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Thomas Wolfe HouseAsheville, #1 on this list · Thomas Wolfe House · Photo: Abe Ezekowitz · CC BY-SA 2.0
North Carolina rankings · Civic life

Towns with the most civic life in North Carolina

Asheville ranks first on civic life among North Carolina’s 234 towns of 2,500+; 17 of the 234 grade A− or better on civic life nationally.

The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. How grades work

#1

Asheville

Buncombe County · 93,523 people
A+

Civic life grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall C · #164 of 286 in NC

#2

Beaufort

Carteret County · 4,912 people
A+

Civic life grade, better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #175 of 286 in NC

#3

Black Mountain

Buncombe County · 8,491 people
A+

Civic life grade, better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #51 of 286 in NC

All 234 towns

Civic life grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 67 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

234 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1AshevilleBuncombe County · 93,523 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall C · #164 of 286
2BeaufortCarteret County · 4,912 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #175 of 286
3Black MountainBuncombe County · 8,491 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #51 of 286
4Carolina BeachNew Hanover County · 6,870 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #151 of 286
5Kitty HawkDare County · 3,670 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #97 of 286
6Southern ShoresDare County · 3,110 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #30 of 286
7Morehead CityCarteret County · 10,434 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #194 of 286
8Chapel HillOrange County · 63,565 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #46 of 286
9WilmingtonNew Hanover County · 126,809 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #192 of 286
10CarrboroOrange County · 20,962 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #57 of 286
11HillsboroughOrange County · 9,778 peopleAbetter than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #159 of 286
12Boone College campusWatauga County · 19,929 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall B−
13BrevardTransylvania County · 8,098 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #137 of 286
14WoodfinBuncombe County · 8,229 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #111 of 286
15DavidsonMecklenburg County · 16,662 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #10 of 286
16Nags HeadDare County · 3,117 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #89 of 286
17WallaceDuplin County · 3,570 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #275 of 286
18FarmvillePitt County · 4,577 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #272 of 286
19Mills RiverHenderson County · 7,504 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #40 of 286
20PittsboroChatham County · 5,054 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #127 of 286
21KingStokes County · 7,977 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #109 of 286
22Kill Devil HillsDare County · 7,731 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #93 of 286
23WeavervilleBuncombe County · 4,790 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #114 of 286
24SouthportBrunswick County · 4,434 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #85 of 286
25Boiling Spring LakesBrunswick County · 6,875 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #167 of 286
26St. JamesBrunswick County · 7,318 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #94 of 286
27SylvaJackson County · 2,691 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #241 of 286
28Emerald IsleCarteret County · 3,970 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #102 of 286
29New BernCraven County · 34,724 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #230 of 286
30Mineral SpringsUnion County · 3,514 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #13 of 286
31SummerfieldGuilford County · 11,327 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #54 of 286
32Fuquay-VarinaWake County · 48,536 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #6 of 286
T33CaryWake County · 183,582 peopleBbetter than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #11 of 286
T33WashingtonBeaufort County · 9,910 peopleBbetter than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #266 of 286
35FranklinMacon County · 4,403 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #142 of 286
36Wake ForestWake County · 58,147 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #24 of 286
37MorgantonBurke County · 17,849 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #216 of 286
38SwansboroOnslow County · 4,174 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #117 of 286
39MorrisvilleWake County · 32,466 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #34 of 286
40BelmontGaston County · 16,415 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #140 of 286
41MatthewsMecklenburg County · 32,769 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #107 of 286
42Whispering PinesMoore County · 5,505 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #15 of 286
43Oak RidgeGuilford County · 7,896 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #38 of 286
44Southern PinesMoore County · 17,357 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #128 of 286
45Surf CityPender County · 5,142 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #154 of 286
46LelandBrunswick County · 35,731 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #104 of 286
47RoxboroPerson County · 8,380 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #225 of 286
48ShallotteBrunswick County · 5,335 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #234 of 286
49RaleighWake County · 506,306 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #80 of 286
T50SpencerRowan County · 3,450 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #162 of 286
T50WaynesvilleHaywood County · 11,006 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #183 of 286
52Flat RockHenderson County · 3,643 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #69 of 286
T53ApexWake County · 80,419 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #5 of 286
T53MooresvilleIredell County · 55,842 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #101 of 286
55AlbemarleStanly County · 17,769 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #231 of 286
T56HarrisburgCabarrus County · 20,742 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #12 of 286
T56Holly RidgeOnslow County · 5,908 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #39 of 286
