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CITY

Granite Falls

North Carolina · 4,964 residents (2025 est.) · 4.94 sq mi
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The short version

Granite Falls is a city of 4,929 people in North Carolina. The foreign-born share is 3%. 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $202,400. That trails the North Carolina median by roughly 21%. Renters pay $905 a month at the median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,929
+7%since 2000
from 4,612 in 2000
4,964 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
998 / sq mi
+8%since 2009
from 922 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.7
+15%since 2000
from 35.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
4.94 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K4K4K5K5K19902000201020202024Granite Falls
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.9%(241)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.3%(210)
US avg: 6%
10 to 1410.4%(511)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.5%(321)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 248.1%(398)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.2%(504)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.4%(512)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5415.3%(754)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.6%(570)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.1%(549)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.8%(237)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.5%(122)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,917
−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,596 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,133
+87%since 2000
from $17,750 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.0%
+10.3 ptssince 2009
from 32.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.2%
+9.0 ptssince 2000
from 8.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.451
−3%since 2010
from 0.465 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance9.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing4.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services2%
US avg: 0.9%
Other services1.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$202,400
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $93,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$905
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $504 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 64.6% in 2000
33.7% rent
Vacancy rate
4.0%
−9.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.78 people
+10%since 2009
from 2.52 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
16.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.3%
−8.8 ptssince 2009
from 54.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.6
+40%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
45
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.5%(4,175)
Black2.3%(107)
Hispanic / Latino6.1%(280)
Asian0.4%(18)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic83.6%(4,122)
Black3.6%(178)
Hispanic / Latino8.8%(433)
Asian0.2%(10)
Other3.8%(186)
Diversity Score
36
+85%since 2009
from 20 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican3.7%(183)
Mexican2.7%(131)
Honduran1%(49)
Argentine0.7%(36)
Guatemalan0.5%(23)
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(10)
Ancestry
German20.2%(996)
American13.2%(653)
English13%(640)
Irish12.5%(618)
Polish5.1%(250)
Scotch-Irish3.6%(175)
Scottish3.1%(151)
Italian1.8%(91)
Danish0.9%(43)
Hungarian0.8%(41)
Lithuanian0.7%(36)
Swedish0.6%(29)
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.2%(11)
Dutch0.1%(6)
Finnish0.1%(6)
Swiss0.1%(6)
Welsh0.1%(5)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.6%
+12.1 ptssince 2000
from 13.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.3%
+23.8 ptssince 2000
from 67.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.9%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.1 min
+80%since 2000
from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
86.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 87.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.0%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.9%
+7.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.2%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.6%
−11.2 ptssince 2011
from 70.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
68.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2020
from 65.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
16.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.5%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 32.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
53.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
46.5%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.8%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2012
from 13.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.2%
−11.4 ptssince 2013
from 19.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
97.9%
+20.1 ptssince 2017
from 77.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
99.4%
+5.0 ptssince 2020
from 94.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
93.3%
+6.0 ptssince 2020
from 87.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
92.5%
+3.1 ptssince 2016
from 89.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.0%
+3.5 ptssince 2016
from 3.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married34.5%(683)
Married50.1%(992)
Widowed1%(20)
Divorced14.5%(287)
Women 15+
Never married31.1%(617)
Married48.1%(954)
Widowed4.9%(97)
Divorced16%(317)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
8.2%
−11.4 ptssince 2013
from 19.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
43.5%
−8.0 ptssince 2020
from 51.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
15.3%
−3.0 ptssince 2020
from 18.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
19.2%
−2.1 ptssince 2020
from 21.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
29.7%
+9.1 ptssince 2020
from 20.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2020
from 2.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
56.0%
−11.0 ptssince 2020
from 67.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
46.1%
+6.3 ptssince 2020
from 39.8% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)21.4%(46)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)2.3%(5)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era34%(73)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.3%(5)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 215 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Granite Falls to nearby cities

GRANITE FALLS VS
Hickory
Income$64,576+13%
Home value$278,400+38%
Population45,975+826%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GRANITE FALLS VS
St. Stephens
Income$60,394+6%
Home value$213,300+5%
Population9,457+91%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GRANITE FALLS VS
Lenoir
Income$49,910−12%
Home value$179,400−11%
Population18,372+270%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GRANITE FALLS VS
Conover
Income$65,972+16%
Home value$271,300+34%
Population8,938+80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Granite Falls, North Carolina?

Granite Falls, North Carolina has about 4,929 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Granite Falls, North Carolina?

The typical household in Granite Falls, North Carolina earns about $56,917 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Granite Falls, North Carolina expensive?

In Granite Falls, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $202,400, and the typical rent is about $905 a month.

How educated are people in Granite Falls, North Carolina?

About 25.6% of adults age 25 and over in Granite Falls, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Granite Falls, North Carolina?

About 17.2% of people in Granite Falls, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Granite Falls, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Granite Falls, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,676 residents, a change of about 52 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →