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Burke County, NC
10 cities and towns and 9 ZIP codes in Burke County, North Carolina.
Population
87,795
Land area
506sq mi
People per sq mi
173
ZIP codes
9
Cities and towns in Burke County
Burke County at a glance
- Households here earn a median of $58,592 a year, 19% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $185,400 (36% below North Carolina) and median rent is $884 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Morganton (17,646), Valdese (4,704) and Connelly Springs (2,427).
Local data for Burke County, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals2
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes5
- Schools34
- Colleges1
- Libraries3
- Banks10
- Post Offices10
- Parks47
- Grocery Stores30
- Restaurants174
- Affordable Housing10
- Home Health Agencies1
- Dialysis Centers1
- Community Health Centers9
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment11
- Private Schools5
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities12
- Historic Places24
Housing and community stats
Burke County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$58,592
Poverty rate
15.6%
Median home value
$185,400
Prices +2.5% in a year
Median rent
$884/mo
Homeownership
74.5%
Bachelor's or higher
21.0%
Median age
44.9
Average commute
23.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (9,746), Irish Americans (8,241), Guatemalan Americans (2,792).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
2.9%
Sep 2026, -0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$51,032
29,771 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$51,046
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$591M
FY 2026, $6,749 per person
PPP loans
$103M
1,048 loans, 13,213 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$241K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Burke County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone83.8%
- Carpooled9.6%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.5%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.5%
- Worked from home5.4%
Average one-way commute: 23.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Burke County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: ice storm
Storm events since 1996
800
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
112
0.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 28°F
51.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone24 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Burke County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
36.8%
U.S. 33.3% +3.5 pts
Diabetes
13.8%
U.S. 12.1% +1.7 pts
Smoking
17.0%
U.S. 12.8% +4.2 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
11.6%
U.S. 11.1% +0.5 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Burke County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Burke County, NC?
- Morganton is the largest city or town in Burke County, with about 17,646 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Burke County?
- Burke County includes 9 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 28612, 28619, 28628, 28637, 28641.
- What is the population of Burke County, NC?
- About 87,795 people live in Burke County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Burke County?
- Burke County borders Catawba County, Cleveland County, Lincoln County, Caldwell County, Rutherford County, McDowell County, Avery County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023