58GoldsboroWayne County · 35,012 peopleC+better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #277 of 286
59PinehurstMoore County · 18,670 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #23 of 286
60CorneliusMecklenburg County · 35,094 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #32 of 286
61CarthageMoore County · 3,070 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #8 of 286
62MebaneAlamance County · 21,952 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #195 of 286
63SalisburyRowan County · 36,879 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #248 of 286
64SanfordLee County · 34,138 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #246 of 286
65StatesvilleIredell County · 32,181 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #189 of 286
66BurgawPender County · 3,903 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #196 of 286
67MarvinUnion County · 7,040 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #25 of 286
68Oak IslandBrunswick County · 9,337 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #145 of 286
69Wilson's MillsJohnston County · 2,987 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #108 of 286
70RolesvilleWake County · 12,839 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 286
T71KinstonLenoir County · 19,705 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #281 of 286
T71LumbertonRobeson County · 18,955 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #285 of 286
73NewportCarteret County · 4,500 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #152 of 286
74WaxhawUnion County · 23,140 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #9 of 286
75HamletRichmond County · 5,870 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #247 of 286
76HuntersvilleMecklenburg County · 68,535 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #45 of 286
77HendersonvilleHenderson County · 15,867 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #182 of 286
78Holly SpringsWake County · 50,288 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #17 of 286
79KnightdaleWake County · 23,144 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #66 of 286
T80EdentonChowan County · 4,546 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #252 of 286
T80ErwinHarnett County · 4,956 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #232 of 286
82ElizabethtownBladen County · 3,306 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #273 of 286
83JamestownGuilford County · 3,803 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #37 of 286
84DurhamDurham County · 305,561 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #179 of 286
85WentworthRockingham County · 2,774 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #78 of 286
T86LewisvilleForsyth County · 14,421 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #95 of 286
T86PinevilleMecklenburg County · 11,851 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #199 of 286
88AberdeenMoore County · 10,066 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #92 of 286
89MayodanRockingham County · 2,503 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #212 of 286
90ElkinSurry County · 4,130 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #226 of 286
91DunnHarnett County · 8,814 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #210 of 286
92HendersonVance County · 15,013 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #280 of 286
93HickoryCatawba County · 45,975 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #200 of 286
94SpindaleRutherford County · 4,180 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #218 of 286
95FletcherHenderson County · 8,373 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #48 of 286
96PlymouthWashington County · 3,170 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #286 of 286
97LincolntonLincoln County · 12,465 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #157 of 286
98ClintonSampson County · 8,466 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #271 of 286
T99ElonAlamance County · 11,366 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #49 of 286
T99GrahamAlamance County · 20,131 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #222 of 286
T101ClemmonsForsyth County · 22,808 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #123 of 286
T101GreenvillePitt County · 96,443 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #242 of 286
103TarboroEdgecombe County · 10,979 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #269 of 286
104GreensboroGuilford County · 308,667 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #215 of 286
105WilsonWilson County · 49,572 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #264 of 286
T106Sunset BeachBrunswick County · 4,642 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #56 of 286
T106WhitevilleColumbus County · 4,765 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #270 of 286
108ShelbyCleveland County · 23,309 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #254 of 286
109LaurinburgScotland County · 14,582 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #282 of 286
110Rocky MountNash County · 55,120 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #267 of 286
111ValdeseBurke County · 4,712 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #115 of 286
112CantonHaywood County · 4,418 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #53 of 286
113WintervillePitt County · 10,973 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #132 of 286
114ConcordCabarrus County · 114,598 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #59 of 286
115TobaccovilleForsyth County · 2,770 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #71 of 286
116NashvilleNash County · 5,911 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #236 of 286
117LowellGaston County · 3,939 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #160 of 286
118RockinghamRichmond County · 8,815 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #265 of 286
119ReidsvilleRockingham County · 14,692 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #219 of 286
120LexingtonDavidson County · 20,238 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #221 of 286
T121CharlotteMecklenburg County · 964,784 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #165 of 286
T121LandisRowan County · 3,885 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #121 of 286
123Winston-SalemForsyth County · 257,271 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #243 of 286
124SmithfieldJohnston County · 13,114 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #186 of 286
125GarnerWake County · 41,562 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #103 of 286
T126ClaytonJohnston County · 32,633 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #72 of 286
