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Nebo, NC
Census-designated place in McDowell County, North Carolina.
Population
1,670
Land area
5.3sq mi
People per sq mi
315
ZIP codes
0
Nebo and its ZIP codes
Nebo at a glance
- Nebo is 43% denser than North Carolina as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $50,139 a year, 31% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $129,800 (55% below North Carolina) and median rent is $1,087 a month.
Local data for Nebo, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Nebo, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$50,139
Poverty rate
16.9%
Median home value
$129,800
Median rent
$1,087/mo
Homeownership
74.9%
Bachelor's or higher
6.8%
Median age
52.3
Average commute
27.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Korean Americans (33), German Americans (23), Irish Americans (12).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for McDowell County. PPP loans are for Nebo.
Unemployment rate
3.7%
Aug 2026, -0.7 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$48,681
15,394 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$50,502
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$403M
FY 2026, $9,036 per person
How people get to work
Nebo, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone93.9%
- Carpooled0.0%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked4.3%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home1.8%
Average one-way commute: 27.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Nebo, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
653
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
138
0.7% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 28°F
56.6 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Nebo, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.3%
U.S. 33.3% +4.0 pts
Diabetes
15.0%
U.S. 12.1% +2.9 pts
Smoking
20.8%
U.S. 12.8% +8.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
11.8%
U.S. 11.1% +0.7 pts
Cities near Nebo
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| MarionCity | 5.3 mi | 6.8 |
| West MarionCensus-designated place | 7.1 mi | 1.5 |
| GlenwoodCensus-designated place | 7.5 mi | 1.6 |
| Glen AlpineTown | 7.9 mi | 2.1 |
| SalemCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 4.3 |
| MorgantonCity | 13 mi | 19.2 |
| Old FortTown | 16 mi | 1.2 |
| Spruce PineTown | 16 mi | 4.1 |
| DrexelTown | 18 mi | 1.4 |
| ValdeseTown | 21 mi | 7.9 |
| GamewellTown | 21 mi | 8.1 |
| CrossnoreTown | 21 mi | 0.4 |
| MontreatTown | 22 mi | 2.7 |
| CasarTown | 22 mi | 1.8 |
| Rutherford CollegeTown | 22 mi | 2.3 |
| RuthTown | 23 mi | 0.4 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Nebo, NC in?
- Nebo is in McDowell County, North Carolina.
- What is the population of Nebo, NC?
- About 1,670 people live in Nebo, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Nebo?
- Nearby places include Marion (5.3 mi), West Marion (7.1 mi), Glenwood (7.5 mi), Glen Alpine (7.9 mi), Salem (13 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023