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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Morganton

North Carolina · 17,310 residents · 19.2 sq mi
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The short version

With 17,310 people, Morganton is a city in North Carolina. The median age is 39.1, about 4 years above the US median. 57% of homes are owner-occupied. The typical home is worth $89,000, having risen by half since 1990. Growth has run 15% since 1990, or 2,225 more people. The median household earns $34,678, about 19% below the national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 39.1
US median: 35.2
Average education
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

17,310
+15%since 1990
from 15,085 in 1990
1990 – 2025
39.1
+1%since 1990
from 38.7 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
19.2 sq mi
Population, 19902024
15K16K16K17K18K19902000201020202024Morganton
202418K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 56.2%(1,076)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 96%(1,031)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 145.8%(1,002)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 195.4%(927)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 246.3%(1,095)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3414.3%(2,481)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4415%(2,599)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5413.4%(2,313)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 649.1%(1,582)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 748.8%(1,524)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 846.8%(1,170)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2.9%(510)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$34,678
+5%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $25,007 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$20,906
+63%since 1990
from $12,845 in 1990
US average: $21,522
13.6%
+2.9 ptssince 1990
from 10.6% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$89,000
+20%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $56,100 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$475
+5%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $342 in 1990
US average: $602
57.0%
−3.0 ptssince 1990
from 60.0% in 1990
43.0% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

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

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

20.8%
+2.0 ptssince 1990
from 18.8% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
69.8%
+4.9 ptssince 1990
from 65.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
7.3%
+0.7 ptssince 1990
from 6.7% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

12.8 min
−8%since 1990
from 13.8 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28%(1,925)
Married59%(4,053)
Widowed3.2%(222)
Divorced9.8%(672)
Women 15+
Never married18.2%(1,308)
Married56%(4,022)
Widowed15%(1,077)
Divorced10.8%(772)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
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 17,310 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Morganton, North Carolina earns about $34,678 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 $89,000, and the typical rent is about $475 a month.

How educated are people in Morganton, North Carolina?

About 20.8% 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 13.6% of people in Morganton, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Morganton, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Morganton, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,225 residents, a change of about 15 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 →