City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Burnsville, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Burnsville - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,143
Residents
$47,576
Median income
$223,800
Median home
$935
Median rent (state)

Burnsville - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Burnsville lands in the 16th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

16th
percentile, household income
49th
percentile, home value
9th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Burnsville, NC

2,143 people live in Burnsville, North Carolina - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Burnsville brings in $47,576 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 12.5%. Typical homes in Burnsville are valued around $223,800, and the median resident age is 39.7 years. 24.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 48.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 7 residential building permits were authorized in Burnsville (Building Boom), up 75% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts North Carolina at 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $935 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $215 across North Carolina, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 42.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

2,143 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$47,576 /yr

Poverty 12.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Burnsville compare to other US cities?

Here's how Burnsville stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 16% higher than other cities
Home value 49% pricier than other cities
Median rent 9% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Burnsville against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent sits close to the middle of North Carolina's city distribution

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Burnsville ranks #548 - the 26th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Burnsville only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#503 of 700
28th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#548 of 746
26th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#265 of 708
62nd percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#303 of 746
59th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#310 of 746
58th percentile in North Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

16thIncome percentile

16th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Burnsville's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$223,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 51% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Burnsville $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Burnsville, NC Burnsville, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Burnsville, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Burnsville, NC median $47,576/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Burnsville, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Burnsville, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,143
Median Income
$47,576
Median Home Value
$223,800
Median Age
39.7
Poverty Rate
12.5%
Labor force participation
48.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.5%

Schools

Total Schools
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,600 residents1,620 residents1,640 residents1,660 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,612 residents 1,655 residents ▲ +2.7%
Burnsville's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
7
housing units authorized
Single-Family
7
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 5
2021 1
2022 1
2023 10
2024 7

Permit volume increased 75% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.2%
Carpool
7.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.2%
Work from Home
8.2%
Other
0.6%

Based on 805 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Burnsville sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$935/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
42.2 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Governors
2,148 people
Navassa
2,148 people
Mulberry
2,134 people
Badin
2,163 people
Bladenboro
2,181 people
Snow Hill
2,102 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Burnsville's 2,143 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Caruthers, CA
2,143 people
Bethel Island, CA
2,144 people
Merrionette Park, IL
2,144 people
Slater, MO
2,144 people
Crompond, NY
2,144 people
Coal Grove, OH
2,144 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Burnsville's $47,576 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Mio, MI
$47,578 median income
Oak Hill-Piney, OK
$47,578 median income
LaGrange, WY
$47,571 median income
Cokedale, CO
$47,569 median income
Agency, SD
$47,569 median income
Grimes, CA
$47,566 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Burnsville, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Burnsville, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 85.1% 10.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.8% White 85.1% Black or African American 1.8% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.6% Two or more races 10.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Burnsville compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Burnsville (this city) 2,143 $47,576
Governors 2,148 $124,857
Navassa 2,148 $57,571
Mulberry 2,134 $52,416
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Burnsville, NC?

What is the population of Burnsville, NC? +

The population of Burnsville, NC stands at 2,143 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Burnsville, NC? +

The median household income in Burnsville is $47,576 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Burnsville? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Burnsville; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Burnsville, NC? +

A typical home in Burnsville is worth $223,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.