Population 18,965 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Murphy
Household size in Murphy
| Period | Murphy | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.57 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.18 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.22 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Murphy is a place of small households, averaging 2.22 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.28, in line with the national trend. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 30 have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Murphy
| Period | Murphy | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.9 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 51.6 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.7 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 54.7 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.8 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Murphy skews older: half of its residents are older than 54.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 49.9, mirroring the country. Only ten of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Murphy
| Period | Murphy | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.7% of households in Murphy, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.8 points, as it has nationally. Murphy has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of North Carolina cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Murphy
Renters in Murphy
| Period | Murphy | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.6% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.2% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.5% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.4% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Murphy is largely a place of homeowners: only 16.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than half of owners (55.6%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southwest.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Murphy
| Period | Murphy | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.9% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 42.0% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 30.7% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.0% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 27.0% of the housing in Murphy, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 7.9 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Murphy
| Period | Murphy | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1990 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1995 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +7 | +6 |
Murphy has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1995, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1986 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the north has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Murphy
| Period | Murphy | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $587 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $668 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $741 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $905 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$319 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Murphy costs $905 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $319 a month since 2006–10, up 54%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 28.3% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the north and lowest in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Murphy
Bachelor's degrees in Murphy
| Period | Murphy | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.9% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.1% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.2% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.3 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Murphy than nationally: 26.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 9.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the north.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Murphy
| Period | Murphy | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.1% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.7% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.5% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.2% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.1 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Murphy is above the national rate: 93.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 8.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Murphy
| Period | Murphy | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Murphy has been low: just 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Murphy compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy | 2.22 | 54.7 | 6.7% | 16.4% | 27.0% | 1995 | $905 | 26.2% | 93.2% | 2.9% |
| Letitia | 2.26 | 62.2 | 8.9% | 8.2% | 40.8% | 2003 | $1,026 | 16.9% | 92.5% | 2.7% |
| Grape Creek | 2.44 | 52.8 | 4.3% | 19.4% | 38.1% | 1991 | $1,334 | 9.4% | 86.6% | 2.8% |
| Regal | 2.06 | 51.8 | 2.2% | 5.2% | 20.0% | 1993 | $971 | 26.7% | 98.4% | 2.5% |
| Vests | 2.14 | 63.3 | 6.5% | 6.6% | 53.1% | 2000 | $1,038 | 25.8% | 96.1% | 0.9% |
| Brasstown | 2.46 | 57.0 | 5.7% | 6.3% | 37.4% | 1985 | $629 | 36.4% | 96.6% | 7.7% |
| Ogreeta | 2.22 | 64.4 | 4.2% | 8.5% | 60.5% | 1988 | $1,228 | 26.9% | 93.0% | 0.2% |
| Ivy Log | 2.47 | 53.1 | 3.3% | 6.7% | 21.1% | 1996 | $969 | 23.5% | 83.7% | 4.2% |
| Unaka | 2.37 | 58.4 | 4.0% | 15.7% | 48.8% | 1987 | $1,334 | 16.6% | 88.3% | 1.7% |
| Oak Park | 2.21 | 56.3 | 5.0% | 5.7% | 45.5% | 2002 | $1,037 | 23.9% | 95.9% | 0.0% |
| Marble | 2.40 | 51.9 | 6.3% | 12.1% | 21.2% | 1989 | $844 | 25.1% | 90.9% | 3.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rogersville, TN · Justin, TX · Kings Park, NY · La Crescenta, CA · La Marque, TX · Abington, PA · Larchmont, NY · Laurens, SC · Lewisburg, PA · Linda, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Murphy. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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