1st Advantage Mortgage26% of Burke County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $58,592 (ACS 2020-24). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Burke County
- What it costs to live in Burke County
- Paychecks and income spread in Burke County
- How Burke County ranks in North Carolina
- Jobs and commutes in Burke County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Burke County
- Burke County next to its neighbors
- Burke County demographics against North Carolina
- $4,883 a month: the Burke County median budget
- Reading the Burke County data as a borrower
- North Carolina rules that apply in Burke County
- Steps before you apply in Burke County
- Beyond Burke County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Burke County
Burke County is home to about 87,795 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 33rd most populous of 100 county-level areas in North Carolina. Density: about 173.4 residents per square mile across 506 square miles of land. Metro area: Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (OMB, 2023). Morganton is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 17,646 people (20% of the county total).
What it costs to live in Burke County
A typical Burke County rental runs $884 a month including utilities, which is 28% below North Carolina. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 37% in Burke County, 49% statewide. With a median value of $185,400, a typical Burke County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. In Burke County, 75% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them.
| Burke County | North Carolina | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 49% | -12.0 pts |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | +7.9 pts |
| Median home value | $185,400 | $288,900 | 36% lower |
| Median gross rent | $884/mo | $1,228/mo | 28% lower |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 25% | -2.7 pts |
| Vacant units | 10% | 13% | -2.5 pts |
Because most Burke County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Paychecks and income spread in Burke County
Burke County households have a median income of $58,592 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 57th of 100 in North Carolina.
| Household income | Burke County | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.0% | +4.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.9% | +4.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.9% | -3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -6.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 26% of Burke County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. 15.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.0%). Burke County scores 0.443 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Burke County ranks in North Carolina
- The share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 37% in Burke County. Only 2 of 100 North Carolina counties are lower. Lower rent burdens mean more renters have slack, but test your own numbers.
- The share of workers who work from home: 5.4% in Burke County. Only 12 of 100 North Carolina counties are lower. Most workers travel to a job here, so commuting costs are part of the budget.
Jobs and commutes in Burke County
Top Burke County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 24%; second, manufacturing, 23%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 23% locally and 12% for North Carolina. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 30% of Burke County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 12% need 45 or more. Only 4.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Burke County workers | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 22.8% | +11.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -6.0 pts |
| Construction | 5.7% | -1.7 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Burke County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Burke County
Places, by size: the top 9 of 9. Roughly 58% of Burke County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Glen Alpine ($69,697) and Icard ($44,641) mark the top and bottom of Burke County's income range among larger places. Rent is cheapest in Drexel ($590) and steepest in Morganton ($944). From Morganton to the smallest crossroads, Burke County residents share this guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morganton | city | 17,646 | $51,355 | $944 | 0 mi |
| Valdese | town | 4,704 | $50,740 | $665 | 8 mi |
| Connelly Springs | town | 2,427 | $54,620 | $884 | 12 mi |
| Salem | CDP | 2,377 | $68,988 | $856 | 3 mi |
| Hildebran | town | 2,207 | $55,703 | $809 | 16 mi |
| Icard | CDP | 2,153 | $44,641 | $842 | 14 mi |
| Drexel | town | 2,146 | $61,992 | $590 | 6 mi |
| Glen Alpine | town | 1,991 | $69,697 | $871 | 4 mi |
| Rutherford College | town | 1,374 | $67,500 | $853 | 10 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Burke County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Burke County's, from 19 to 30 miles away. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Burke County; Catawba County is highest at $67,864 and Rutherford County lowest at $51,410.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burke County | - | $58,592 | $884/mo | 75% |
| Caldwell County, NC | 19 mi | $56,425 | $744/mo | 74% |
| McDowell County, NC | 20 mi | $57,168 | $806/mo | 76% |
| Avery County, NC | 26 mi | $61,428 | $773/mo | 83% |
| Rutherford County, NC | 27 mi | $51,410 | $783/mo | 74% |
| Catawba County, NC | 28 mi | $67,864 | $965/mo | 72% |
| Cleveland County, NC | 30 mi | $58,534 | $914/mo | 71% |
Burke County demographics against North Carolina
Bachelor's degree or higher: 21% of Burke County adults. Uninsured, Burke County: 11.0%; North Carolina: 9.9%.
| Burke County | vs North Carolina | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.0% | -14.6 pts | -1.1 pts |
| Work from home | 5.4% | -11.0 pts | -3.3 pts |
| Median age | 44.9 | +5.8 yrs | +3.4 yrs |
| No high school diploma | 14.0% | +4.2 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 15.6% | +2.6 pts | +2.4 pts |
| No health insurance | 11.0% | +1.2 pts | +3.2 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | -0.5 pts | -0.6 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | -0.3 pts | 0.0 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Burke County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.6% |
| 60+ min | 6.1% |
$4,883 a month: the Burke County median budget
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Burke County's medians:
- $58,592 a year is $4,883 of gross monthly income
- 18% goes to median rent ($884)
- At 36%, room after rent is $874 a month
- Under a 43% cap, $2,100 total minus rent leaves $1,216
A household below the $58,592 median has less room than this, often none.
Reading the Burke County data as a borrower
What the Burke County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 11% of Burke County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Mobile homes in Burke County. At 19% of units, they are a big part of local housing; check whether yours is titled as real or personal property.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
North Carolina rules that apply in Burke County
Burke County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the North Carolina state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Burke County
Quick steps for Burke County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Carolina borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Beyond Burke County
No city in Burke County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Burke County?
$58,592 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,388 for North Carolina. It ranks 57th of 100 in the state.
What do renters pay in Burke County?
$884 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
Is Rutherford College covered?
Yes. Rutherford College is one of 9 Census places in Burke County, and this guide covers all of them.
Does living in Burke County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Burke County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Burke County?
Start with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.