| City | Rank | 2026 Pop. ↓ | 2020 Pop. | Annual Change | Density (/mi²) | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morganton | 1 | 17,931 | 17,502 | 0.46% | 933 | 19 | City |
| Valdese | 2 | 4,719 | 4,687 | 0.15% | 600 | 8 | Town |
| Gamewell | 3 | 3,715 | 3,693 | 0.05% | 458 | 8 | Town |
| Drexel | 4 | 1,769 | 1,746 | 0.28% | 1,280 | 1 | Town |
| Hildebran | 5 | 1,693 | 1,682 | 0.12% | 599 | 3 | Town |
| Connelly Springs | 6 | 1,556 | 1,519 | 0.39% | 312 | 5 | Town |
| Glen Alpine | 7 | 1,553 | 1,544 | 0.06% | 723 | 2 | Town |
| Rutherford College | 8 | 1,221 | 1,211 | 0.08% | 532 | 2 | Town |
| Belwood | 9 | 879 | 859 | 0.34% | 71 | 12 | Town |
| Brookford | 10 | 459 | 433 | 0.66% | 754 | 1 | Town |
| Cedar Rock | 11 | 302 | 300 | 0% | 265 | 1 | Village |
Morganton is the largest city in Burke County, with a population of 17,931.
Cedar Rock is the smallest city in Burke County, with a population of 302.
There are 11 cities in Burke County, North Carolina.