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Murphy, NC
Full City Profile · North Carolina · Cherokee County County
2.6
/5.0
C+
Fair
1,356
Population
528/sq mi density
$36,989
Median Income
$30,645 per capita
$221,100
Home Value
$275,947 Zillow
$354
Median Rent
19.2% income on rent
59°F
Avg Temperature
301 sunny days/yr
905
Violent Crime/100K
7,182 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.6 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.3 / 5.0
$36,989 median income, 2.5% unemployment
B
Affordability
3.3 / 5.0
$221,100 home value, $354/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
905 violent crimes/100K (138% above avg)
C+
Education
3.0 / 5.0
24.6% bachelor's degree or higher
Murphy enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 39°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 55.3 inches. The area receives 2.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.
Temperature
39°F Jan (4°C)
78°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 59.2°F |
| 10% above US avg | |
| January Average | 39°F (4°C) |
| July Average | 78°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 301 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,571 ft (479 m) |
| Area | 2.6 sq mi (6.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 528/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 35.0943°N, 84.0249°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Cherokee County County |
| Nearest Airport | Mc Ghee Tyson (TYS) 50 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 40.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 56.7 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 66.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 9.4 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39°F (4°C) | 5.6 in | Coldest |
| February | 40°F (5°C) | 5.4 in | |
| March | 48°F (9°C) | 6.3 in | Wettest |
| April | 55°F (13°C) | 4.8 in | |
| May | 63°F (17°C) | 4.9 in | |
| June | 70°F (21°C) | 4.5 in | |
| July | 78°F (26°C) | 5.4 in | Warmest |
| August | 73°F (23°C) | 4.8 in | |
| September | 68°F (20°C) | 4.1 in | |
| October | 57°F (14°C) | 3.5 in | Driest |
| November | 48°F (9°C) | 4.6 in | |
| December | 40°F (4°C) | 5.1 in |
Murphy has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 39°F in January to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 59.0 inches, with March being the wettest month (6.3") and October the driest (3.5").