RANK #358 / 996 · POP 87,799 · NC
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.3%
Known as "Nature's Playground," Burke County, North Carolina, offers extensive outdoor recreation, with Linville Gorge, often called the "Grand Canyon of the East," and South Mountains State Park providing hiking, biking, and waterfalls. The county is located in west-central North Carolina's mountain region, with its county seat, Morganton, about an hour's drive from Asheville. The community has a welcoming, small-town feel, and residents often own their homes. Lake James State Park is another notable feature, offering opportunities for kayaking, fishing, and relaxing on its sandy beach. Life in Burke County is characterized by its natural surroundings and a focus on community. Many residents are retirees, though the area also attracts families. Public schools in the county are highly rated, with several high schools, including Jimmy C. Draughn High School and East Burke High School, ranking among the top. The local economy is diverse, with ongoing investments in advanced manufacturing and data centers. The county is also home to state institutions like the North Carolina School for the Deaf and Broughton Hospital.
Above national median (4.7x)
Above national median
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.7x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Digihost Data Center
Digihost International LLC
|
$200M | Planned |
|
Green Textile Manufacturing Hub
The Industrial Commons
|
$60M | Under Construction |
|
Nebo Energy Storage
Undisclosed (part of PJM interconnection queue)
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Burke County has a Boom Town Index score of 64/100, ranking #358 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.2% and a median household income of $53,732, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Burke County is $155,500 with median rent at $768/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3455, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.0% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.2%. Home values changed +0.4% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.23% of Burke County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.