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Living in
Morganton.
About
Life in Morganton
If you're considering a move here, understand that Morganton operates as a working county seat in the foothills—not a mountain resort town or a sprawling suburban escape. The city of about 17,500 serves as an economic hub for Burke County, with state government facilities (including Broughton Hospital and the North Carolina School for the Deaf) anchoring stable employment, supplemented by furniture and textile manufacturing and the modest tourism traffic that flows through on Interstate 40. The median household income sits around $51,355, and you can find homes averaging $222,000 with rents near $900 monthly, which translates to genuinely affordable living compared to most of the Southeast—a real draw if you're tired of inflated coastal or urban markets.
Morganton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
25.7%
Foreign-Born
10.6%
Broadband Internet
90.4%
of households
Population Growth
+2.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.6% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in Morganton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Morganton, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (73.9%), and 15.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.4%
of residents
65 and Older
22.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.7%
of households
Married Couples
35.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.40
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 23% below NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Morganton
In Morganton, rent runs 23% below the NC average, and home values are 23% below the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,689
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $258,145 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NC
Unemployment in Morganton
Unemployment in Burke County, which includes Morganton, is close to the NC average.
Unemployment rate
Morganton: Burke County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Burke County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Morganton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.7 min avg
How Morganton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Morganton, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 52 mi
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
Small hub1.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 56 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 19% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Morganton runs 19% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
268.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,284.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Morganton Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 14 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
70.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Burke County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Burke County, which includes Morganton, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 14 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | Cold/Wind Chill | $15,000 |
| 2024 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $44.7M |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $13,000 |
| 2022 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $56,000 |
| 2021 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $41,000 |
| 2020 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $69,000 |
| 2019 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $114,000 |
| 2018 | 39 | Thunderstorm Wind | $21,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Burke County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Caldwell County, NC (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 19 miles from Morganton) is typically good — 238 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
238
per year
Moderate Days
7
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Caldwell County, NC (19 mi away)
Climate86°F summers, 30°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Morganton has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 30°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
70°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
52°/30°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
51.5"
Annual Snowfall
4.5"
Hot Days/Year
35
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
91
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 28°F | 4.30" |
| Feb | 53°F | 30°F | 3.67" |
| Mar | 61°F | 37°F | 4.38" |
| Apr | 71°F | 45°F | 4.29" |
| May | 78°F | 54°F | 4.11" |
| Jun | 85°F | 62°F | 4.80" |
| Jul | 88°F | 66°F | 4.41" |
| Aug | 86°F | 65°F | 4.80" |
| Sep | 80°F | 59°F | 4.59" |
| Oct | 71°F | 46°F | 3.77" |
| Nov | 61°F | 35°F | 3.75" |
| Dec | 52°F | 30°F | 4.66" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Morganton
Morganton has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
18.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Blue Ridge Healthcare Hospitals, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Broughton Hospital
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Caldwell Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.9 mi away · Lenoir
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Morganton
Morganton's student/teacher ratio is 15.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 26.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Morganton
Western Piedmont Community College
Public · 2-year · 1,339 students · in-state tuition $2,650 · 38% graduate · median earnings $37,927 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Cowpens National Battlefield, 43 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Morganton
Morganton has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cowpens National Battlefield (43 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
43 mi awayKings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
45 mi awayOvermountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
45 mi awayBlue Ridge Parkway
Parkway
46 mi awayCarl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
53 mi awayAndrew Johnson National Historic Site
National Historic Site
70 mi awayPublic Libraries in Morganton
Burke County Public Library
204 S King St, Morganton
Cities Near Morganton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Morganton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Morganton FAQ
Is Morganton, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Morganton's median rent is $944/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $51,355/year. Median home value is $221,700.
Is Morganton, North Carolina safe?⌄
Morganton's violent crime rate was 268 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2284 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Morganton, North Carolina?⌄
Burke County, which includes Morganton, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Morganton, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Morganton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $944/month and median household income is $51,355/year. The median home value is $221,700. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Morganton, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Morganton is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from