The Town FilesHarrisburg, North Carolina
Town in Cabarrus County · population 18,967 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $478,000
- Household income
- $148,254
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 40.1
Harrisburg is a town of 18,967 people in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $478,000, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for families than 99% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 99% of North Carolina towns, more of a college town than 96% of North Carolina towns.
How Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg is worth $478,000, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $148,254, which is more affordable than 72% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $2,640 a month. 91.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harrisburg | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $478,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $2,640 | $969 |
| Median household income | $148,254 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 91.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2006 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Harrisburg
| People | Harrisburg | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.5% | — |
| Work from home | 26.3% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 29.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.1% | 89.5% |
Weather in Harrisburg
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 28.9°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 61 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 74 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrisburg since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 3, 2012 about 3.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 16, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 21, 2017.
Severe weather in Cabarrus County since 1996
Cabarrus County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Cabarrus County
Cabarrus County had 87,725 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,529 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Harrisburg itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Harrisburg
5 public schools with 5,025 students, about 17.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory Ridge High | 9-12 | 1,673 | 20.2 |
| Hickory Ridge Elementary | K-5 | 1,073 | 15.3 |
| Hickory Ridge Middle | 6-8 | 994 | 19.9 |
| Harrisburg Elementary | PK-5 | 847 | 15.1 |
| A.C.E. Academy (charter) | K-8 | 438 | 15.1 |
Towns near Harrisburg
- Concord, NC5.9 mi · 105,240 people · home $353,700
- Midland, NC7.7 mi · 4,684 people · home $369,100
- Mint Hill, NC8.9 mi · 26,450 people · home $428,900
- Kannapolis, NC11.9 mi · 53,114 people · home $276,400
- Locust, NC12.1 mi · 4,537 people · home $322,100
- Charlotte, NC12.5 mi · 874,579 people · home $385,700
- Fairview, NC12.5 mi · 3,456 people · home $382,300
- Matthews, NC13.5 mi · 29,435 people · home $445,100
Harrisburg questions
Is Harrisburg, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harrisburg scores better for retirees than 25% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 15%. 10.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.1).
How much does a house cost in Harrisburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Harrisburg is valued at $478,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $148,254, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $2,640 a month.
What is the weather like in Harrisburg?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 28.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 3.3 inches of snow.
Does Harrisburg get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrisburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 3, 2012. 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)