The Town FilesMorganton, North Carolina
City in Burke County · population 17,474 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $221,700
- Household income
- $51,355
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 37.8
Morganton is a city of 17,474 people in Burke County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $221,700, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more walkable than 96% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 92% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 91% of North Carolina towns.
How Morganton 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 Morganton is worth $221,700, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $51,355, which is more affordable than 32% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $944 a month. 54.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Morganton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $221,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $944 | $969 |
| Median household income | $51,355 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 54.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Morganton
| People | Morganton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.6% | — |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 89.5% |
Weather in Morganton
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 27.9°F. About 51.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 91 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Morganton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 24, 1979 about 1.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 27, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 75 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 24, 2000.
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 Morganton itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Morganton
18 public schools with 7,702 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom High | 9-12 | 1,374 | 18.6 |
| Robert L. Patton High School | 9-12 | 753 | 17.9 |
| Mountain View Elementary | PK-5 | 730 | 15.2 |
| New Dimensions (charter) | K-8 | 556 | 15.9 |
| Drexel Elementary | PK-5 | 478 | 15.4 |
| Liberty Middle | 6-8 | 459 | 16.4 |
| Table Rock Middle | 6-8 | 454 | 15.7 |
| Walter R Johnson Middle | 6-8 | 439 | 14.6 |
| Salem Elementary | PK-5 | 436 | 15.6 |
| Oak Hill Elementary | PK-5 | 334 | 15.2 |
| Glen Alpine Elementary | PK-5 | 305 | 14.5 |
| W A Young Elementary | PK-5 | 293 | 10.9 |
Towns near Morganton
- Salem, NC2.8 mi · 2,356 people · home $159,100
- Glen Alpine, NC4.7 mi · 1,529 people · home $172,800
- Drexel, NC5.2 mi · 1,760 people · home $214,400
- Valdese, NC7.2 mi · 4,689 people · home $209,800
- Rutherford College, NC9.7 mi · 1,226 people · home $185,600
- Gamewell, NC10.3 mi · 3,702 people · home $170,100
- Connelly Springs, NC11.4 mi · 1,529 people · home $206,500
- Cajah's Mountain, NC11.9 mi · 2,722 people · home $201,800
Morganton questions
Is Morganton, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Morganton scores better for retirees than 33% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 4%. 22.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Morganton?
The median owner-occupied home in Morganton is valued at $221,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,355, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $944 a month.
What is the weather like in Morganton?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 27.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.5 inches of precipitation a year and 4.5 inches of snow.
Does Morganton get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Morganton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 24, 1979. 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)