Winn Dixie, 2012
Granite Falls’s story
138 years in pictures
Census counts: 277 in 1900, 4,965 in 2020. The archive holds 7 old photos and papers going back to 2012 and 4 maps from 1895 on.
- 1888Granite Falls is settled
Granite FallsNC
A town of 4,964, settled in 1888.
Population
4,964
2025 Census estimate · +0.4% since 2020
Typical home
$270K
+3% in a year
Household income
$57K
median
Median age
40.7
years
Jobs based here
2,378
Balanced
TownGrade
C−
#174 of 286 in NC
Is Granite Falls a good place to live?
Granite Falls is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades C− overall, 174th among North Carolina's 286 graded towns, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is health: residents are healthier than 63% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. Its lowest everyday mark is in incomes: the median household income is $57K, and 17% of residents live below the poverty line. A typical home there costs about $270K, 4.3 years of the Hickory metro’s $63K median household income. Granite Falls's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 97% of U.S. towns. 17% of residents live below the poverty line in Granite Falls, against 13% in North Carolina’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns.
How Granite Falls grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Carolina), ordered by how far Granite Falls is from typical.
Jobs & incomeC−Open →SafetyC−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 25% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listBOpen →HealthFrye Regional Medical Center 6.4 miles awayBOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7 of 20; 3.2% of households have no car; 1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →Cost of livingBOpen →SchoolsC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trails; 3% conserved landC−Open →History4 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life1.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 88° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 40.7; 26% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Granite Falls: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Granite Falls, and how to reach them.
PowerTown of Granite FallsEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterTown of Granite Falls water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Granite Falls’ trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn North Carolina you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person with same-day registration during the early voting period, or by mail (postmarked 25 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereCaldwell County Board of ElectionsCaldwell County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2021
ZIP code2863028630 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Granite Falls.
Granite Falls is healthier than towns with similar incomes, trades workers with Hickory and other neighbors and has hotter summers than most of the country, though not than most of North Carolina.
SafetyC−
Crime per resident in Granite Falls is higher than in 78% of U.S. towns
The property crime rate in Granite Falls is 23.5 per 1,000 residents. Within North Carolina, it does better than 54% of towns.
22%of U.S. towns report more crimeC−Safety Grade
| Granite Falls | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 23.5 per 1,000 residents | 21.8 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.6 per 1,000 residents | 3.2 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Granite Falls1.6
North Carolina3.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Granite Falls23.5
North Carolina18.2
U.S.15.5
22nd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
54th
percentile among NC towns
8
violent crimes reported in 2025
116
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsC+
Granite Falls’ public schools trail 56% of North Carolina districts
Its public schools are run by the Caldwell County Schools. One of its 2 schools is below, with why it’s listed.
44%of NC districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granite Falls ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 647 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
Inland flooding leads a low hazard risk in Granite Falls
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 75% of U.S. communities. Since 2019, 4 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Granite Falls.
25risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesStrong wind
4
paid flood claims since 2019
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Granite Falls, expect mild winters and hot summers
July afternoons average 88.1°: hotter than most of the country, but cooler than 77% of North Carolina places with climate records; January nights average 28.6°.
Granite Falls has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Snow is almost unheard of. Granite Falls’ January low is 29°F.
88°summer high
| Granite Falls | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 29°F | 31°F | 22°F |
| July high | 88°F | 89°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter30–52°
Spring46–70°
Summer65–87°
Fall47–71°
Nov 4
typical first frost
Mar 31
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
88°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade B
For cost of living, Granite Falls earns a B
The typical Granite Falls home is worth about $270,000, up 3% in a year, 19% below the North Carolina typical home.
$270KZillow home value
| Granite Falls | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $905 a month | $1,086 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 66% | 67% | 73% |
Typical home value
Granite Falls$270K
North Carolina$332K
+3%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
HealthB
For health, Granite Falls earns a B
Against the 7,996 U.S. towns with household incomes like Granite Falls’s, it is healthier than 90%, so its B isn’t only a matter of income.
31% of Granite Falls adults sleep under 7 hours. Granite Falls beats the North Carolina average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 26% of Granite Falls adults have been diagnosed with depression.
63%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Granite Falls | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 34% | 36% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 36% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 25% | 23% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 13% | 12% |
32 measures vs. North Carolina
3 better28 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Granite Falls | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 6.6% | 8.1% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 10.1% | 12.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.2% | 7.9% |
Frye Regional Medical Center
6.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
56th
percentile among NC towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
Most working residents commute out of Granite Falls
Granite Falls has about as many jobs (2,378) as working residents, but only 90 people both live and work here. Jobs based here fell from 3,219 in 2013 to 2,378.
Most working residents leave Granite Falls for work: only 4% work in town. Jobs based in Granite Falls fell to 2,378 in 2023, 841 fewer than in 2013. The top destinations are Hickory (23%), Lenoir (10%) and Charlotte (4%).
4%work in town
| Granite Falls | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $57,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 12% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.2% | 6.8% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Granite Falls4%
Hickory23%
Lenoir10%
Charlotte4%
Hudson4%
11 mi
median commute distance
2,378
jobs based in Granite Falls
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 38% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
3.4%conserved
3.4%
conserved · 107 of 3,184 acres
0.2 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Granite Falls Recreation Center | 0.2 mi | 17 |
| 2. Granite Falls Neighborhood Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 39 attractions →Blue Ridge Parkway and 13 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Granite Falls. Close and well known come first.
26 mi ParkwayBlue Ridge Parkway16.5M visitors a year
35 mi LakeLake Norman
31 mi MountainGrandfather Mountain29 mi Theme parkTweetsie Railroad16 mi Ancient siteJoara37 mi Theme parkLand of OzSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Blue Ridge Parkway: Ken Thomas, Public domain · Lake Norman: Prince Grobhelm, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Grandfather Mountain: Original uploader was KyleAndMelissa22 at en.wikipedia, Public domain
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Granite Falls
20pages on Granite Falls
The big questions
SchoolsC+Behind 56% of NC districts · 2 schoolsSafetyC−1.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than NC on 3 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB$270K typical home · up 3% in a yearWork & commuteC−$57K median household income · 2,378 jobs hereNatural hazardsBFEMA risk higher than 25% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Granite Falls
Caldwell Community College and Technical InstituteCommunity college · Public · Hudson5.2 mi$2,526 in-state tuitionLenoir-Rhyne UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Hickory6.7 mi$31,900 tuitionCatawba Valley Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Hickory10.2 mi$2,427 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Granite Falls residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.
Famous people from Granite Falls
4 notable people were born in Granite Falls.
About Granite Falls
Town in North Carolina, United States
Granite Falls is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, Granite Falls had a population of 4,965. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 5.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,191 ft
- ZIP code
- 28630
- Area code
- 828
Granite Falls’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Granite Falls.
NorthlakesRhodhissHickoryGranite Falls
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NC rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granite Falls | #174 | C− | B | C− | C+ | B |
| Northlakes | — | — | B− | — | C+ | A |
| Rhodhiss | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hickory | #200 | C− | C | D | B | B− |
Northlakes has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Northlakes reports no FBI crime data of its own. Rhodhiss isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Granite Falls with a neighbor →
Questions about Granite Falls
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Granite Falls, NC a good place to live?
Granite Falls grades C− overall, better than 25% of U.S. towns and #174 of 286 in North Carolina. It grades B for health, C− for safety and C+ for schools. Jobs & income is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Granite Falls, NC safe?
Within North Carolina, it does better than 54% of towns.
Is Granite Falls, NC expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.
What is Granite Falls, NC known for?
4 notable people were born here, including Eric Church and Cyndee Peters.