Cherokee County Courthouse · National Register of Historic Places
Murphy’s story
191 years in pictures
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1835Murphy is settled
MurphyNC
A town of 1,604, settled in 1835. A regional job hub with 2,391 jobs.
Photo: Harrison Keely · CC BY 4.0
Population
1,604
−1.2% since 2010
Typical home
$278K
−0.1% in a year
Household income
$37K
median
Median age
34.5
years
Jobs based here
2,391
A job hub
What makes Murphy stand out
The 3 things Murphy does most differently from other towns.
2,391jobs here
Work
2,391 jobs
based in Murphy, a regional job hub
21% of working residents work in town.
Cherokee County CourthouseHistory
Settled in 1835
3 places on the National Register
Archive photos and papers going back 191 years.
C+School Grade
Schools
Better than 35%
of NC districts
School Grade C+.
A job hub
Every workday, about 2,251 people come to Murphy for work
Where Murphy’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,391jobs based in Murphy
21%of working residents work in town
13 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Murphy’s report card
Now in Murphy
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Murphy? Is a C+ for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Murphy’s Town Square.
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Weather
Forecast →78°
Mostly Cloudy
H 85° · L 64°
Local news
All →- Former NC State Trainer Robert Murphy Arrested on 32 Sex ChargesACCSports.com · Sep 25
- Ex-NC State sports medicine director arrested after indictmentESPN · Sep 23
- NC State Unveils Renovated Murphy Center Dining Space; Naming Rights Reportedly Sought for $2MPackInsider · Sep 21
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Murphy. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
About one in five working residents works right in Murphy
About one in 5 of Murphy’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Cherokee (4%), Asheville (4%) and Andrews (3%). Half commute less than 13 miles.
21%work in town
Where working residents work
In Murphy21%
Cherokee4%
Asheville4%
Andrews3%
Charlotte2%
13 mi
median commute distance
2,391
jobs based in Murphy
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Mild winters, pleasant summers
Murphy has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 4 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
4″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter29–52°
Spring44–70°
Summer62–85°
Fall45–71°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 22
typical last frost
+0.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Schools
Murphy’s public schools outperform 35% of North Carolina districts
The public schools Murphy’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 65% of North Carolina’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
C+School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy Elementary | PK–5 | 467 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduationAll 1 schools →
Housing
A typical Murphy home is worth about $278K
The typical Murphy home is worth about $278,000, about the same as a year ago, 17% below the North Carolina typical home.
$278KZillow home value
Typical home value
Murphy$278K
North Carolina$335K
−0.1%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Safety
Crime reported in Murphy
Murphy's reported crime rate is well above North Carolina's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. 15 violent crimes were reported in 2023.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Murphy9.1
North Carolina4
U.S.3.9
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Murphy51.4
North Carolina21.1
U.S.19.5
15
violent crimes reported in 2023
85
property crimes reported in 2023
FBI crime data, 2023 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 43% of U.S. communities.
43risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesEarthquakes
4
paid flood claims since 1982
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Outdoors
5.4% of Murphy is conserved land
2.7 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves.
5.4%conserved
5.4%
conserved · 92 of 1,706 acres
2.7 mi
of trails · 1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Nantahala National Forest | 0.2 mi | 65 |
| 2. Konaheeta Park | — | 35 |
| 3. Hiwassee Street Boat Ramp | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Health
Healthier than 50% of U.S. towns
Murphy beats the North Carolina average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
B−Health Grade
32 measures vs. North Carolina
0 better31 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Murphy | NC |
|---|---|---|
| More adults who have had cancer | 8.8% | 7.9% |
Erlanger Murphy Medical Center
3.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
51st
percentile among NC towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Landmarks
3 places in Murphy on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Murphy
Town in North Carolina, United States
Murphy is a town in and the county seat of Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States. It is situated at the confluence of the Hiwassee and Valley rivers. It is the westernmost county seat in the state of North Carolina, approximately 360 miles (580 km) from the state capital in Raleigh. The population of Murphy was 1,608 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1835
- Population
- 1,608
- Area
- 2.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,604 ft
- ZIP code
- 28906
- Area code
- 828
More about Murphy
Still missing for Murphy:archive photosupcoming events