Murphy town, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Murphy town is a small community located in North Carolina, within Cherokee County. The total population is 1,356. It ranks as the 403rd most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Murphy town is 37.8 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 14.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Murphy town is $36,989. This is 47% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 53% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.6%. This is 56% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $221,100. Housing costs are 15% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.0x. 45.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 31% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Murphy town is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 5.8%. The Black or African American population (5.8%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.9%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

24.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% lower than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Murphy town, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.