CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

35.72° N · 81.39° W · GEOID 3739280

Long View

Burke County, North Carolina · part of the Hickory, NC metro

North CarolinaLong View, NCLong ViewLong View

The short answer

Long View is home to 5,011 people. Median household income is $46,739 a year and median rent is $794 a month, 20.4% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $157,300, about 3.4x annual median household income.

The story in Long View is how fast things are changing. Home values rose 12% a year between the 2019 and 2024 surveys while incomes rose 3.3%, a wider gap than in 90% of places its size. Also notable: The population grew 6% since 2020, faster than in 76% of places its size. So far it looks sustainable: pay is keeping up with rent, there is some slack in the housing stock and rent burden is moderate.

17OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Weak

Long View scores better than 17% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 132nd of 161 in North Carolina.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%57
Economy 20%35
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%19
Education 10%1
Commute 10%58
Growth 5%49

Not rated: safety, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$794
42% below the median place
Median household income
$46,739
42% below the median place
Median home value
$157,300
51% below the median place
Unemployment
4.4%
10% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

01

Moving to Long View

Burke County gains about 10.3 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in3,975
Moved out3,280
Net+695

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within North Carolina, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within North CarolinaOther states

Income per tax return

Arrivals$58K
Leavers$52K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Burke County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
4.9% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 0.0% from another state. County figure.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Burke County report $58,400 a year in income on average; those leaving, $52,300, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$31,800 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $794 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,054 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $157,300.
Getting to work
24 minutes each way on average; 5.4% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Leitchfield, KY matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved from another state1
0.0%
below the median place (median 2.0%)
Income of households moving out8
$52,280
26% below the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people8
10.3
above the median place (median -0.6)
All 5 moving measures
MeasureLong ViewAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year1County figure4.9%15% below
Moved from another state10.0%below (median 2.0%)
Net movers per 1,000 people8County figure10.3above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in8County figure$58,39417% below
Income of households moving out8County figure$52,28026% below
02

What it costs to live here

After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $39,400 a year, less than in 91% of the 1,875 places under 10,000 people we track.

Long View20.4%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$31,760
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
20.4%
0% above the median place
Home price to income
3.4x
11% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
20%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$39,700
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Long View, $794 a month, and local prices for everything else (94.4 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Long View, but easier on the budget

Places that match Long View on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Leitchfield, KY9616.8% vs 20.4%n/aCompare
Humboldt, TN9616.8% vs 20.4%$8,700Compare
Richmond, MO9314.5% vs 20.4%$14,900Compare
Hazard, KY9216.9% vs 20.4%n/aCompare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Long View.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Long View? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$1,054
44% below the median place
Property tax paid (median)1
$1,259
61% below the median place
Renters paying 30%+1
37.7%
26% below the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureLong ViewAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$79442% below
Rent to income120.4%0% above
Property tax rate10.8%12% below
Home price to income13.4x11% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure88.512% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,14729% below
HUD area median income4County figure$85,20021% below
Property tax paid (median)1$1,25961% below
Median home value1$157,30051% below
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure2.5%23% below
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure59.6%16% above
Homeownership153.1%20% below
Renters paying 30%+137.7%26% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,05444% below
Vacant homes113.8%96% above
Median year built119700% below
03

Work and pay

Commutes by transit is 0.0%, below the median place (median 0.8%).

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Median household income1
$46,739
42% below the median place
Income per person1
$26,904
33% below the median place
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureLong ViewAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$46,73942% below
Income per person1$26,90433% below
Unemployment1County figure4.4%10% below
Average annual pay6County figure$51,03223% below
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure4.2%14% above
Jobs6County figure29,77180% below
Poverty rate111.3%5% above
Mean commute124 min4% below
Works from home1County figure5.4%57% below
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, a smaller share than in 98% of the 2,473 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 161 North Carolina places we track.

