County profile · North Carolina
Burke County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Burke County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 88,655
- +1.6% since 2020
- Households
- 36,306
- Median household income
- $58,592
- +31.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $185,400
- Jobs located here
- 30,031
- Highest market score
- 82
- Insurance agencies, #175 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Burke County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Burke County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 88,655 people live in Burke County, in 36,306 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Burke County grew 1.6%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Burke County is $58,592 a year, 27% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 31.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Burke County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 143, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (57).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Burke County are for insurance agencies (82), funeral homes (75) and child care centers and preschools (69). Burke County ranks #175 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
Burke County is part of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro area. For its number of households, Burke County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for collision repair and body shops (42% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (65% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Burke County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Burke County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 82 | #175 of 2,272 | 31 | 8.5 | $3.3M | 260 | 23 |
| Funeral homes | 75 | #145 of 1,472 | 6 | 1.7 | $1M | 148 | 4 |
| Child care and preschools | 69 | #277 of 1,611 | 9 | 2.5 | $1.4M | 139 | 9 |
| Veterinarians | 68 | #318 of 1,485 | 9 | 2.5 | $3.1M | 114 | 4 |
| Gas stations | 68 | #459 of 2,358 | 44 | 12.1 | $2.7M | 112 | 42 |
| Auto repair and car care | 66 | #501 of 2,401 | 109 | 30.0 | $329K | 122 | 43 |
| Car washes and detailing | 65 | #338 of 1,451 | 11 | 3.0 | $3.3M | 129 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 62 | #658 of 2,378 | 70 | 19.3 | $512K | 115 | 30 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 61 | #355 of 1,334 | 9 | 2.5 | $2.3M | 112 | 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 61 | #384 of 1,302 | 5 | 1.4 | $7.1M | 227 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 61 | #428 of 1,490 | 11 | 3.0 | $3.2M | 135 | 6 |
| Gyms | 60 | #526 of 1,792 | 15 | 4.1 | $1.4M | 104 | 5 |
| Spas and skin care | 59 | #554 of 1,769 | 23 | 6.3 | $1.2M | 142 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 59 | #578 of 1,889 | 23 | 6.3 | $5.2M | 125 | 11 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 59 | #632 of 2,088 | 27 | 7.4 | $752K | 114 | 8 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 59 | #702 of 2,087 | 32 | 8.8 | $1.9M | 148 | 11 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 59 | #773 of 2,405 | 130 | 35.8 | $913K | 138 | 50 |
| Physical therapy | 58 | #499 of 1,422 | 12 | 3.3 | $3M | 124 | 8 |
| Hair salons | 58 | #783 of 2,339 | 61 | 16.8 | $470K | 109 | 7 |
| Pet businesses | 57 | #790 of 2,200 | 42 | 11.6 | $665K | 76 | 9 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 56 | #630 of 1,707 | 17 | 4.7 | $5.4M | 114 | 29 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 56 | #728 of 2,176 | 42 | 11.6 | Index only | 217 | 29 |
| Home repair trades | 56 | #732 of 2,057 | 34 | 9.4 | $2.7M | 112 | 52 |
| Real estate | 56 | #754 of 2,229 | 49 | 13.5 | Index only | 234 | 47 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 56 | #773 of 2,063 | 28 | 7.7 | $4.2M | 115 | 11 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 56 | #860 of 2,210 | 47 | 12.9 | $1.3M | 146 | 15 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 56 | #908 of 2,405 | 258 | 71.1 | $460K | 124 | 130 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 55 | #580 of 1,493 | 19 | 5.2 | $2.5M | 86 | 29 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 55 | #690 of 1,771 | 31 | 8.5 | $1.5M | 92 | 40 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 55 | #901 of 2,385 | 111 | 30.6 | $258K | 121 | 13 |
| Barbershops | 54 | #585 of 1,356 | 10 | 2.8 | $2.9M | 152 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 53 | #661 of 1,461 | 15 | 4.1 | $1.9M | 73 | 5 |
| Roofing and gutters | 52 | #544 of 1,177 | 9 | 2.5 | $10.3M | 122 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | 50 | #480 of 974 | 6 | 1.7 | $4.7M | 103 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | 49 | #604 of 1,160 | 8 | 2.2 | $11.6M | 96 | 23 |
| House cleaning | 45 | #520 of 847 | 11 | 3.0 | $4.3M | 68 | 11 |
| Pizza | 44 | #1,259 of 2,090 | 27 | 7.4 | $4.4M | 87 | 69 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 44 | #1,368 of 2,222 | 42 | 11.6 | $2.8M | 93 | 69 |
