The Town FilesGranite Falls, North Carolina
Town in Caldwell County · population 4,965 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $202,400
- Household income
- $56,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 40.7
Granite Falls is a town of 4,965 people in Caldwell County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $202,400, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more walkable than 83% of North Carolina towns.
How Granite Falls ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Granite Falls is worth $202,400, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $56,917, which is more affordable than 57% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $905 a month. 66.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Granite Falls | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $202,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $905 | $969 |
| Median household income | $56,917 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 66.3% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Granite Falls
| People | Granite Falls | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.2% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in Granite Falls
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 30.2°F. About 47.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Granite Falls since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 7, 1998 about 5.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 23, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 74 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 9, 1997.
Severe weather in Caldwell County since 1996
Caldwell County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| March 3, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta |
Jobs and pay in Caldwell County
Caldwell County had 25,506 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,605 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Granite Falls itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Granite Falls
6 public schools with 2,295 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granite Falls Elementary | PK-5 | 593 | 14.8 |
| Granite Falls Middle | 6-8 | 525 | 16.9 |
| Dudley Shoals Elementary | PK-5 | 432 | 14.4 |
| Baton Elementary | PK-5 | 347 | 13.9 |
| Sawmills Elementary | PK-5 | 336 | 14.6 |
| Gateway School | 6-12 | 62 | 5.6 |
Towns near Granite Falls
- Sawmills, NC3.2 mi · 5,020 people · home $219,600
- Hudson, NC4.9 mi · 3,780 people · home $223,000
- Long View, NC5.6 mi · 5,088 people · home $157,300
- Hickory, NC7.0 mi · 43,490 people · home $278,400
- Bethlehem, NC7.1 mi · 4,491 people · home $327,000
- Cajah's Mountain, NC7.3 mi · 2,722 people · home $201,800
- Mountain View, NC8.5 mi · 3,590 people · home $222,500
- St. Stephens, NC8.8 mi · 8,852 people · home $213,300
Granite Falls questions
Is Granite Falls, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Granite Falls scores better for retirees than 48% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 47%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Granite Falls?
The median owner-occupied home in Granite Falls is valued at $202,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,917, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $905 a month.
What is the weather like in Granite Falls?
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 30.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Granite Falls get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Granite Falls since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 7, 1998. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)