11 cities
| City | Rank | 2025 Pop. ↓ | 2020 Pop. | Annual Change | Density | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morganton | 1 | 17,903 | 17,510 | 0.44% | 931 | 19 | City |
| Valdese | 2 | 4,719 | 4,689 | 0.13% | 600 | 8 | Town |
| Gamewell | 3 | 3,700 | 3,695 | 0.03% | 456 | 8 | Town |
| Drexel | 4 | 1,783 | 1,752 | 0.34% | 1,290 | 1 | Town |
| Hildebran | 5 | 1,680 | 1,677 | 0% | 594 | 3 | Town |
| Connelly Springs | 6 | 1,551 | 1,521 | 0.39% | 311 | 5 | Town |
| Glen Alpine | 7 | 1,533 | 1,526 | 0.07% | 714 | 2 | Town |
| Rutherford College | 8 | 1,230 | 1,220 | 0.16% | 535 | 2 | Town |
| Belwood | 9 | 875 | 862 | 0.23% | 71 | 12 | Town |
| Brookford | 10 | 453 | 432 | 0.89% | 744 | 1 | Town |
| Cedar Rock | 11 | 299 | 299 | 0% | 262 | 1 | Village |
Morganton is the largest city in Burke County, with a population of 17,903.
Cedar Rock is the smallest city in Burke County, with a population of 299.
There are 11 cities in Burke County, North Carolina.