| Grocery stores | 43 | #1,263 of 2,070 | 27 | 7.4 | $7.5M | 81 | 15 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 43 | #1,520 of 2,394 | 185 | 51.0 | $193K | 126 | 78 |
| Convenience stores | 42 | #1,413 of 2,261 | 41 | 11.3 | $4.9M | 63 | 11 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 41 | #1,113 of 1,656 | 22 | 6.1 | $1.6M | 91 | 40 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 41 | #1,553 of 2,402 | 84 | 23.1 | $2.4M | 71 | 26 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 40 | #910 of 1,327 | 16 | 4.4 | $2.2M | 73 | 10 |
| Tire shops | 39 | #1,044 of 1,530 | 18 | 5.0 | $2M | 79 | 10 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 38 | #1,361 of 1,886 | 35 | 9.6 | $1M | 103 | 24 |
| Nail salons | 36 | #1,021 of 1,328 | 17 | 4.7 | $1.7M | 101 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | 32 | #589 of 785 | 6 | 1.7 | $10M | 80 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.8 | Index only | 425 | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.8 | Index only | 298 | 11 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.8 | $6.8M | 167 | 5 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.6 | $17.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.3 | $60.3M | Too few | 4 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.3 | Index only | Too few | 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.3 | $47.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Burke County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $35.8M | $986 | 103 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $118M | $3,250 | 125 |
| Food away from home | $118.7M | $3,271 | 80 |
| Groceries | $202.6M | $5,579 | 88 |
| Personal care products and services | $28.7M | $789 | 79 |
| Child care and other personal services | $12.5M | $346 | 60 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $20.3M | $559 | 57 |
| Medical and dental services | $35.6M | $981 | 76 |
| Pets | $27.9M | $769 | 85 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $60.3M | $1,661 | 81 |
| Vehicle insurance | $101.4M | $2,792 | 143 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $92.5M | $2,548 | 84 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $47.7M | $1,315 | 93 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $497.5M | $13,702 | 82 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Burke County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 88,655+1.6% since 2020
- Households
- 36,306
- Median age
- 44.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 75%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 506 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 173
- Median household income
- $58,592+31.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $77,743
- Median home value
- $185,400
- Jobs located here
- 30,031
- Daytime population
- 80,329Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Burke County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Burke County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
- Caldwell County, NC80,536 people
- McDowell County, NC44,817 people
- Catawba County, NC163,573 people
- Alexander County, NC36,412 people
- Avery County, NC17,680 people
- Rutherford County, NC64,930 people
- Mitchell County, NC14,992 people
- Cleveland County, NC100,991 people
Questions
How fast is Burke County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Burke County at 88,655 people in 2025, up 1.6% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 36,306 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 31.5%, before inflation.
How much do households in Burke County, NC spend?
Households in Burke County spend about $497.5M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $202.6M on groceries and $118.7M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Burke County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 143, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (57).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Burke County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Burke County, insurance agencies (82), funeral homes (75) and child care centers and preschools (69) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #175 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does Burke County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Burke County is $58,592, 27% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $185,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for collision repair and body shops (42% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (65% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 48 of the 56 business types have a score in Burke County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Burke County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Burke County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Burke County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.