The Town FilesCherry Branch, North Carolina
Community in Craven County · population 1,211 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $262,200
- Household income
- $104,432
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 30.9
Cherry Branch is a community of 1,211 people in Craven County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $262,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more seaside character than 92% of North Carolina towns, more of a college town than 91% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 85% of North Carolina towns.
How Cherry Branch ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cherry Branch is worth $262,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $104,432, which is more affordable than 91% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,706 a month. 85.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cherry Branch | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $262,200 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,706 | $969 |
| Median household income | $104,432 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 85.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2005 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cherry Branch
| People | Cherry Branch | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 5.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 34.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.3% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 19.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 18.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 51.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Cherry Branch
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 36.3°F. About 57.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 38 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cherry Branch since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 16, 2011 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 3, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 28, 2014.
Severe weather in Craven County since 1996
Craven County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| October 14, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4568: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Craven County
Craven County had 40,890 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,634 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Cherry Branch itself the ACS puts it at 0.4%.
Towns near Cherry Branch
- Minnesott Beach, NC3.7 mi · 530 people · home $292,200
- Havelock, NC5.3 mi · 16,621 people · home $207,700
- Neuse Forest, NC7.8 mi · 2,110 people · home $228,000
- Oriental, NC10.0 mi · 880 people · home $422,900
- Newport, NC11.9 mi · 4,364 people · home $233,600
- Fairfield Harbour, NC12.5 mi · 2,767 people · home $300,600
- James City, NC13.1 mi · 5,291 people · home $204,400
- Brandywine Bay, NC13.7 mi · 1,153 people · home $371,500
Cherry Branch questions
Is Cherry Branch, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cherry Branch scores better for retirees than 44% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 66%. 5.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.9).
How much does a house cost in Cherry Branch?
The median owner-occupied home in Cherry Branch is valued at $262,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $104,432, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,706 a month.
What is the weather like in Cherry Branch?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 36.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Cherry Branch get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cherry Branch since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 16, 2011. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)