Burke County, NC Local Data & Statistics

State: NC

Total population: 87,795 Household income: $58,592 Rent: $884

Overview

Total population

87,795

Rent

$884

Year built

1980

Household income

$58,592

Per capita income

$32,977

Poverty rate

15.6%

Unemployment rate

3.7%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

31.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

North Carolina

Total population

87,795

Adults over 25

64,993

Total households

36,306

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$58,592

Per capita income

$32,977

Poverty rate

15.6%

Unemployment rate

3.7%

Rent over 30% of income

31.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$884

Year built

1980

Households that rent

25.5%

Households that own

74.5%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.4

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

80.7%

Black

6.2%

Asian

3.5%

Two or more races

4.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

8.5%

Not Hispanic or Latino

91.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

94.6%

Commute time to work

23 mins

Work from home

5.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

31.6%

High school graduate or GED

32.3%

Some college or associate degree

15.1%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

21%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Burke County, NC with: Hickory Metro Area, NC North Carolina United States

Burke County, NC

Total population87,795

Rent$884

Year built1980

Household income$58,592

Per capita income$32,977

Poverty rate15.6%

Unemployment rate3.7%

Hickory Metro Area, NC

Total population368,316

Rent$869

Year built1983

Household income$62,787

Per capita income$34,781

Poverty rate13.5%

Unemployment rate3.6%

North Carolina State

Total population10,730,404

Rent$1,228

Year built1991

Household income$72,388

Per capita income$41,385

Poverty rate13%

Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CountyBurke County, NC	Metro AreaHickory Metro Area, NC	StateNorth Carolina	CountryUnited States
Total population	87,795	368,316	10,730,404	334,922,499
Rent	$884	$869	$1,228	$1,413
Year built	1980	1983	1991	1980
Household income	$58,592	$62,787	$72,388	$80,734
Per capita income	$32,977	$34,781	$41,385	$44,673
Poverty rate	15.6%	13.5%	13%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.7%	3.6%	3.6%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for Burke County, NC

Burke County is located in North Carolina .

Rent & Income

In Burke County, the monthly rent is $884 and household income is $58,592. Rent is lower than both North Carolina and the U.S., and household income is lower than both North Carolina and the U.S. The poverty rate is 15.6%, which is higher than both North Carolina and the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 25.5% of households. Around 31.4% of renters are cost-burdened, indicating a moderate level of rent pressure.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is relatively low, with about 21% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 3.7%, which is similar to North Carolina and lower than the national rate.

Burke County, NC — Rent vs Household Income

Burke County, NC — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Burke County, NC (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $884 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Burke County, NC

Annual Household Income: $58,592

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Burke County, NC

Estimated Rate: 15.6%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Burke County, NC

In Burke County, NC, households that rent: 9,252 (25.5%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	9,252	25.5%
Owner-Occupied	27,054	74.5%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Burke County, NC

In Burke County, NC, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 2,905 (31.4%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	2,905	31.4%
Other renter households	6,347	68.6%
Total renter households	9,252	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Burke County, NC

Less than High School: 20,518 people (31.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 21,019 people (32.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 9,798 people (15.1%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 13,658 people (21%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 64,993

📊 Unemployment Rate in Burke County, NC

Estimated Rate: 3.7%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.