A single statistic doesn't tell the whole story

Christmas came early this year for us at The Paper. Being a fact-driven publication (with a dash of heart), the staff eagerly looks forward to the release of the County Map Book each summer, published by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.

The 2025 edition was recently released.

This isn’t a guide to the state’s backroads, but in many ways, it’s a roadmap to understanding the forces shaping our community. The 76 pages offer data meant to “help provide context and promote analysis for decisions at a local level.” The report provides demographic, economic, educational, health, and tax information from North Carolina’s 100 counties.

For those of us who love digging into statistics, it’s a treasure trove of story ideas and thought-provoking insights.

Take last year’s map book, for instance. It inspired our “Opportunity Youth” series, where we dug deeper into why 20% of Burke County’s youth ages 16-24 weren’t in school or working. Through this series (aptly named “Behind the Numbers”), we examined the reasons behind the numbers and spotlighted local organizations trying to change this trajectory.

The data in this report will fuel future stories and add context to deeper issues that we will explore in the weeks and months ahead.

For a newspaper, this isn’t just numbers on a page. It’s a chance to move beyond headlines and provide readers with the clearest picture yet of how Burke County stacks up against the rest of North Carolina. Data like this helps citizens see both our strengths and our struggles in context. It offers a way to hold policymakers accountable, and it sparks conversations about where we go from here.

Here are some of the highlights — and lowlights — from the latest Map Book.

An Aging Community: Burke’s median age is 44.3 years, compared to the state’s 39.6. Nearly 24% of our neighbors are over 65, a much larger share than the North Carolina average. That reality means our health care system, senior housing options, and workforce pipelines will all face mounting pressure in the years ahead.

Fewer Young Families: Only 18.8% of Burke residents are under 18, compared to 21% statewide. This smaller youth population raises questions about the long-term strength of the workforce, school enrollment, and our ability to attract young families.

Veteran Service: One area where Burke stands tall is military service. About 9% of residents are veterans, well above the state average of 7%. That’s both a point of pride and a call to ensure veteran services are robust and accessible.

Economic Realities: The numbers confirm what many already feel: Burke’s wages and incomes trail behind. The average weekly wage is $1,007, compared to North Carolina’s $1,270. Per capita income sits at $48,208, while the state average is nearly $10,000 higher. This economic gap limits not only family budgets but also county revenue streams.

Education Peaks and Valleys: A greater percentage of Burke County children participate in NC Pre-K than in 65 other counties. We have also made ground on teacher salary supplements, improving from 82nd in the state to 63rd. As wonderful as that is, Burke spends only $1,440 per student compared to the state average of $2,853, and third grade reading proficiency is just below the state rate of 48.6%.

Health Warning Signs: Public health data is sobering. Food insecurity affects 12.1% of Burke residents, slightly higher than the state rate. Overdose deaths and ER visits for drug overdoses are higher than the North Carolina average, showing the opioid crisis has not spared this community. These are challenges that demand both resources and resolve.

Paycheck Discrepancy: Burke’s average weekly wage stands at $886, compared to the state average of $1,262. Burke’s per capita income ranks 78th in the state, underscoring the economic gap between it and wealthier counties. And with only 15 counties having higher food insecurity levels, these economic challenges can ripple into access to education, health care, and housing.

The challenges we face — economic, educational, and social — are interconnected. Throughout the coming months, we will tell the stories behind the numbers. We will celebrate where we are making progress and analyze why we struggle in other areas.

Reporting this information helps readers understand not only where we stand, but also where we might go.