COMPARING TWO PLACES
McDowell County vs Burke County
PLACE A
McDowell County, West Virginia
VS
PLACE B
Burke County, North Carolina
McDowell County is 81% smaller than Burke County. Burke County earns more, with a median household income $27,033 higher. Burke County has grown faster since 2000 (-4% vs -14%).
MCDOWELL COUNTYBURKE COUNTYDIFFERENCE
Total population16,87888,655−81% vs Burke County
Population density32175−143
Population growth-13.6%-3.7%−9.9 pts
Median age43.744.9−1.2
Male53.3%50.1%+3.2 pts
Female46.7%49.9%−3.2 pts
Foreign-born1.6%5.3%−3.7 pts
White, non-Hispanic86.5%79.1%+7.4 pts
Black8.8%6.1%+2.7 pts
Hispanic / Latino2.1%8.5%−6.4 pts
Asian0.1%3.5%−3.4 pts
Other2.6%2.8%−0.2 pts
Median household income$31,559$58,592−$27,033
Per capita income$17,253$32,977−$15,724
Poverty rate34.2%15.6%+18.6 pts
Income inequality (Gini)0.4620.443+0.0
Bachelor's degree or higher6.8%21.0%−14.2 pts
Graduate degree2.3%7.4%−5.1 pts
Unemployment rate8.2%4.4%+3.8 pts
Labor force participation27.1%57.7%−30.6 pts
Median home value$50,000$185,400−$135,400
Median gross rent$643$884−$241
Owner-occupied77.3%74.5%+2.8 pts
Housing vacancy rate30.7%10.0%+20.7 pts
Rent-burdened households32.8%31.4%+1.4 pts
Average commute36.023.4+12.6
Worked from home4.5%5.4%−0.9 pts
Public transit to work0.5%0.0%+0.5 pts
Uninsured8.8%11.0%−2.2 pts
Population, 1990 – 2025