City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Murphy, NC

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

1,356
Residents
$36,989
Median income
$221,100
Median home
$935
Median rent (state)

Murphy - the verdict

Murphy ranks in the 6th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

6th
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: Murphy, NC

1,356 people live in Murphy, North Carolina - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Murphy households earn a median of $36,989 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 13.0%. Typical homes in Murphy are valued around $221,100, and the median resident age is 37.8 years. About 24.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 43.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA puts Murphy's yearly average temperature at 56.7°F with 59.3 inches of precipitation per year and 4.4 inches of snowfall.

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). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $935 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in North Carolina run around $215, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Murphy workers runs 11.5 minutes, with 60.2% driving alone and 4.3% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 56.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

1,356 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$36,989 /yr

Poverty 13.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Murphy compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 6% 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

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 Murphy'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.

6thIncome percentile

6th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Murphy's home value compares nationally

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

$221,100 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. Murphy $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 - Murphy, NC Murphy, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Murphy, 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 Murphy, NC median $36,989/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%
Murphy, 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 Murphy, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 43.2%

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

Population
1,356
Median Income
$36,989
Median Home Value
$221,100
Median Age
37.8
Poverty Rate
13.0%
Labor force participation
43.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.6%

Climate

Avg Temperature
56.7°F
Annual Precipitation
59.3"
Annual Snowfall
4.4"

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,500 residents1,600 residents1,700 residents1,800 residents1,900 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,613 residents 1,808 residents ▲ +12.1%
Murphy's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
11.5 minutes
Drive Alone
60.2%
Carpool
9.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
24.4%
Work from Home
4.3%
Other
2.0%

Based on 508 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 Murphy 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
56.7 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Hays
1,355 people
Alamance
1,358 people
Chadbourn
1,347 people
Bonnetsville
1,368 people
Cordova
1,343 people
West Canton
1,369 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Murphy's 1,356 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Corvallis, MT
1,356 people
Brewster Heights, NY
1,356 people
Chester, VT
1,356 people
Oak Bluffs, MA
1,357 people
Ceresco, NE
1,355 people
Merlin, OR
1,355 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Murphy's $36,989 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Huttig, AR
$36,989 median income
Perdido, AL
$36,983 median income
Ravenna, KY
$36,979 median income
Taos Pueblo, NM
$36,979 median income
Cadwell, GA
$37,000 median income
Gamaliel, KY
$37,000 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Murphy, 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 Murphy, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 81.1% 10.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.9% White 81.1% Black or African American 5.8% Asian 0.3% American Indian 1.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.9% Two or more races 10.3% 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 Murphy 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
Murphy (this city) 1,356 $36,989
Hays 1,355 $54,063
Alamance 1,358 $88,438
Chadbourn 1,347 $19,853
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Murphy, NC?

What is the population of Murphy, NC? +

1,356 people live in Murphy, NC according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Murphy runs $36,989, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Murphy? +

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

The median home value in Murphy is $221,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Murphy? +

The average annual temperature in Murphy runs 56.7°F, 59.3 inches of precipitation, and 4.4 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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