The Town FilesMurphy, North Carolina
Town in Cherokee County · population 1,608 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $250,000
- Household income
- $37,263
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 34.5
Murphy is a town of 1,608 people in Cherokee County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $250,000, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks hipper than 95% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 88% of North Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of North Carolina towns.
How Murphy 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 Murphy is worth $250,000, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 6.7 times the median household income of $37,263, which is more affordable than 4% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $422 a month. 46.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Murphy | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $250,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $422 | $969 |
| Median household income | $37,263 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 46.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Murphy
| People | Murphy | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.5% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 14.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 61.1% | 89.5% |
Weather in Murphy
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 25.3°F. About 59.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.4 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Murphy since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 0.3 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 7, 1998.
Severe weather in Cherokee County since 1996
Cherokee County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Cherokee County
Cherokee County had 7,976 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,626 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Murphy itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Murphy
10 public schools with 2,348 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy Elementary | PK-5 | 516 | 12.9 |
| Murphy High | 9-12 | 433 | 15.5 |
| Murphy Middle | 6-8 | 297 | 15.6 |
| Ranger Elementary/Middle | PK-8 | 277 | 12.0 |
| Martins Creek Elementary/Mid | PK-8 | 190 | 14.6 |
| Peachtree Elementary | PK-5 | 168 | 14.0 |
| Tri-County Early College High | 9-13 | 153 | 15.3 |
| Hiwassee Dam High | 9-12 | 141 | 10.1 |
| Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle | PK-8 | 121 | 11.0 |
| The Oaks Academy | 6-12 | 52 | 6.5 |
Towns near Murphy
- Andrews, NC13.4 mi · 1,667 people · home $98,600
- Young Harris, GA14.9 mi · 1,098 people · home $295,200
- Blairsville, GA15.6 mi · 616 people · home $212,500
- Hiawassee, GA18.8 mi · 981 people · home $411,100
- Robbinsville, NC19.9 mi · 597 people · home $26,800
- McCaysville, GA21.1 mi · 1,149 people · home $121,900
- Epworth, GA22.4 mi · 668 people · home $139,500
- Blue Ridge, GA23.0 mi · 1,253 people · home $348,200
Murphy questions
Is Murphy, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Murphy scores better for retirees than 79% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 88%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.5).
How much does a house cost in Murphy?
The median owner-occupied home in Murphy is valued at $250,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,263, so homes cost about 6.7 times income. Median rent is $422 a month.
What is the weather like in Murphy?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 25.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.3 inches of precipitation a year and 4.4 inches of snow.
Does Murphy get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Murphy since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1974. 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)