Burke County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Burke County, North Carolina has a population of 87,795, the 33rd most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $58,592 and the median home value is $185,400. The poverty rate is 15.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Burke County Quick Facts
How Burke County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 87,863 | 87,795 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | $55,684 | $58,592 | +5.2% |
| Median home value | $170,500 | $185,400 | +8.7% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Burke County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morganton | 17,646 | $51,355 | 25.7% | $221,700 |
| Valdese | 4,704 | $50,740 | 12.8% | $209,800 |
| Connelly Springs | 2,427 | $54,620 | 9.2% | $206,500 |
| Salem | 2,377 | $68,988 | 19.1% | $159,100 |
| Hildebran | 2,207 | $55,703 | 21.1% | $193,900 |
| Icard | 2,153 | $44,641 | 18.4% | $141,800 |
| Drexel | 2,146 | $61,992 | 11.7% | $214,400 |
| Glen Alpine | 1,991 | $69,697 | 11.0% | $172,800 |
| Rutherford College | 1,374 | $67,500 | 7.7% | $185,600 |
| Rhodhiss | 1,166 | $63,125 | 10.4% | $134,700 |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Burke County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 87,795. It is the 33rd most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Burke County is 44.9 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Burke County is $58,592. This is 19% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.6%. This is 20% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $185,400. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 74.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Burke County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.5%. The Black or African American population (6.0%) is well below the state average of 20.0%.
Education
21.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 41% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Burke County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Burke County, North Carolina?
Burke County has a population of 87,795, making it the 33rd most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Burke County?
The median household income in Burke County is $58,592 with a poverty rate of 15.6%.
How many cities are in Burke County, North Carolina?
Burke County contains 10 Census-designated places.