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Drexel, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Burke County County

3.3 /5.0
B Good
1,862 Population 1,349/sq mi density
$58,824 Median Income $30,394 per capita
$204,600 Home Value $241,497 Zillow
$625 Median Rent 30.9% income on rent
58°F Avg Temperature 301 sunny days/yr
B
Overall
3.3 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.2 / 5.0
$58,824 median income, 7.4% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.7 / 5.0
$204,600 home value, $625/mo rent
C+
Safety
2.5 / 5.0
0 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
2.6 / 5.0
20.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Drexel enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 58°F (14°C). Winters average 39°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 51.5 inches. The area receives 4.5 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

39°F Jan (4°C) 77°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average57.9°F
7% above US avg
January Average39°F (4°C)
July Average77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days301 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,220 ft (372 m)
Area1.4 sq mi (3.5 km²)
Population Density1,349/sq mi
Coordinates35.7568°N, 81.6088°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyBurke County County
Nearest AirportFoothills Regional (MRN)
4 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 51.5"
36% above US avg
Snowfall 4.5"
Wettest Month (Mar) 4.88"
Driest Month (Dec) 3.70"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score70.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability67.8 / 100
Community Resilience30.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

29 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.4. Most recent: M2.7 on Aug 14, 2025.

Feb 12, 1994 10 km NNW of Abingdon, Virginia M3.4 121 km
Jun 26, 1995 6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia M3.4 111 km
Jun 16, 2006 9 km W of Maggie Valley, North Carolina M3.4 147 km
Jun 4, 2023 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina M3.2 116 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 78 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 84 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 45 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 53 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 46 km
Aug 14, 2009 4 km ENE of Nickelsville, Virginia M2.9 131 km
Mar 6, 2006 3 km W of Burnsville, North Carolina M2.8 68 km
Feb 12, 2021 8 km SW of Banner Hill, Tennessee M2.8 86 km
May 23, 2023 4 km N of West Canton, North Carolina M2.8 115 km
Aug 14, 2025 7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina M2.7 73 km
Jul 6, 2023 5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia M2.7 133 km
Mar 21, 2004 16 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M2.7 49 km
Aug 30, 2010 7 km ENE of Mountain City, Tennessee M2.7 82 km
Jun 10, 2018 2 km NE of Hays, North Carolina M2.7 73 km
Aug 17, 2021 6 km N of Morganton, North Carolina M2.7 9 km
Jul 8, 2023 Virginia-North Carolina border region M2.6 134 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

2 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Fran (1996, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
1996 Fran Category 1 271 km
1989 Hugo Category 2 126 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

278 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 11 fatalities, 271 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 7, 1998 EF4 24 km 0
May 5, 1989 EF4 32 km 4
May 5, 1989 EF4 81 km 2
Mar 27, 1994 EF3 83 km 0
Jul 10, 1980 EF3 83 km 0
May 26, 2022 EF2 64 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 67 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 99 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 94 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 72 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 20 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 94 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 75 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 16 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 48 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 78 km 2
Oct 26, 2010 EF2 41 km 0
Oct 26, 2010 EF2 26 km 0
May 9, 2008 EF2 68 km 0
Nov 15, 2006 EF2 54 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BRUSHY RIDGE (12,405 ac, 2000).

Year Name Acres Distance
2000 BRUSHY RIDGE 12,405 28 km
2016 PARTY ROCK 8,572 65 km
2007 LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) 7,151 29 km
2016 CHESTNUT KNOB 6,418 16 km
1985 UNNAMED 4,610 6 km
2022 LOST BEAR RX FY2022 4,276 55 km
2017 WHITE CREEK 4,166 26 km
2016 CLEAR CREEK 3,493 46 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,976 26 km
2000 TIPTON HILL 2,661 68 km
2007 UNNAMED 2,242 92 km
2013 LOST BEAR EAST 2,167 54 km
2007 UNNAMED 2,026 92 km
2008 SUNRISE 1,906 31 km
2015 UNNAMED 1,879 33 km
2018 UNNAMED 1,812 49 km
2016 RAILROAD GRADE 2016 1,790 69 km
2013 CALIFORNIA CREEK 1,758 89 km
2016 TOMBSTONE 1,747 26 km
2017 DOBSON KNOB 1,720 35 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 39°F (4°C) 4.0 in Coldest
February 41°F (5°C) 4.0 in
March 49°F (9°C) 4.9 in Wettest
April 57°F (14°C) 3.8 in
May 65°F (18°C) 4.6 in
June 72°F (22°C) 4.6 in
July 77°F (25°C) 4.2 in Warmest
August 75°F (24°C) 4.1 in
September 69°F (20°C) 4.2 in
October 58°F (14°C) 3.9 in
November 48°F (9°C) 3.7 in
December 41°F (5°C) 3.7 in Driest

Drexel has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 39°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 49.7 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.9") and December the driest (3.7").

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