylvania County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,751 | $51,720 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 789 | $58,964 | 1.53 |
| Electrical contractors | 129 | $63,880 | 1.83 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Transylvania County
1 data center in Transylvania County is on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Transylvania County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Transylvania County, Oconee County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transylvania County | 34,211 | ▲ 4.0% | — | — | 1 | — |
| Buncombe County | 277,417 | ▼ 0.2% | 1,033 MW | 57 MW | 3 | — |
| Greenville County SC | 583,125 | ▲ 8.2% | 13 MW | — | 4 | — |
| Haywood County | 63,369 | ▼ 2.1% | 110 MW | — | — | — |
| Henderson County | 122,375 | ▲ 10.0% | 12 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Jackson County | 45,039 | ▲ 36.6% | 51 MW | — | 1 | 1 |
| Oconee County SC | 83,775 | ▲ 6.7% | 4,360 MW | — | — | — |
| Pickens County SC | 139,198 | ▲ 9.5% | 950 MW | — | — | — |
More of North Carolina
Transylvania County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Transylvania County, North Carolina?
2 utilities have service territory in Transylvania County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, Haywood Electric Member Corp. The largest, Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, charged residential customers 13.94¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Transylvania County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Transylvania County.
Is Transylvania County adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,751 jobs in 2025 against 9,380 in 2019 (+4.0%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 595 to 789.
Does Transylvania County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Transylvania County. North Carolina has 62 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.