Signals
Morganton
Lenoir
Opportunity
42 · Bottom 21%
vs39 · Bottom 15%
Climate
78 · Top 21%
vs78 · Top 21%
Physical resilience
48 · Bottom 40%
vs43 · Bottom 33%
Housing affordability
76 · Bottom 42%
vs93 · Top 24%
Schools
48 · Bottom 46%
vs25 · Bottom 17%
Access
72 · Bottom 14%
vs69 · Bottom 11%
Economic stability
32 · Bottom 9%
vs37 · Bottom 14%
Measured values
| Metric | Morganton | Lenoir | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,646 | 18,299 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $51,355 | $49,910 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,317 | $29,565 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 918/sq mi | 879/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $221,700 | $179,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $944 | $664 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 54.7% | 64.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.1% | -2.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 21.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 25.7% | 14.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 87°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 47.1" | 47.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 52 mi | 58 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 24.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.8 | 45.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 17 | 13 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.44 | 17.33 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 40.1% | 27.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 43.3% | 40.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 93.8% | 98.4% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Morganton
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, lightning.
Lenoir
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Morganton, NC · Lenoir, NC · How this is calculated: methodology