Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Morganton, NC Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

17,646

Median Agei

37.8

Race & Ethnicityi

White

58.4%10,301

Hispanic/Latino

22.6%3,982

Black

14.3%2,522

Two or More

3.1%542

Asian

1.3%238

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.3%61

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4%482

High School Diploma

23.4%2,795

Some College (<1 yr)

7%843

Some College (1+ yr)

8.4%1,001

Associate's Degree

12.3%1,472

Bachelor's Degree

15.6%1,873

Master's Degree

7.8%933

Professional Degree

1.7%200

Doctorate

1%116

HS or Higher

81.2%

BA or Higher

26.1%

Graduate+

10.4%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$221,700

Median Renti

$944

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

54.7%3,766

Renter-Occupied

45.3%3,122

Total Units

7,547

Homeownership

54.7%

Vacancy Rate

8.7%

Home Values

Under $50K

2.9%108

$50K–$100K

11.8%446

$100K–$150K

18.7%706

$150K–$200K

10.6%398

$200K–$300K

25.7%967

$300K–$500K

24.1%906

$500K–$1M

4.2%158

$1M+

2%77

Rent Distribution

Under $500

442

$500–$750

551

$750–$1,000

827

$1,000–$1,250

681

$1,250–$1,500

207

$1,500–$2,000

277

$2,000+

Year Built

2020 or later

3.2%242

2010–2019

4.5%338

2000–2009

5.4%406

1990–1999

10.9%825

1980–1989

19.2%1,448

1970–1979

15.6%1,178

1960–1969

13.1%990

1950–1959

7.3%552

1940–1949

8.1%609

1939 or earlier

12.7%959

Heating Fuel

Electricity

63.3%4,358

Utility Gas

29.2%2,013

Fuel Oil

4.2%290

Bottled/LP Gas

2.4%165

Wood

0.4%25

No Fuel

0.3%24

Other

0.2%13

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$51,355

Mean Household Incomei

$72,877

Per Capita Incomei

$29,317

Poverty Ratei

24.6%

Unemploymenti

3.8%

Labor Forcei

7,828

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

7.7%528

$10K–$15K

5.2%356

$15K–$20K

3.7%256

$20K–$25K

9.4%648

$25K–$30K

4.9%338

$30K–$35K

3.8%262

$35K–$40K

5.2%359

$40K–$45K

3.4%231

$45K–$50K

3.3%228

$50K–$60K

13.3%918

$60K–$75K

10%691

$75K–$100K

9.3%644

$100K–$125K

5.6%386

$125K–$150K

3.8%259

$150K–$200K

6.5%449

$200K+

4.9%335

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

514

Residentsi

939

Avg. Tenant Renti

$399/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

8 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing247 homes99% occupied$418/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers29 homes59% occupied$385/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 853 homes91% occupied$342/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

811/PRAC21 homes90% occupied$335/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $51,355/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $15K/yr

65.3%

Very low income$15K–$26K/yr

23.6%

Low income$26K–$41K/yr

9.7%

Moderate / aboveOver $41K/yr

1.4%

Who Receives This Housing

76.4% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

36.5% of subsidized households are minority

19.9% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

31.3% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

1,87410.6%

By Region

Top Countries

Guatemala

1,385

India

Poland

Mexico

United Kingdom

Germany

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

7,451

Avg. Commutei

17.7 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

7,528

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

612(4.6% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

81.6%Insured

18.4%Uninsured

Morganton, NC Population, Income & Demographics 2026