City in Burke County, North Carolina · 19.2 sq mi · 933 people per sq mi
About 18,000 people live in Morganton. The typical household earns $51,355, and the median resident is 37.8 years old.
2026 projection
From 17,502 in 2020
Poverty rate 25.74%
Men 34.5 · Women 40.9
1850–2026
17,931
2026 projection
2.5% since 2020 (increase)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts and annual estimates. 2026 is a projection. Values between recorded years are interpolated.
Use the left and right arrow keys to inspect population observations.
1850–2026
17,931
2026 projection
2.5% since 2020 (increase)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts and annual estimates. 2026 is a projection. Values between recorded years are interpolated.
Use the left and right arrow keys to inspect population observations.
| 2026 | 17,931 | +82 | 0.46% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17,849 | +19 | 0.11% |
| 2024 | 17,830 | +109 | 0.62% |
| 2023 | 17,721 | -39 | 0.22% |
| 2022 | 17,760 | +337 | 1.93% |
| 2021 | 17,423 | -79 | 0.45% |
| 2020 | 17,502 | +955 | 5.77% |
| 2019 | 16,547 | +12 | 0.07% |
| 2018 | 16,535 | +14 | 0.08% |
| 2017 | 16,521 | +112 | 0.68% |
Showing 10 of 32 years.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates · Table S0101
Each square is about 1% of residents (roughly 176 people).
Hispanic or Latino residents can be of any race. All other groups exclude Hispanic residents.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates · Table B03002
Half of households earn more, half earn less
Typical yearly pay for a worker 25 or older.
About 1 in 4 residents
39% of residents age 15 and older are married.
| Status | Overall | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Married | 39% | 43% | 35% |
| Never married | 38% | 42% | 35% |
| Divorced | 13% | 8% | 17% |
| Widowed | 7% | 3% | 10% |
| Separated | 4% | 5% | 3% |
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates · Table S1201
10 sources, all from the U.S. Census Bureau