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Salisbury, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Rowan County County

2.9 /5.0
C+ Fair
35,730 Population 1,547/sq mi density
$51,058 Median Income $30,932 per capita
$215,200 Home Value $277,739 Zillow
$1,030 Median Rent 33.0% income on rent
59°F Avg Temperature 310 sunny days/yr
735 Violent Crime/100K 4,171 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.0 / 5.0
$51,058 median income, 4.2% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.3 / 5.0
$215,200 home value, $1,030/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
735 violent crimes/100K (93% above avg)
B
Education
3.2 / 5.0
26.9% bachelor's degree or higher
Salisbury enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 310 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 43.7 inches. The area receives 2.4 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

40°F Jan (4°C) 78°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average59.3°F
10% above US avg
January Average40°F (4°C)
July Average78°F (26°C)
Sunny Days310 days/yr

Geography

Elevation719 ft (219 m)
Area23.1 sq mi (59.8 km²)
Population Density1,547/sq mi
Coordinates35.6655°N, 80.4889°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyRowan County County
Nearest AirportMid-Carolina Regional (SRW)
2 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 43.7"
15% above US avg
Snowfall 2.4"
Wettest Month (Mar) 4.33"
Driest Month (Nov) 3.15"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0475 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)7.2 ppb
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.0 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score82.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability42.9 / 100
Community Resilience48.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

18 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.9. Most recent: M2.6 on Jul 8, 2023.

Apr 13, 1998 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina M3.9 133 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 30 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 146 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 146 km
Mar 21, 2011 9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina M2.9 111 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 119 km
Jul 6, 2023 5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia M2.7 119 km
Jul 12, 1993 5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina M2.7 73 km
Aug 30, 2010 7 km ENE of Mountain City, Tennessee M2.7 144 km
Mar 21, 2004 16 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M2.7 143 km
Jun 10, 2018 2 km NE of Hays, North Carolina M2.7 87 km
Aug 17, 2021 6 km N of Morganton, North Carolina M2.7 109 km
Jul 8, 2023 Virginia-North Carolina border region M2.6 121 km
Feb 4, 2021 1 km SSW of Sparta, North Carolina M2.6 109 km
Jun 12, 2014 4 km NE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.5 118 km
Mar 26, 2019 8 km E of Archdale, North Carolina M2.5 63 km
Jul 29, 2012 7 km NNW of Wallace, South Carolina M2.5 113 km
Oct 29, 2012 5 km SSE of West Marion, North Carolina M2.5 137 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

12 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Ian (2022, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 288 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 267 km
2018 Florence Category 2 266 km
2016 Matthew Category 1 277 km
2004 Charley Category 1 264 km
2003 Isabel Category 1 276 km
1999 Floyd Category 2 293 km
1998 Bonnie Category 3 290 km
1996 Fran Category 3 170 km
1996 Bertha Category 2 272 km
1989 Hugo Category 2 121 km
1984 Diana Category 4 272 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

332 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 10 fatalities, 268 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 7, 1998 EF4 84 km 0
May 5, 1989 EF4 79 km 1
Mar 28, 2010 EF3 50 km 0
May 8, 2008 EF3 36 km 0
May 7, 1998 EF3 41 km 0
Mar 20, 1998 EF3 94 km 2
Mar 27, 1994 EF3 78 km 0
Oct 18, 1990 EF3 78 km 0
May 5, 1989 EF3 53 km 0
May 22, 1985 EF3 52 km 0
Oct 7, 1965 EF3 60 km 1
May 26, 2022 EF2 52 km 0
Mar 31, 2022 EF2 67 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF2 99 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 20 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 100 km 0
Apr 15, 2018 EF2 78 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 82 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 41 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 30 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

16 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (4,610 ac, 1985).

Year Name Acres Distance
1985 UNNAMED 4,610 99 km
2000 UNNAMED 1,989 75 km
2020 UWH NARROWS DAM RX 1,222 47 km
2021 GRINDSTONE 1,106 75 km
1985 UNNAMED 1,064 96 km
2002 UNNAMED 889 78 km
1992 COMP 6 B 737 76 km
2019 ROBEDO SOUTH RX 727 61 km
2018 UNNAMED 665 51 km
2024 COYOTE 663 90 km
2022 PINE ROAD 582 46 km
2022 UNNAMED 579 64 km
2020 UNNAMED 565 64 km
2004 PARTNER 544 99 km
2009 UNNAMED 536 75 km
2024 0101/02_0202 PER RX 511 75 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 40°F (4°C) 3.8 in Coldest
February 43°F (6°C) 3.7 in
March 50°F (10°C) 4.3 in Wettest
April 59°F (15°C) 3.2 in
May 66°F (19°C) 4.0 in
June 74°F (23°C) 4.2 in
July 78°F (26°C) 4.3 in Warmest
August 76°F (25°C) 3.8 in
September 70°F (21°C) 3.7 in
October 59°F (15°C) 3.7 in
November 50°F (10°C) 3.2 in Driest
December 42°F (6°C) 3.4 in

Salisbury has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 40°F in January to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 45.2 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.3") and November the driest (3.2").

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