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North Carolina · 289 graded towns

Towns and cities in North Carolina

28 of North Carolina’s 289 graded towns and cities (10%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns. Rolesville ranks first in the state with an A+; health (A+) and jobs & income (A) are its strongest grades; walkability (C) is its lowest.

Letters are national: the overall grade blends cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk. How grades work

How North Carolina compares: report cardBest places to liveBest small townsMost affordable townsSafest townsTowns with the best schoolsHealthiest towns
289
towns of 2,500+ with an overall grade
28
grade A− or better nationally
1
of 2,500+ without enough data for a grade
161
smaller places (1,000–2,499) with subject grades
Towns by letter
A+2A11A−15B+20B28B−38C+31C30C−39D44D−31

All 289 graded towns, by county

Every town of 2,500+ residents with an overall grade, in 78 counties, A to Z inside each. The rank is among 286 North Carolina towns on the best places to live list. A town that spans counties is listed in the one where most of it lies.

289 graded towns, A to Z.

Sort within each county:
Jump to a county (78)

Alamance County 7 graded

  1. DBurlington#249 of 28661,496
  2. BElon#49 of 28611,366
  3. CGlen Ravenunincorporated, Alamance County#168 of 2863,506
  4. DGraham#222 of 28620,131
  5. DGreen Level#239 of 2863,409
  6. C−Mebanealso in Orange County#195 of 28621,952
  7. BSwepsonville#60 of 2862,632

Alexander County 1 graded

  1. BBethlehemunincorporated, Alexander County#65 of 2864,101

Anson County 1 graded

  1. D−Wadesboro#257 of 2865,035

Beaufort County 2 graded

  1. D−River Roadunincorporated, Beaufort County#256 of 2863,366
  2. D−Washington#266 of 2869,910

Bertie County 1 graded

  1. DWindsor#238 of 2863,469

Bladen County 1 graded

  1. D−Elizabethtown#273 of 2863,306

Brunswick County 10 graded

  1. CBelville#169 of 2863,199
  2. CBoiling Spring Lakes#167 of 2866,875
  3. C−Calabash#184 of 2863,069
  4. CCarolina Shores#146 of 2865,540
  5. B−Leland#104 of 28635,731
  6. COak Island#145 of 2869,337
  7. DShallotte#234 of 2865,335
  8. B−Southport#85 of 2864,434
  9. B−St. James#94 of 2867,318
  10. BSunset Beach#56 of 2864,642

Buncombe County 8 graded

  1. CAsheville#164 of 28693,523
  2. AAvery Creekunincorporated, Buncombe County#3 of 2862,887
  3. BBlack Mountain#51 of 2868,491
  4. A−Emmaunincorporated, Buncombe County#16 of 2862,657
  5. B+Royal Pinesunincorporated, Buncombe County#29 of 2864,325
  6. B+Swannanoaunincorporated, Buncombe County#36 of 2866,901
  7. C+Weaverville#114 of 2864,790
  8. B−Woodfin#111 of 2868,229

Burke County 2 graded

  1. DMorganton#216 of 28617,849
  2. C+Valdese#115 of 2864,712

Cabarrus County 4 graded

  1. BConcord#59 of 286114,598
  2. AHarrisburg#12 of 28620,742
  3. C+Kannapolis#125 of 28661,708
  4. A−Midland#26 of 2865,151

Caldwell County 6 graded

  1. CCajah's Mountain#155 of 2862,702
  2. C−Gamewell#204 of 2863,713
  3. C−Granite Falls#174 of 2864,964
  4. C+Hudson#124 of 2863,786
  5. C−Lenoir#203 of 28618,372
  6. CSawmills#158 of 2865,105

Carteret County 4 graded

  1. C−Beaufort#175 of 2864,912
  2. B−Emerald Isle#102 of 2863,970
  3. C−Morehead City#194 of 28610,434
  4. CNewport#152 of 2864,500

Catawba County 8 graded

  1. C+Conover#126 of 2868,938
  2. C−Hickory#200 of 28645,975
  3. B−Lake Norman of Catawbaunincorporated, Catawba County#90 of 2869,906
  4. B−Long View#81 of 2865,387
  5. B+Maiden#42 of 2863,922
  6. B−Mountain Viewunincorporated, Catawba County#83 of 2863,982
  7. CNewton#161 of 28613,822
  8. B−St. Stephensunincorporated, Catawba County#106 of 2869,457

