Murphy, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Cherokee County County

2.5 /5.0
C+ Fair
1,356 Population 528/sq mi density
$36,989 Median Income $30,645 per capita
$221,100 Home Value $278,231 Zillow
$354 Median Rent 19.2% income on rent
57°F Avg Temperature
359 Violent Crime/100K 3,885 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.5 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.8 / 5.0
$36,989 median income, 5.4% unemployment
B
Affordability
3.3 / 5.0
$221,100 home value, $354/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
359 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
3.0 / 5.0
24.6% bachelor's degree or higher

Murphy, NC

At a Glance

Median Income
$36,989
51% below
$30,645 per capita
Home Value
$221,100
22% below
Zillow: $278,231
Median Rent
$354/mo
70% below
19.2% of income on rent
Violent Crime
359/100K
6% below
3,885/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
24.6%
27% below
90.2% high school+
Unemployment
5.4%
50% above
13.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
33.5%
4% above
16.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
57°F

How Murphy Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Murphy's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
49%
Home Value
78%
Rent
30%
Poverty
105%
Bachelor's
73%
Unemployment
150%
Crime
94%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Murphy a Good Place to Live?

C+
2.5 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Murphy residents earn a median household income of $36,989 , which is 51% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $30,645. The unemployment rate stands at 5.4% (50% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 13.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 929 business establishments, including 76 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Murphy is $221,100 , 22% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $278,231. Median rent is $354/month, with 19.2% 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 1970.

Safety & Crime

Murphy reports 359 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 6% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 3,885/100K.

Education

24.6% of adults in Murphy hold a bachelor's degree or higher (27% below the national average). 90.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.7/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Murphy has an average annual temperature of 57°F (14°C). Winters average 38°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 59.3 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population1,356
Median Age37.8 yrs
Density528/mi²
Male / Female53% / 47%
Foreign Born1.0%
Veterans11.1%

Economy

C+
Median Income$36,989
Per Capita$30,645
Unemployment5.4%
Poverty13.0%
County GDP$1,184M
Avg Weekly Wage$877

Housing

B
Home Value$221,100
Rent$354
Ownership45.6%
Zillow$278,231
Housing Units941
Rent Burden19.2%

Crime

F
Violent359/100K
Property3,885/100K

Health

Obesity33.5%
Diabetes9.7%
Smoking16.3%
Heart Disease5.8%
Premature Death12,641/100K

Climate

Avg Temp57°F
Rain59.3 in/yr
Elevation1,571 ft

Education

C+
Bachelor's+24.6%
High School+90.2%
Graduate+7.5%
School Score5.7/10

Community

2024 VoteR 78% / D 21%
Commute12 min
Broadband58.3%
Internet Speed46 Mbps
EV Stations4
Libraries3

Did You Know?

The median home in Murphy was built in 1970.
The nearest airport is Mc Ghee Tyson (50 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.422 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
20.8% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 6 fatal vehicle crashes.