Granite Falls is a small town of 4,934 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $76,680
and a 3.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Granite Falls stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Granite Falls is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Granite Falls city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 89.2
Granite Falls's overall cost of living index is 89.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Granite Falls costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Granite Falls, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$201,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$812
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$76,680
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Granite Falls's violent crime rate is 203.7 per 100,000 residents
— 46% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
203.7 /100k
Property Crime
2974.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Granite Falls is served primarily by Caldwell County Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.5:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Granite Falls, NC
National Avg
School District
Caldwell County Schools
—
Elementary Schools
14
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
6
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
26.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Granite Falls sees average highs of 49.1°F in January
and 87.4°F in July,
with 47.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Granite Falls's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Granite Falls roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $201,300 and median rent is $812/month.
Granite Falls's violent crime rate is 203.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2974.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Granite Falls are operated by Caldwell County Schools.
The district has 14 elementary, 4 middle, and 6 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.5:1. 26.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Granite Falls, NC has a population of 4,934, a median household income of $76,680, and an unemployment rate of 3.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Granite Falls averages 49.1°F in January and 87.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.3 inches
with about 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Granite Falls, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28630.
The population of Granite Falls, North Carolina is 4,934 with a median age of 42.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Granite Falls: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $201,300, median household income $76,680, crime index 89 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Granite Falls side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