Bachelor's or higher1
7.9%
75% below the median place
No health insurance1
18.5%
189% above the median place
Median age1
43.5
12% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

High school or higher86.2% −7%
Household size2.3 −9%
Homes with broadband89.0% −4%
Born abroad8.2% −7%
All 9 people measures
MeasureLong ViewAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population15,0116633rd largest
Population change since 202076.0%above (median 1.1%)
Median age143.512% above
Bachelor's or higher17.9%75% below
High school or higher186.2%7% below
Household size12.39% below
Born abroad18.2%7% below
No health insurance118.5%189% above
Homes with broadband189.0%4% below
05

Life in Long View

OpenStreetMap shows 2 parks per 10,000 residents, fewer than in 89% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

44 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents2.0 −80%
Playgrounds per 10k8.0 −15%
Grocery stores per 10k4.0 +88%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k4.0 −64%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Kings Mountain National Military Park 40 miles
  • Cowpens National Battlefield 47 miles
  • Blue Ridge Parkway 63 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars16.5 −21%
Shops28.6 −6%
Arts, recreation and fitness2.1 −49%
Doctors' offices and clinics13.9 −31%
Child care centers1.0 −57%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site11
40.4
31% above the median place
Child care centers per 10k9
1.0
57% below the median place
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k9
2.1
49% below the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureLong ViewAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools13County figure29222% above
Public school students13County figure12,300151% above
Students per teacher13County figure16.78% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k9County figure16.521% below
Shops per 10k9County figure28.66% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k9County figure2.149% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k9County figure13.931% below
Child care centers per 10k9County figure1.057% below
Parks per 10k102.080% below
Playgrounds per 10k108.015% below
Grocery stores per 10k104.088% above
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k104.064% below
Libraries per 10k100.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails100.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi100.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1140.431% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles1120% above
National Register listings12County figure44238% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

Natural hazard risk is 70.2, 24% below the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Long View. Larger places are fetched first.

Natural hazard risk15
70.2
24% below the median place
Heat wave risk15
65.3
28% below the median place
Annual precipitation14
51.0 in
16% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureLong ViewAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high14County figure87°F0% above
January average low14County figure28°F11% above
Average temperature14County figure58°F5% above
Annual precipitation14County figure51.0 in16% above
Natural hazard risk15County figure70.224% below
Hurricane risk15County figure67.45% below
Tornado risk15County figure75.28% below
Wildfire risk15County figure47.023% below
Heat wave risk15County figure65.328% below
Median air quality index16Metro figure442% above
Good air days16Metro figure69.0%1% above
08

Long View in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 21% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 20% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Long View does better than 54% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 83%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$794/mo (2024)$1,010/mo$830 to $1,230/mo+4.1%
Median household income$46,739 (2024)$59,000$49,500 to $69,500+3.9%
Median home value$157,300 (2024)$232,000$168,000 to $320,000+6.7%
Population5,387 (2025)5,5805,350 to 5,810+0.7%

The median home would be worth 3.9 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.4 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Long View

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Galliano, LA$849$49,918Compare
Atmore, AL$777$38,862Compare
LaFayette, GA$840$46,018Compare
Aurora, MO$823$49,848Compare
Aurora, MOLaFayette, GAAtmore, ALGalliano, LALong View, NCLong ViewGallianoAtmoreLaFayetteAuroraLong ViewGallianoAtmoreLaFayetteAurora

Places built like Long View

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Long View performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Long View, NC20.4%3.3%/yr6.0%
Cocoa West, FL40.9%-1.1%/yrn/aCompare
Dillon, SC21.1%-2.3%/yr-4.6%Compare
Sandston, VA24.5%3.3%/yrn/aCompare
Williamston, NC21.2%1.1%/yr-3.0%Compare
Marion, NC17.8%6.0%/yr-3.1%Compare
Hamlet, NC18.5%3.4%/yr-2.6%Compare

Common questions

Is Long View a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 17 out of 100, better than 17% of the places we rate and 132nd of 161 in North Carolina. On cost, space and class size it scores 31 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Long View expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 20.4% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $157,300.

What salary do you need to live in Long View?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $31,760 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Long View?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Galliano, LA, Atmore, AL, LaFayette, GA and Aurora, MO.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  8. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  9. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  10. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  11. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  12. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  13. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  14. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  15. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  16. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Long View with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Long View itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/long-view-north-carolina

Citytistics. “Long View, North Carolina.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/long-view-north-carolina/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.