Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 35 min6:10 am – 8:45 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 44 min7:32 am – 5:16 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People9,196 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 51.24,510 householdsMedian household income $67,000Median home value $211,300Median rent $810 a month79% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,400 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting5.0% unemployment rate58% of adults are in the labour force, 4,295 employedMain industries: education and health care 24%, manufacturing 18%, retail 11%Average commute 23 minutes89% drive alone, 2% car-pool, 9% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages32% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher94% finished high school, 10% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 95%, Spanish 3%, other Asian or Pacific languages 1%2% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 88°F, lows 66°FColdest month January: highs 49°F, lows 28°F52 in of rain a year, on about 82 dayswettest month June5 in of snow a year, on about 2 days35 days above 90°F, 91 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Morganton station, 6 mi away
Parks and public landsTown of Valdese - McGalliard Falls Parkrecreation area · 2.2 miParker Road Parkpark · 4.2 miSouth Mountains State Parkstate park · 7.1 mi · 21,329 acresJohns River Game Landstate conservation land · 6.4 mi · 6,448 acresSouth Mountains Game Landstate conservation land · 11.4 mi · 22,541 acresWilderness Gateway State Trailstate park · 13.4 mi · 485 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes6 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 3.2 on 5 Jun 199846 mi away, near Mooresville, North CarolinaMost recent: magnitude 3.0 on 15 Dec 201423 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowBurke County, NC, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsIce storm Relatively HighLightning Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality69% of days had good air in 2025239 of 347 days measured108 moderate daysMedian index 42, worst day 88main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Catawba County, NC, 21 mi away
Internet at home86% of households have a broadband subscription70% have cable, fibre or DSL10% rely on a mobile data plan alone12% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterTown of Valdeseserves 13,571 people from surface waterNo health-based violations since 202117 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation1,181 ft360 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalUniversity of North Carolina Health Blue Ridge Hospital4.5 miPost officeValdese Post Officeunder a mileTown hallValdese Town Hallunder a milePoliceValdese Police Departmentunder a mileFire stationValdese Fire Departmentunder a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportCharlotte Douglas International Airport CLT51 miInterstateI-401.1 miUS highwayUS 701.1 miAmtrakGastonia, NC GAS40 miCoachHickory (App State)Sunway Charters12 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 28690 ZIP area.
