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Murphy vs Dobson

206 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+6.6 pts in Murphy).

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Murphy, NCA regional job hubNorth Carolina · 1,604 people
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Dobson, NCA regional job hubNorth Carolina · 1,652 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

MurphyA regional job hub
Work2,391 jobsbased in Murphy, a regional job hub HistorySettled in 18353 places on the National Register SchoolsBetter than 35%of NC districts All about Murphy →
DobsonA regional job hub
Work2,877 jobsbased in Dobson, a regional job hub College town1 collegeSurry Community College SchoolsBetter than 72%of NC districts All about Dobson →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Growth since 2010+6.6 pts
Murphy has grown faster since 2010
Murphy -1.2%Dobson -7.8%
★ What stands out · Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every North Carolina ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
C+MurphyBetter than 35% of districts in the state B+DobsonBetter than 72% of districts in the state
Health
B−MurphyHealthier than 51% of U.S. towns C+DobsonHealthier than 42% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Murphy$1,580/mo
Typical home $278K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.54% · or rent about $422/mo · Housing →
Dobson$1,560/mo
Typical home $266K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.74% · or rent about $528/mo · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
MurphyDobson
Snow a year4″8″
January low25°F25°F
July high87°F86°F
Growing season (days)180d186d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)43rd20th
Outdoors & history
MurphyDobson
Trails3 mi0 mi
Conserved land5.4%0.2%
Settled18351853
National Register places31
Archive photos—12
Famous people born here—8
Community
MurphyDobson
Library hours a week47 hrs41 hrs
Colleges in town—1
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

206 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

MurphyNCDobsonNC
Murphy ↔ Dobson206 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MurphyDobson
People
Population 1,604Lowest 1,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -1.2%Highest NC: +9.5% -7.8%Lowest NC: +9.5%
Median age 34.5±5.8Lowest 12% below NC 35.8±2.3Highest 8% below NC
Dobson and Murphy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 20.7%±5.6Highest NC: 21.8% 20.5%±7.4Lowest NC: 21.8%
Murphy and Dobson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 21.3%±4.4Highest NC: 17.2% 18.6%±2.3Lowest NC: 17.2%
Murphy and Dobson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 26.8%Highest NC: 35.7% 24.3%Lowest NC: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.1%±3.3Highest NC: 6.4% 3.5%±2.4Lowest NC: 6.4%
Murphy and Dobson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $37,263±$13kLowest 49% below NC $43,750±$19kHighest 40% below NC
Dobson and Murphy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $250,000±$66kHighest 13% below NC $173,900±$96kLowest 40% below NC
Murphy and Dobson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $422±$272Lowest 66% below NC $528±$107Highest 57% below NC
Dobson and Murphy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,343Highest 29% below NC $1,290Lowest 32% below NC
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 28.9%±7.4Lowest NC: 48.9% 42.2%±16.6Highest NC: 48.9%
Dobson and Murphy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 17.5%Lowest NC: 13% 22.4%Highest NC: 13%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 46%Lowest NC: 66.6% 48.7%Highest NC: 66.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1974Lowest 17 yrs older than NC 1979Highest 12 yrs older than NC
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 14 minLowest 43% below NC 18 minHighest 28% below NC
Work from home 2.7%±1.9Lowest NC: 16.3% 5.4%±7.3Highest NC: 16.3%
Dobson and Murphy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 20.7%Highest 17.4%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 12.8 miHighest 11.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 3.53Lowest 5.01Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Cherokee (4%)Mount Airy (16%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in DobsonFew work in Murphy
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 5.4%Highest 0.2%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 2.7 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.0 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 56.3Highest 47.3Lowest
Schools
School district Cherokee County SchoolsSurry County Schools
High school in town None in townSurry Central High
Students per teacherat that high school — 16.7
North Carolina average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Murphy neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Murphy’s Town Square.

Dobson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Dobson’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Murphy and Dobson

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Towns like Murphy

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Troy2,926 people · $160K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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