Murphy is a town in Cherokee County, North Carolina, home to about 1,604 people across 2.5 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 28906.
Homes sold for a median of $223 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a buyer’s market.
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Murphy. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Murphy’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)47 miles away |
|---|---|
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Atlanta, GA97 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL503 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Murphy; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Murphy had 1,608 residents in the 2020 census, up 3% since 2000.
It’s the 380th largest of 771 towns in North Carolina by population.
Cherokee County grew from 11,860 residents in 1900 to 28,774 in 2020.
Cherokee County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 87°F in summer, and winter lows average 25°F. About 59.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 4 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Murphy 4ese, NC weather station (6 miles away).
7,678 jobs at 649 businesses in Cherokee County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
152 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Murphy.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 8 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 16 |
| Dentists | 11 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 36 |
| Mental health providers | 48 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 23 |
| Optometrists | 6 |
| Chiropractors | 4 |
| Pharmacies | 12 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Grocery stores
Libraries
Museums
Counts are within about 1.5 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Cherokee County Schools. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martins Creek ElementaryMurphy | Pre-K–5 | 137 | Public | 7.8 mi |
| Murphy ElementaryMurphy | Pre-K–5 | 467 | Public | 2.9 mi |
| Peachtree ElementaryMurphy | Pre-K–5 | 166 | Public | 5.9 mi |
| Ranger ElementaryMurphy | Pre-K–5 | 264 | Public | 11.4 mi |
| Hiwassee Dam MiddleMurphy | 6–8 | 122 | Public | 10.6 mi |
| Murphy MiddleMurphy | 6–8 | 353 | Public | 2.5 mi |
| The Oaks AcademyMurphy | 6–12 | 43 | Alternative Education | 6.1 mi |
| Hiwassee Dam HighMurphy | 9–12 | 137 | Public | 10.6 mi |
| Murphy HighMurphy | 9–12 | 424 | Public | 2.5 mi |
| Tri-County Early College HighMurphy | 9–13 | 153 | Public | 6.1 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shepherd AcademyMurphy | K–8 | 22 | Christian (no specific denomination) | 3.9 mi |
| Murphy Adventist Christian SchoolMurphy | 1–8 | 19 | Seventh-day Adventist | 4.3 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.