The Town FilesHildebran, North Carolina
Town in Burke County · population 1,679 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $193,900
- Household income
- $55,703
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 40.6
Hildebran is a town of 1,679 people in Burke County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $193,900, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 92% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 78% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 75% of North Carolina towns.
How Hildebran 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 Hildebran is worth $193,900, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $55,703, which is more affordable than 62% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $809 a month. 65.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hildebran | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,900 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $809 | $969 |
| Median household income | $55,703 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 65.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hildebran
| People | Hildebran | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.7% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 89.5% |
Weather in Hildebran
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 30.2°F. About 47.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hildebran since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 5, 1989 about 9.7 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 31 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 3, 1998.
Severe weather in Burke County since 1996
Burke County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Burke County
Burke County had 29,553 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,986 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Hildebran itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Hildebran
1 public school with 295 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hildebran Elementary | PK-5 | 295 | 15.5 |
Towns near Hildebran
- Long View, NC2.0 mi · 5,088 people · home $157,300
- Icard, NC2.2 mi · 2,452 people · home $141,800
- Rhodhiss, NC3.3 mi · 997 people · home $134,700
- Mountain View, NC3.8 mi · 3,590 people · home $222,500
- Connelly Springs, NC5.0 mi · 1,529 people · home $206,500
- Northlakes, NC5.2 mi · 1,543 people · home $366,500
- Granite Falls, NC5.5 mi · 4,965 people · home $202,400
- Hickory, NC5.7 mi · 43,490 people · home $278,400
Hildebran questions
Is Hildebran, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hildebran scores better for retirees than 6% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 45%. 14.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in Hildebran?
The median owner-occupied home in Hildebran is valued at $193,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,703, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $809 a month.
What is the weather like in Hildebran?
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 30.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Hildebran get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hildebran since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 5, 1989. 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)