Chatham County 3 graded

  1. B+Briar Chapelunincorporated, Chatham County#35 of 2866,049
  2. C+Pittsboro#127 of 2865,054
  3. CSiler City#163 of 2868,155

Chowan County 1 graded

  1. DEdenton#252 of 2864,546

Cleveland County 3 graded

  1. B−Boiling Springs#86 of 2864,799
  2. DKings Mountain#253 of 28612,117
  3. DShelby#254 of 28623,309

Columbus County 2 graded

  1. D−Tabor City#262 of 2863,886
  2. D−Whiteville#270 of 2864,765

Craven County 8 graded

  1. C+Brices Creekunincorporated, Craven County#136 of 2863,415
  2. C−Fairfield Harbourunincorporated, Craven County#190 of 2862,948
  3. C−Havelock#191 of 28617,430
  4. C+James Cityunincorporated, Craven County#139 of 2864,789
  5. BNeuse Forestunincorporated, Craven County#74 of 2862,671
  6. DNew Bern#230 of 28634,724
  7. C−River Bend#211 of 2862,890
  8. B−Trent Woods#87 of 2864,070

Cumberland County 4 graded

  1. C−Eastover#198 of 2863,743
  2. DFayetteville#245 of 286209,120
  3. DHope Mills#227 of 28618,324
  4. DSpring Lake#224 of 28611,252

Currituck County 1 graded

  1. BMoyockunincorporated, Currituck County#75 of 2865,684

Dare County 4 graded

  1. B−Kill Devil Hills#93 of 2867,731
  2. B−Kitty Hawk#97 of 2863,670
  3. B−Nags Head#89 of 2863,117
  4. B+Southern Shores#30 of 2863,110

Davidson County 6 graded

  1. DLexington#221 of 28620,238
  2. A−Midway#20 of 2865,104
  3. C+Thomasville#131 of 28627,733
  4. BTyrounincorporated, Davidson County#70 of 2863,833
  5. A−Wallburg#27 of 2863,255
  6. B−Welcomeunincorporated, Davidson County#88 of 2863,521

Davie County 2 graded

  1. B−Bermuda Run#82 of 2863,323
  2. C+Mocksville#116 of 2866,282

Duplin County 2 graded

  1. D−Wallace#275 of 2863,570
  2. DWarsaw#244 of 2862,853

Durham County 1 graded

  1. C−Durham#179 of 286305,561

Edgecombe County 1 graded

  1. D−Tarboro#269 of 28610,979

Forsyth County 7 graded

  1. C+Clemmons#123 of 28622,808
  2. C−Kernersville#207 of 28629,128
  3. B−Lewisville#95 of 28614,421
  4. CRural Hall#153 of 2863,607
  5. BTobaccoville#71 of 2862,770
  6. C−Walkertown#176 of 2866,120
  7. DWinston-Salem#243 of 286257,271

Franklin County 3 graded

  1. C+Franklinton#141 of 2862,890
  2. B−Lake Royaleunincorporated, Franklin County#98 of 2863,168
  3. DLouisburg#235 of 2863,480

Gaston County 10 graded

  1. C+Belmont#140 of 28616,415
  2. C−Bessemer City#193 of 2865,834
  3. C+Cherryville#135 of 2866,523
  4. B−Cramerton#96 of 2865,713
  5. CDallas#144 of 2866,392
  6. DGastonia#237 of 28687,067
  7. CLowell#160 of 2863,939
  8. CMount Holly#148 of 28619,033
  9. B−Ranlo#79 of 2864,848
  10. C+Stanley#130 of 2864,237

Granville County 3 graded

  1. DButner#228 of 2868,112
  2. C−Creedmoor#185 of 2865,046
  3. D−Oxford#260 of 2868,985

Guilford County 9 graded

  1. B+Forest Oaksunincorporated, Guilford County#41 of 2864,293
  2. BGibsonvillealso in Alamance County#63 of 2869,876
  3. DGreensboro#215 of 286308,667
  4. C−High Point#206 of 286120,571
  5. B+Jamestown#37 of 2863,803
  6. B+Oak Ridge#38 of 2867,896
  7. B−Pleasant Garden#99 of 2865,165
  8. B+Stokesdale#43 of 2866,133
  9. BSummerfield#54 of 28611,327

