Burke County is a county of 87,795 people in North Carolina. At a median age of 44.9, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $185,400. 75% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 5%.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $58,592, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 31%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Burke County
What changed most since 1990
Poverty rate10.1% → 15.6%(+5.5 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
Median age35.2 → 44.9(+9.7 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
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)19.1%(873)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)13.9%(634)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era42.4%(1,931)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5.1%(232)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.6%(28)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 4,559 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
Over time
Burke County, decade by decade
Burke County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
75,744
$62,111
$125,284
10.6%
18.9
2000
89,148
$64,904
$141,360
12.8%
33.9
2010
90,912
$53,427
$156,517
15.1%
37.8
2020
87,570
$53,227
$146,172
16.7%
46.7
2024
87,795
$58,592
$185,400
21.0%
45.1
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
How many people live in Burke County, North Carolina?
Burke County, North Carolina has about 87,795 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Burke County, North Carolina?
The typical household in Burke County, North Carolina earns about $58,592 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Burke County, North Carolina expensive?
In Burke County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $185,400, and the typical rent is about $884 a month.
How educated are people in Burke County, North Carolina?
About 21.0% of adults age 25 and over in Burke County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Burke County, North Carolina?
About 15.6% of people in Burke County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Burke County, North Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Burke County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 12,051 residents, a change of about 16 percent over that period.
