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RankingsNorth Carolina

North Carolina City Rankings

How cities and counties in North Carolina compare on income, housing, population growth, climate and natural hazard risk.

People & housing

Richest Cities in North Carolina

  1. 1. Apex$144,135
  2. 2. Holly Springs$135,578
  3. 3. Cary$134,905

Most Expensive Cities in North Carolina

  1. 1. Chapel Hill$613,700
  2. 2. Cary$580,200
  3. 3. Apex$576,100

Most Affordable Cities in North Carolina

  1. 1. Lumberton$152,600
  2. 2. Rocky Mount$165,700
  3. 3. Thomasville$179,300

Cities with the Highest Rent in North Carolina

  1. 1. Indian Trail$2,077/mo
  2. 2. Holly Springs$2,021/mo
  3. 3. Apex$1,902/mo

Most Educated Cities in North Carolina

  1. 1. Chapel Hill76.6%
  2. 2. Morrisville72.7%
  3. 3. Cary70.5%

Cities with the Highest Poverty Rate in North Carolina

  1. 1. Boone51.2%
  2. 2. Lumberton30.8%
  3. 3. Lexington27.8%

Most Densely Populated Cities in North Carolina

  1. 1. Morrisville3,425
  2. 2. Raleigh3,187
  3. 3. Boone3,137

Largest Cities in North Carolina by Population

  1. 1. Charlotte903,844
  2. 2. Raleigh481,031
  3. 3. Greensboro301,198

Youngest Cities in North Carolina

  1. 1. Boone21.3 years
  2. 2. Jacksonville23.4 years
  3. 3. Chapel Hill25.8 years

Oldest Cities in North Carolina by Median Age

  1. 1. Pinehurst60.6 years
  2. 2. Nags Head58.4 years
  3. 3. Hendersonville53.2 years

Population growth

Fastest-Growing Cities in North Carolina

  1. 1. Fuquay-Varina+35.2%
  2. 2. Garner+25.4%
  3. 3. Wake Forest+18.2%

Fastest-Shrinking Cities in North Carolina

  1. 1. Jacksonville-2.6%
  2. 2. Lumberton-2.2%
  3. 3. Nags Head-2.2%

Fastest-Growing Cities in North Carolina Since 2010

  1. 1. Fuquay-Varina+91.0%
  2. 2. Apex+71.6%
  3. 3. Holly Springs+67.3%

Climate

Warmest Cities in North Carolina

  1. 1. Wilmington64.3°F
  2. 2. New Bern62.8°F
  3. 3. Jacksonville62.5°F

Coldest Cities in North Carolina

  1. 1. Boone50.2°F
  2. 2. Hendersonville56.0°F
  3. 3. Asheville57.4°F

Snowiest Cities in North Carolina

  1. 1. Boone25.6 in
  2. 2. Asheville11.5 in
  3. 3. Kernersville7.1 in

Wettest Cities in North Carolina

  1. 1. Wilmington60.1 in
  2. 2. Boone59.1 in
  3. 3. Hendersonville59.1 in

Driest Cities in North Carolina

  1. 1. Indian Trail37.9 in
  2. 2. Matthews37.9 in
  3. 3. Asheville40.6 in

Natural hazards

Counties with the Highest Natural Hazard Risk in North Carolina

  1. 1. Mecklenburg County97.1
  2. 2. New Hanover County96.1
  3. 3. Brunswick County95.8

Counties with the Lowest Natural Hazard Risk in North Carolina

  1. 1. Camden County2.5
  2. 2. Gates County10.5
  3. 3. Currituck County18.1

Counties with the Highest Expected Annual Loss from Natural Hazards in North Carolina

  1. 1. Mecklenburg County$318.0M
  2. 2. Wake County$299.1M
  3. 3. New Hanover County$257.1M

Environment

Counties with the Highest Radon Potential in North Carolina

  1. 1. Alamance County3
  2. 2. Anson County3
  3. 3. Beaufort County3

Counties with the Worst Air Quality in North Carolina

  1. 1. Durham County51
  2. 2. Mecklenburg County51
  3. 3. Forsyth County47

Counties with the Cleanest Air in North Carolina

  1. 1. Hyde County24
  2. 2. Martin County31
  3. 3. Mitchell County31

Counties in the Worst Drought in North Carolina

  1. 1. Greene County384.1
  2. 2. Caswell County375.8
  3. 3. Rockingham County360.7

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey, 2010 Census, Population Estimates Program), NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals and FEMA National Risk Index.