Burke County, North Carolina
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 87,570
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 88,655
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 88,545
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 87,570
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 87,556
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) 1.2%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) 1.1%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 87,570
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 90,912
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 4.7%
Persons under 18 years, percent 18.0%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 22.4%
Female persons, percent 50.1%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 85.4%
Black alone, percent(a) 6.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 1.3%
Asian alone, percent(a) 3.8%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.8%
Two or More Races, percent 2.1%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 8.9%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 79.0%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 4,559
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 5.3%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 41,669
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 74.5%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $185,400
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,220
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $389
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $884
Building Permits, 2025 588
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 36,306
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.34
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 91.2%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 9.3%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 91.0%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 84.7%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 86.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 21.0%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 13.8%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 12.9%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 57.7%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 53.0%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 195,089
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 716,984
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 44,961
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 1,142,855
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $12,991
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 23.4
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $58,592
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $32,977
Persons in poverty, percent 14.0%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 1,540
Total employment, 2023 24,509
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 1,098,161
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 3.5%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 5,584
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 1,167
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 556
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 270
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 866
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 949
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 173.0
Population per square mile, 2010 179.3
Land area in square miles, 2020 506.24
Land area in square miles, 2010 507.10
FIPS Code 37023