Halifax County 1 graded

  1. D−Roanoke Rapids#276 of 28614,386

Harnett County 7 graded

  1. DAnderson Creekunincorporated, Harnett County#220 of 28613,927
  2. CAngier#172 of 2869,410
  3. CBuies Creekunincorporated, Harnett CountyCollege campus3,746
  4. C−Dunn#210 of 2868,814
  5. DErwin#232 of 2864,956
  6. C−Lillington#197 of 2865,040
  7. CSpout Springsunincorporated, Harnett County#149 of 28611,242

Haywood County 3 graded

  1. BCanton#53 of 2864,418
  2. B−Lake Junaluskaunincorporated, Haywood County#84 of 2863,175
  3. C−Waynesville#183 of 28611,006

Henderson County 10 graded

  1. C+Danaunincorporated, Henderson County#138 of 2864,147
  2. BEast Flat Rockunincorporated, Henderson County#55 of 2866,323
  3. C+Edneyvilleunincorporated, Henderson County#120 of 2862,716
  4. B−Etowahunincorporated, Henderson County#110 of 2867,968
  5. BFlat Rockanother Flat Rock is in Surry County#69 of 2863,643
  6. B+Fletcher#48 of 2868,373
  7. C−Hendersonville#182 of 28615,867
  8. B+Mills River#40 of 2867,504
  9. BMountain Homeunincorporated, Henderson County#76 of 2863,437
  10. BValley Hillunincorporated, Henderson County#61 of 2862,675

Hertford County 1 graded

  1. D−Ahoskie#284 of 2864,608

Hoke County 2 graded

  1. C−Raeford#178 of 2864,703
  2. C−Rockfishunincorporated, Hoke County#202 of 2863,574

Iredell County 4 graded

  1. B+Lake Norman of Iredellunincorporated, Iredell County#33 of 28612,494
  2. B−Mooresville#101 of 28655,842
  3. C−Statesville#189 of 28632,181
  4. C+Troutman#119 of 2864,336

Jackson County 2 graded

  1. C+Cullowheeunincorporated, Jackson CountyCollege campus7,973
  2. DSylva#241 of 2862,691

Johnston County 7 graded

  1. A−Archer Lodge#28 of 2865,649
  2. CBenson#166 of 2864,660
  3. BClayton#72 of 28632,633
  4. B−Four Oaks#100 of 2862,978
  5. C−Selma#180 of 2867,406
  6. C−Smithfield#186 of 28613,114
  7. B−Wilson's Mills#108 of 2862,987

Lee County 1 graded

  1. DSanford#246 of 28634,138

Lenoir County 2 graded

  1. D−Kinston#281 of 28619,705
  2. D−La Grange#261 of 2862,947

Lincoln County 3 graded

  1. CLincolnton#157 of 28612,465
  2. ALowesvilleunincorporated, Lincoln County#4 of 2863,874
  3. BWestportunincorporated, Lincoln County#52 of 2865,915

Macon County 1 graded

  1. C+Franklin#142 of 2864,403

Martin County 1 graded

  1. D−Williamston#279 of 2865,086

McDowell County 1 graded

  1. C−Marion#205 of 2867,440

Mecklenburg County 7 graded

  1. CCharlotte#165 of 286964,784
  2. B+Cornelius#32 of 28635,094
  3. ADavidson#10 of 28616,662
  4. B+Huntersville#45 of 28668,535
  5. B−Matthews#107 of 28632,769
  6. BMint Hill#58 of 28629,476
  7. C−Pineville#199 of 28611,851

Montgomery County 1 graded

  1. CTroy#150 of 2863,020

Moore County 6 graded

  1. B−Aberdeen#92 of 28610,066
  2. ACarthage#8 of 2863,070
  3. A−Pinehurst#23 of 28618,670
  4. ASeven Lakesunincorporated, Moore County#7 of 2864,535
  5. C+Southern Pines#128 of 28617,357
  6. A−Whispering Pines#15 of 2865,505

