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Morganton, NC
City in Burke County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 28655.
Population
17,646
Land area
19.2sq mi
People per sq mi
918
ZIP codes
1
Morganton and its ZIP codes
Morganton at a glance
- Morganton is about 4.2 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 62nd among 772 cities and towns in North Carolina.
- The median household income is $51,355, 29% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $221,700 (23% below North Carolina) and median rent is $944 a month.
Local data for Morganton, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals2
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes2
- Schools12
- Colleges1
- Libraries1
- Banks8
- Post Offices2
- Parks15
- Grocery Stores20
- Restaurants126
- Affordable Housing6
- Home Health Agencies1
- Dialysis Centers1
- Community Health Centers4
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment8
- Private Schools1
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities9
- Historic Places17
Housing and community stats
Morganton, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$51,355
Poverty rate
25.7%
Median home value
$221,700
Median rent
$944/mo
Homeownership
54.7%
Bachelor's or higher
26.1%
Median age
37.8
Average commute
17.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Guatemalan Americans (2,128), German Americans (1,637), Irish Americans (1,347).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Burke County. PPP loans are for Morganton.
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
$61.49M
746 loans, 8,713 jobs reported
How people get to work
Morganton, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone75.6%
- Carpooled14.9%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.4%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.0%
- Worked from home8.1%
Average one-way commute: 17.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Morganton, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
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 zone17 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Morganton, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.4%
U.S. 33.3% +5.1 pts
Diabetes
14.3%
U.S. 12.1% +2.2 pts
Smoking
17.3%
U.S. 12.8% +4.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
16.6%
U.S. 11.1% +5.5 pts
ZIP codes in Morganton
1 in or overlapping Morganton. Population shown
Cities near Morganton
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| SalemCensus-designated place | 2.9 mi | 4.3 |
| DrexelTown | 4.9 mi | 1.4 |
| Glen AlpineTown | 5.3 mi | 2.1 |
| ValdeseTown | 7.9 mi | 7.9 |
| Rutherford CollegeTown | 9.3 mi | 2.3 |
| GamewellTown | 10 mi | 8.1 |
| Connelly SpringsTown | 11 mi | 5 |
| Cajah's MountainTown | 11 mi | 3.4 |
| IcardCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 3.8 |
| SawmillsTown | 13 mi | 6.6 |
| NeboCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 5.3 |
| HudsonTown | 13 mi | 3.7 |
| RhodhissTown | 15 mi | 1.2 |
| LenoirCity | 15 mi | 20.8 |
| Granite FallsTown | 15 mi | 4.9 |
| HildebranTown | 15 mi | 2.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Morganton, NC in?
- Morganton is in Burke County, North Carolina.
- What ZIP codes are in Morganton, NC?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Morganton include 28655.
- What is the population of Morganton, NC?
- About 17,646 people live in Morganton, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Morganton?
- Nearby places include Salem (2.9 mi), Drexel (4.9 mi), Glen Alpine (5.3 mi), Valdese (7.9 mi), Rutherford College (9.3 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023