The Town FilesBurke County, North Carolina
87,795 people. The median home is worth $185,400 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $58,592.
Towns in Burke County
| Town | People | Median home | Income | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morganton | 17,474 | $221,700 | $51,355 | 37.8 |
| Valdese | 4,689 | $209,800 | $50,740 | 52.6 |
| Icard | 2,452 | $141,800 | $44,641 | 43.4 |
| Salem | 2,356 | $159,100 | $68,988 | 41.3 |
| Drexel | 1,760 | $214,400 | $61,992 | 47.2 |
| Hildebran | 1,679 | $193,900 | $55,703 | 40.6 |
| Connelly Springs | 1,529 | $206,500 | $54,620 | 38.5 |
| Glen Alpine | 1,529 | $172,800 | $69,697 | 36.6 |
| Rutherford College | 1,226 | $185,600 | $67,500 | 41.2 |
| Rhodhiss | 997 | $134,700 | $63,125 | 30.3 |
People and housing
| Burke County | Typical North Carolina town | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $185,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $884 | $969 |
| Median household income | $58,592 | $60,458 |
| Median age | 44.9 | 41.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.6% | 14.3% |
Jobs and pay
29,553 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,986 a year.
Storms since 1996
NOAA recorded 800 storm events in Burke County from 1996 to 2026.
Federal disaster declarations
Burke County has been included in 24 FEMA declarations since 1953.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| March 3, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).