Nash County 3 graded

  1. DNashville#236 of 2865,911
  2. BRed Oak#67 of 2863,523
  3. D−Rocky Mountalso in Edgecombe County#267 of 28655,120

New Hanover County 12 graded

  1. BBayshoreunincorporated, New Hanover County#62 of 2862,949
  2. CCarolina Beach#151 of 2866,870
  3. C+Kings Grantunincorporated, New Hanover County#133 of 2869,003
  4. B−Murraysvilleunincorporated, New Hanover County#77 of 28616,339
  5. B+Myrtle Groveunincorporated, New Hanover County#44 of 28612,637
  6. C−Northchaseunincorporated, New Hanover County#208 of 2865,896
  7. BOgdenunincorporated, New Hanover County#64 of 2868,249
  8. C+Porters Neckunincorporated, New Hanover County#118 of 2867,654
  9. C+Silver Lakeunincorporated, New Hanover County#129 of 2866,563
  10. C−Skippers Cornerunincorporated, New Hanover County#173 of 2863,792
  11. C−Wilmington#192 of 286126,809
  12. BWrightsborounincorporated, New Hanover County#68 of 2866,287

Onslow County 6 graded

  1. BHalf Moonunincorporated, Onslow County#73 of 2867,378
  2. B+Holly Ridge#39 of 2865,908
  3. CJacksonville#170 of 28672,732
  4. C−Piney Greenunincorporated, Onslow County#181 of 28614,078
  5. C−Sneads Ferryunincorporated, Onslow County#177 of 2862,728
  6. C+Swansboro#117 of 2864,174

Orange County 3 graded

  1. BCarrboro#57 of 28620,962
  2. B+Chapel Hill#46 of 28663,565
  3. CHillsborough#159 of 2869,778

Pasquotank County 1 graded

  1. D−Elizabeth City#258 of 28619,622

Pender County 3 graded

  1. C−Burgaw#196 of 2863,903
  2. B−Hampsteadunincorporated, Pender County#113 of 2869,292
  3. CSurf City#154 of 2865,142

Person County 1 graded

  1. DRoxboro#225 of 2868,380

Pitt County 5 graded

  1. DAyden#251 of 2865,263
  2. D−Farmville#272 of 2864,577
  3. DGreenville#242 of 28696,443
  4. DGrifton#250 of 2862,539
  5. C+Winterville#132 of 28610,973

Randolph County 5 graded

  1. B−Archdale#91 of 28612,254
  2. DAsheboro#233 of 28627,990
  3. DLiberty#217 of 2862,739
  4. DRandleman#223 of 2864,767
  5. B−Trinity#112 of 2867,274

Richmond County 3 graded

  1. D−East Rockinghamunincorporated, Richmond County#278 of 2862,779
  2. DHamlet#247 of 2865,870
  3. D−Rockingham#265 of 2868,815

Robeson County 3 graded

  1. D−Lumberton#285 of 28618,955
  2. D−Pembroke#283 of 2862,888
  3. D−Red Springs#274 of 2863,216

Rockingham County 4 graded

  1. DEden#240 of 28615,500
  2. DMayodan#212 of 2862,503
  3. DReidsville#219 of 28614,692
  4. B−Wentworth#78 of 2862,774

Rowan County 6 graded

  1. CChina Grove#171 of 2864,650
  2. C+Enochvilleunincorporated, Rowan County#143 of 2863,321
  3. C+Granite Quarry#134 of 2863,129
  4. C+Landis#121 of 2863,885
  5. DSalisbury#248 of 28636,879
  6. CSpencer#162 of 2863,450

