MetricMorganton, NCBoone, NC
Population17,64620,032
Median Household Income$51,355$30,065
Median Rent$944/mo$1,111/mo
Median Home Value$221,700$411,100
Cost of Living (US = 100)89—
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income44.1%74.2%
Poverty Rate25.7%51.2%
Unemployment Rate3.9% (county)3.5% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k268158
Property Crime Rate /100k2,284940
Median AQI——
Good AQI Days /yr——
Summer Highs86°F78°F
Winter Lows30°F23°F
Snowfall5 in/yr26 in/yr
Avg Commute17.7 min15.8 min
Hospitals21
Avg Hospital Rating4.0 / 53.0 / 5
Students per Teacher15.511.8
College Degree Rate26.1%56.8%
Foreign-Born %10.6%4.5%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+2.3%+4.2%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.