The Town FilesGraham, North Carolina
City in Alamance County · population 17,157 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $233,800
- Household income
- $56,239
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 37.8
Graham is a city of 17,157 people in Alamance County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $233,800, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more walkable than 93% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 92% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 84% of North Carolina towns.
How Graham 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 Graham is worth $233,800, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $56,239, which is more affordable than 36% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,071 a month. 53.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Graham | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $233,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,071 | $969 |
| Median household income | $56,239 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Graham
| People | Graham | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.8% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Graham
July highs average 89.9°F and January lows 28.8°F. About 47.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.8 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 54 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Graham since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 6, 2025 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 28, 2016.
Severe weather in Alamance County since 1996
Alamance County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 11, 2025 | Tropical Depression | DR-4889: Tropical Depression Chantal |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Alamance County
Alamance County had 67,668 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,502 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Graham itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Graham
11 public schools with 6,087 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Alamance High | 9-12 | 1,178 | 17.6 |
| Southern Alamance Middle | 6-8 | 861 | 21.0 |
| River Mill Academy (charter) | K-12 | 768 | 17.1 |
| Graham High | 9-12 | 744 | 15.5 |
| Alexander Wilson Elementary | PK-5 | 602 | 15.4 |
| South Graham Elementary | PK-5 | 493 | 14.9 |
| Graham Middle | 6-8 | 469 | 15.1 |
| North Graham Elementary | PK-5 | 368 | 14.7 |
| B. Everett Jordan Elementary | K-5 | 343 | 14.3 |
| ABSS Early College at ACC | 9-13 | 231 | 28.9 |
| Ray Street Academy | 6-12 | 30 | 1.9 |
Towns near Graham
- Swepsonville, NC2.7 mi · 2,445 people · home $311,200
- Haw River, NC3.0 mi · 2,252 people · home $162,400
- Burlington, NC4.6 mi · 57,303 people · home $199,200
- Green Level, NC5.2 mi · 3,152 people · home $168,400
- Alamance, NC5.9 mi · 988 people · home $407,300
- Glen Raven, NC6.4 mi · 3,239 people · home $224,000
- Mebane, NC6.5 mi · 17,797 people · home $338,900
- Woodlawn, NC6.7 mi · 912 people · home $327,600
Graham questions
Is Graham, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Graham scores better for retirees than 38% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 21%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Graham?
The median owner-occupied home in Graham is valued at $233,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,239, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,071 a month.
What is the weather like in Graham?
July highs average 89.9°F and January lows 28.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.8 inches of snow.
Does Graham get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Graham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 6, 2025. 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)