Rutherford County 3 graded

  1. D−Forest City#259 of 2867,410
  2. D−Rutherfordton#263 of 2863,723
  3. DSpindale#218 of 2864,180

Sampson County 1 graded

  1. D−Clinton#271 of 2868,466

Scotland County 1 graded

  1. D−Laurinburg#282 of 28614,582

Stanly County 3 graded

  1. DAlbemarle#231 of 28617,769
  2. B−Locust#105 of 2866,120
  3. DNorwood#213 of 2862,568

Stokes County 1 graded

  1. B−King#109 of 2867,977

Surry County 2 graded

  1. DElkin#226 of 2864,130
  2. DMount Airy#214 of 28610,682

Transylvania County 1 graded

  1. C+Brevard#137 of 2868,098

Union County 13 graded

  1. A−Fairviewanother Fairview is in Buncombe County#18 of 2863,805
  2. B+Indian Trail#31 of 28644,303
  3. BLake Park#50 of 2863,609
  4. CMarshville#156 of 2862,739
  5. A−Marvin#25 of 2867,040
  6. AMineral Springs#13 of 2863,514
  7. C−Monroe#188 of 28642,644
  8. A−Stallings#14 of 28617,760
  9. A−Unionville#22 of 2867,322
  10. AWaxhaw#9 of 28623,140
  11. A−Weddington#21 of 28614,517
  12. B+Wesley Chapel#47 of 2869,566
  13. A+Wingate#2 of 2864,628

Vance County 1 graded

  1. D−Henderson#280 of 28615,013

Wake County 12 graded

  1. AApex#5 of 28680,419
  2. ACary#11 of 286183,582
  3. AFuquay-Varina#6 of 28648,536
  4. B−Garner#103 of 28641,562
  5. A−Holly Springs#17 of 28650,288
  6. BKnightdale#66 of 28623,144
  7. B+Morrisville#34 of 28632,466
  8. B−Raleigh#80 of 286506,306
  9. A+Rolesville#1 of 28612,839
  10. A−Wake Forest#24 of 28658,147
  11. A−Wendell#19 of 28619,687
  12. C+Zebulon#122 of 28611,933

Washington County 1 graded

  1. D−Plymouth#286 of 2863,170

Watauga County 1 graded

  1. B−BooneCollege campus19,929

Wayne County 5 graded

  1. D−Brogdenunincorporated, Wayne County#268 of 2862,733
  2. DElroyunincorporated, Wayne County#229 of 2863,251
  3. D−Goldsboro#277 of 28635,012
  4. C−Mar-Macunincorporated, Wayne County#201 of 2862,877
  5. DMount Olive#255 of 2864,521

Wilkes County 2 graded

  1. C−North Wilkesboro#187 of 2864,369
  2. C−Wilkesboro#209 of 2863,618

Wilson County 1 graded

  1. D−Wilson#264 of 28649,572

Yadkin County 1 graded

  1. CYadkinville#147 of 2863,055
Also in North Carolina

Not on the ranked list

College campuses

Graded like every town, but left off the best-places lists: more than half the residents are college students (ACS), so its figures mostly describe student life. They appear on the subject lists with a “College campus” label.

  • B−Boone Watauga County · 66% college students
  • CBuies Creek Harnett County · 57% college students
  • C+Cullowhee Jackson County · 72% college students

Not graded (1)

Towns of 2,500+ without enough data for an overall grade. Their pages show every subject that is graded.

  • –Barbecue 5,910 people. No overall grade: no safety or health figures, and the overall needs three of the four.

Smaller places 161 with 1,000–2,499 residents

These have subject grades (safety, schools, health and the rest) but no overall grade or rank: the overall starts at 2,500 residents.

Go deeper

Lists in North Carolina

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All North Carolina rankings →
Best places to live286 towns · #1 RolesvilleBest small towns188 towns · #1 WingateMost affordable towns290 towns · #1 EmmaSafest towns163 towns · #1 Whispering PinesTowns with the best schools290 towns · #1 Carrboro and Chapel HillHealthiest towns289 towns · #1 MorrisvilleBest towns for jobs & income290 towns · #1 WeddingtonMost walkable towns290 towns · #1 Chapel HillTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk290 towns · #1 NewtonBest towns for the outdoors290 towns · #1 Nags HeadMost historic towns290 towns · #1 EdentonTowns with the most civic life234 towns · #1 AshevilleTowns with the least snow215 towns · #1 Anderson CreekDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns215 towns · #1 BooneDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters287 towns · #1 SouthportDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers287 towns · #1 LaurinburgDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers287 towns · #1 BooneDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes290 towns · #1 MarvinDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes290 towns · #1 EmmaDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns227 towns · #1 WendellDescribed, no letters