At a Glance
Median Income
$49,434
$26,668 per capita
Home Value
$208,300
Zillow: $253,317
Median Rent
$909/mo
31.1% of income on rent
Violent Crime
496/100K
3,710/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
23.0%
76.9% high school+
Unemployment
2.0%
24.3% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.8%
17.8% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
58°F
301 sunny days/yr
How Morganton Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Morganton's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Morganton a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.8 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Morganton residents earn a median household income of $49,434 , which is 34% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $26,668. The unemployment rate stands at 2.0% (44% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 24.3% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,725 business establishments, including 158 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Morganton is $208,300 , 26% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $253,317. Median rent is $909/month, with 31.1% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 94.3 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1972.
Safety & Crime
Morganton reports 496 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 31% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,710/100K. The murder rate is 6.1/100K.
Education
23.0% of adults in Morganton hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(32% below the national average).
76.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.0/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Morganton has 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. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.
Data Overview
People
Population17,541
Median Age38.5 yrs
Density912/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans4.5%
Economy
B
Median Income$49,434
Per Capita$26,668
Unemployment2.0%
Poverty24.3%
County GDP$3,724M
Avg Weekly Wage$942
Housing
A
Home Value$208,300
Rent$909
Ownership51.8%
Zillow$253,317
Housing Units7,234
Rent Burden31.1%
Crime
F
Violent496/100K
Property3,710/100K
Murder6.1/100K
Assault387/100K
Burglary1,101/100K
Health
Obesity38.8%
Diabetes12.3%
Smoking17.8%
Heart Disease6.7%
Premature Death11,521/100K
Climate
Avg Temp58°F
Sunny Days301/yr
Rain51.5 in/yr
AQI40 (Good)
Elevation1,178 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+23.0%
High School+76.9%
Graduate+10.3%
School Score6.0/10
Community
2024 VoteR 70% / D 29%
Commute19 min
Broadband87.4%
Internet Speed134 Mbps
EV Stations7
Libraries3
Did You Know?
Morganton was founded in 1777.
The median home in Morganton was built in 1972.
The nearest airport is Foothills Regional (7 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.453 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
20.2% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 134 Mbps.
There are 158 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 12 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.
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