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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Morganton

North Carolina · 15,085 residents · 19.2 sq mi
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The short version

With 15,085 people, Morganton is a city in North Carolina. The median age is 38.7, about 6 years above the US median. The typical home is worth $56,100. The average commute runs 14 minutes. The population has fallen 13% since 2000. The median household earns $25,007, about 17% below the national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 38.7
US median: 33.0
Average education
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 17%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

15,085
−13%vs 2000
vs 17,310 in 2000
1990 – 2025
38.7
−1%vs 2000
vs 39.1 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
19.2 sq mi
Population, 19902024
15K16K16K17K18K19902000201020202024Morganton
202418K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 55.4%(820)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 95.4%(810)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 145.1%(764)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 196.1%(926)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246.5%(986)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3416%(2,414)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4414.9%(2,254)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5411.4%(1,716)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 6410.9%(1,640)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 7410.1%(1,519)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 846.2%(936)
US avg: 4%
85 and over2%(300)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$25,007
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $34,678 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
$12,845
−39%vs 2000
vs $20,906 in 2000
US average: $14,340
10.6%
−2.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 13.6% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

$56,100
−17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $89,000 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
$342
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $475 in 2000
US average: $450
60.0%
+3.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 57.0% in 2000
40.0% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic72.6%(12,570)
Black12.7%(2,198)
Hispanic / Latino11.2%(1,931)
Asian1.9%(336)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic83%(12,527)
Black15.4%(2,319)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(90)
Asian1.1%(161)
Other0.5%(78)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Central American14.3%(2,528)
Guatemalan12.1%(2,128)
Mexican3.9%(682)
Honduran1.9%(329)
Cuban1.6%(291)
Puerto Rican1.2%(219)
Chilean0.3%(51)
Salvadoran0.3%(46)
Nicaraguan0.1%(25)
Colombian0.1%(17)
Asian origin
Hmong0.6%(100)
Asian Indian0.4%(70)
Chinese0.1%(26)
Vietnamese0.1%(20)
Laotian0.1%(11)
Thai0.1%(11)
Ancestry
American13%(2,288)
German9.3%(1,637)
Irish7.6%(1,347)
English7.5%(1,325)
Scotch-Irish2.3%(407)
Italian2%(347)
Scottish1.4%(239)
French1.2%(219)
Polish0.9%(165)
Greek0.4%(72)
West Indian0.4%(72)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Haitian0.4%(72)
Welsh0.4%(65)
Ghanaian0.3%(59)
Dutch0.3%(53)
Swedish0.2%(43)
Romanian0.1%(22)
Norwegian0.1%(15)
Danish0.1%(14)
Czech0.1%(11)
Latvian0%(8)
Section 05

Education

18.8%
−2.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 20.8% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
65.0%
−4.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 69.8% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
6.7%
−0.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 7.3% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

13.8 min
+8%vs 2000
vs 12.8 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married41.5%(2,823)
Married47.2%(3,212)
Widowed3%(202)
Divorced8.3%(565)
Women 15+
Never married35%(2,559)
Married37.9%(2,770)
Widowed9.9%(721)
Divorced17.1%(1,252)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

18.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2013
from 18.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
39.8%
−1.4 ptssince 2020
from 41.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
12.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2020
from 13.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
21.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 21.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
28.3%
−2.3 ptssince 2020
from 30.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 2.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
47.8%
−2.1 ptssince 2020
from 49.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
46.6%
−1.4 ptssince 2020
from 48.0% 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)23.7%(145)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)4.7%(29)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era47.5%(291)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War12.7%(78)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II2.5%(15)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 612 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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Morganton, North Carolina?

Morganton, North Carolina has about 15,085 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Morganton, North Carolina?

The typical household in Morganton, North Carolina earns about $25,007 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Morganton, North Carolina expensive?

In Morganton, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $56,100, and the typical rent is about $342 a month.

How educated are people in Morganton, North Carolina?

About 18.8% of adults age 25 and over in Morganton, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Morganton, North Carolina?

About 10.6% of people in Morganton, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →