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Drexel, NC

Town in Burke County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 28619.

Population

2,146

Land area

1.4sq mi

People per sq mi

1,553

ZIP codes

1

Drexel and its ZIP codes

Full map

Drexel at a glance

  • Drexel is about 7 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
  • The median household income is $61,992, 14% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $214,400 (26% below North Carolina) and median rent is $590 a month.

Local data for Drexel, NC

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Drexel, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$61,992

Poverty rate

11.7%

Median home value

$214,400

Median rent

$590/mo

Homeownership

72.0%

Bachelor's or higher

23.2%

Median age

47.2

Average commute

20.2 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (273), German Americans (225), Puerto Ricans (108).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Burke County. PPP loans are for Drexel.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Aug 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

$403K

11 loans, 126 jobs reported

Burke County economyFederal spendingPPP loans

How people get to work

Drexel, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone83.4%
  • Carpooled11.0%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked0.0%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
  • Worked from home5.7%

Average one-way commute: 20.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Drexel, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Low

Top: ice storm

Storm events since 1996

800

Countywide, mostly 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 zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Drexel, NC, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

36.8%

U.S. 33.3% +3.5 pts

Diabetes

14.3%

U.S. 12.1% +2.2 pts

Smoking

16.7%

U.S. 12.8% +3.9 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

10.9%

U.S. 11.1% about the same

ZIP codes in Drexel

1 in or overlapping Drexel. Population shown

·

Cities near Drexel

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
ValdeseTown3.7 mi7.9
Rutherford CollegeTown4.5 mi2.3
MorgantonCity4.9 mi19.2
Connelly SpringsTown6 mi5
SalemCensus-designated place6.5 mi4.3
Cajah's MountainTown7.4 mi3.4
GamewellTown7.4 mi8.1
SawmillsTown8.1 mi6.6
IcardCensus-designated place8.3 mi3.8
HudsonTown9.1 mi3.7
RhodhissTown9.7 mi1.2
Glen AlpineTown10 mi2.1
Granite FallsTown10 mi4.9
HildebranTown11 mi2.8
LenoirCity12 mi20.8
Long ViewTown13 mi4

Frequently asked questions

What county is Drexel, NC in?
Drexel is in Burke County, North Carolina.
What ZIP codes are in Drexel, NC?
ZIP codes in or overlapping Drexel include 28619.
What is the population of Drexel, NC?
About 2,146 people live in Drexel, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Drexel?
Nearby places include Valdese (3.7 mi), Rutherford College (4.5 mi), Morganton (4.9 mi), Connelly Springs (6 mi), Salem (6.5 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023