City

Murphy, NC

1 ZIP code  ·  Cherokee County  ·  North Carolina

👥19,712Population
💰$52,669Median HH Income▼ 31% below avg
🎂56.1Median Age
🏠$219,800Median Home Value▼ 21% below avg
🎓37.5%College Grads≈ Avg
📊4.0%Unemployment▼ 18% below avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 49.7% Female 50.3% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 91.5%Hispanic: 3.8%Black: 1.1%Asian: 0.3%Other: 2.7%Race
White91.5%
Hispanic3.8%
Black1.1%
Asian0.3%
Other2.7%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
3%
5–17
11%
18–24
6%
25–44
16%
45–64
29%
65+
18%

Key Indicators

Median Age56.1 yrs
Avg HH Size2.17
Below Poverty12.2% ▲ 22% above avg
College Grads37.5% ≈ Avg
Unemployment4.0% ▼ 18% below avg
No HS Diploma113 (0.8%)
HS Graduate4,340 (29.8%)
Some College1,901 (13.1%)
Associates2,740 (18.8%)
Bachelors1,762 (12.1%)
Graduate Degree3,704 (25.4%)

Education

No HS: 0.8%HS Grad: 29.8%Some College: 13.1%Associates: 18.8%Bachelors: 12.1%Graduate: 25.4%Edu
No HS0.8%
HS Grad29.8%
Some College13.1%
Associates18.8%
Bachelors12.1%
Graduate25.4%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 84%Renter: 16%Tenure
Owner84.0%
Renter16.0%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
5%
$50k–$100k
13%
$100k–$150k
9%
$150k–$200k
16%
$200k–$300k
29%
$300k–$500k
21%
Over $500k
7%

Financials

Median HH Income$52,669 ▼ 31% below avg
Median Home Value$219,800 ▼ 21% below avg
Home/Income Ratio4.2x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Median Rent$872/mo
Total Housing Units12,992
Vacant Units4,056

Income Distribution

Under $25k
22%
$25k–$50k
23%
$50k–$75k
20%
$75k–$100k
13%
$100k–$150k
14%
$150k–$200k
4%
Over $200k
4%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
84%
Public Transit
0%
Walked
3%
Work From Home
13%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
27%
15–30 min
42%
30–45 min
18%
Over 45 min
13%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
1%
1940s–1950s
4%
1960s–1970s
13%
1980s–1990s
24%
2000+
59%
About Murphy, NC

Murphy is a city in North Carolina, located in Cherokee County. The city spans 1 ZIP code and is home to approximately 19,712 residents. It is an older city, with a median age of 56.1 years.

Economically, Murphy is a working-class community. The median household income of $52,669 is below the national average. Approximately 12.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 4.0%, below the national average.

The real estate market in Murphy is an affordable housing market. Median home values stand at $219,800, which is below the national average. Renters typically pay around $872 per month. Homeownership is high at 84.0%, typical of suburban and family-oriented communities.

The population of Murphy is moderately educated. 37.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — near the national average. The community is primarily White (91.49%).

Murphy, NC offers residents a cost-conscious lifestyle within North Carolina.

ZIP Codes in Murphy
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
28906 19,712 $52,669 $219,800 $872 4.0% 37.5% 84.0%