City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Morganton, NC

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

17,541
Residents
$49,434
Median income
$208,300
Median home
$1,095
Median rent (state)

Morganton - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Morganton places in the 19th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

19th
percentile, household income
45th
percentile, home value
28th
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: Morganton, NC

17,541 people live in Morganton, North Carolina - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Morganton households earn a median of $49,434 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 24.3%. Typical homes in Morganton are valued around $208,300, and the median resident age is 38.5 years. Educational attainment runs 23.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 54.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 97 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Growing), up 13% from five years earlier. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 57.9°F with 51.5 inches of precipitation per year and 4.5 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, North Carolina scores 94.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,095 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in North Carolina run around $215, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 18.1 minutes, with 75.9% driving alone and 6.8% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 70.2 out of 100 (High).

Population

17,541 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$49,434 /yr

Poverty 24.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Morganton compare to other US cities?

Where Morganton sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 19% higher than other cities
Home value 45% pricier than other cities
Median rent 28% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Morganton's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in North Carolina, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

19thIncome percentile

19th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Morganton's home value compares nationally

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

$208,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 55% 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. Morganton $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 - Morganton, NC Morganton, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Morganton, 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 Morganton, NC median $49,434/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%
Morganton, 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 Morganton, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 24.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.1%

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

Population
17,541
Median Income
$49,434
Median Home Value
$208,300
Median Age
38.5
Poverty Rate
24.3%
Labor force participation
54.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.0%

Climate

Avg Temperature
57.9°F
Annual Precipitation
51.5"
Annual Snowfall
4.5"

Schools

Total Schools
19
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
17,200 residents17,400 residents17,600 residents17,800 residents18,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 17,502 residents 17,849 residents ▲ +2.0%
Morganton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Growing
Total Permits (2024)
97
housing units authorized
Single-Family
13
detached homes
Multifamily
84
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 86
2020 90
2021 114
2022 140
2023 110
2024 97

Permit volume increased 13% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.1 minutes
Drive Alone
75.9%
Carpool
15.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.3%
Work from Home
6.8%
Other
1.3%

Based on 7,225 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 Morganton sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,095/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
70.2 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Graham
17,537 people
Murraysville
17,307 people
Hope Mills
17,823 people
Mount Holly
17,928 people
Pinehurst
17,992 people
Lenoir
18,282 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Morganton's 17,541 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lake St. Louis, MO
17,538 people
Eastlake, OH
17,538 people
Camano, WA
17,535 people
Takoma Park, MD
17,522 people
McKeesport, PA
17,520 people
New Philadelphia, OH
17,563 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Morganton's $49,434 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Timber Lakes, UT
$49,435 median income
Exeter, PA
$49,432 median income
Lithonia, GA
$49,438 median income
Parrottsville, TN
$49,438 median income
Sulphur Rock, AR
$49,440 median income
Lemon Hill, CA
$49,441 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Morganton, 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 Morganton, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 59.1% 13.8% 15.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 23.3% White 59.1% Black or African American 13.8% Asian 2.0% American Indian 4.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 15.4% Two or more races 5.0% 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 Morganton 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
Morganton (this city) 17,541 $49,434
Graham 17,537 $54,783
Murraysville 17,307 $75,720
Hope Mills 17,823 $60,671
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Morganton, NC?

What is the population of Morganton, NC? +

Morganton, NC counts 17,541 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Morganton is $49,434 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Morganton? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Morganton; 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 Morganton, NC? +

Homes in Morganton carry a median value of $208,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Morganton? +

Climate normals put Morganton's yearly average temperature at 57.9°F, 51.5 inches of precipitation, and 4.5 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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 Editorial

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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.