T126WilkesboroWilkes County · 3,618 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #209 of 286
128TroutmanIredell County · 4,336 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #119 of 286
T129MocksvilleDavie County · 6,282 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #116 of 286
T129WadesboroAnson County · 5,035 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #257 of 286
131WeddingtonUnion County · 14,517 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #21 of 286
132Indian TrailUnion County · 44,303 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #31 of 286
133LibertyRandolph County · 2,739 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #217 of 286
134GastoniaGaston County · 87,067 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #237 of 286
135OxfordGranville County · 8,985 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #260 of 286
T136LocustStanly County · 6,120 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #105 of 286
T136Mount HollyGaston County · 19,033 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #148 of 286
138RutherfordtonRutherford County · 3,723 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #263 of 286
139Boiling SpringsCleveland County · 4,799 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #86 of 286
T140Bermuda RunDavie County · 3,323 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #82 of 286
T140North WilkesboroWilkes County · 4,369 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #187 of 286
T142Archer LodgeJohnston County · 5,649 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #28 of 286
T142Granite QuarryRowan County · 3,129 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #134 of 286
144LillingtonHarnett County · 5,040 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #197 of 286
T145KernersvilleForsyth County · 29,128 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #207 of 286
T145ThomasvilleDavidson County · 27,733 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #131 of 286
147Wesley ChapelUnion County · 9,566 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #47 of 286
T148AydenPitt County · 5,263 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #251 of 286
T148StallingsUnion County · 17,760 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #14 of 286
150TroyMontgomery County · 3,020 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #150 of 286
151AsheboroRandolph County · 27,990 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #233 of 286
152Elizabeth CityPasquotank County · 19,622 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #258 of 286
153WendellWake County · 19,687 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #19 of 286
154MidlandCabarrus County · 5,151 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #26 of 286
155WilliamstonMartin County · 5,086 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #279 of 286
T156Forest CityRutherford County · 7,410 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #259 of 286
T156Kings MountainCleveland County · 12,117 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #253 of 286
158BelvilleBrunswick County · 3,199 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #169 of 286
159MonroeUnion County · 42,644 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #188 of 286
160Mount OliveWayne County · 4,521 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #255 of 286
161HavelockCraven County · 17,430 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #191 of 286
162MarionMcDowell County · 7,440 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #205 of 286
163FayettevilleCumberland County · 209,120 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #245 of 286
164JacksonvilleOnslow County · 72,732 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #170 of 286
165Rural HallForsyth County · 3,607 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #153 of 286
166BurlingtonAlamance County · 61,496 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #249 of 286
167Carolina ShoresBrunswick County · 5,540 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #146 of 286
168EdenRockingham County · 15,500 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #240 of 286
T169BensonJohnston County · 4,660 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #166 of 286
T169High PointGuilford County · 120,571 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #206 of 286
171YadkinvilleYadkin County · 3,055 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #147 of 286
T172GibsonvilleGuilford County · 9,876 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #63 of 286
T172NewtonCatawba County · 13,822 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #161 of 286
174GriftonPitt County · 2,539 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #250 of 286
175AhoskieHertford County · 4,608 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #284 of 286
T176Mint HillMecklenburg County · 29,476 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #58 of 286
T176Pleasant GardenGuilford County · 5,165 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #99 of 286
178PembrokeRobeson County · 2,888 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #283 of 286
T179Cajah's MountainCaldwell County · 2,702 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #155 of 286
T179GamewellCaldwell County · 3,713 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #204 of 286
T179Siler CityChatham County · 8,155 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #163 of 286
T182AngierHarnett County · 9,410 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #172 of 286
T182ButnerGranville County · 8,112 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #228 of 286
184LenoirCaldwell County · 18,372 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #203 of 286
185Mount AirySurry County · 10,682 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #214 of 286
T186FranklintonFranklin County · 2,890 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #141 of 286
T186RaefordHoke County · 4,703 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #178 of 286
188Red OakNash County · 3,523 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #67 of 286
189EastoverCumberland County · 3,743 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #198 of 286
190ZebulonWake County · 11,933 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #122 of 286
191China GroveRowan County · 4,650 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #171 of 286
192Spring LakeCumberland County · 11,252 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #224 of 286
193Roanoke RapidsHalifax County · 14,386 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #276 of 286
194MaidenCatawba County · 3,922 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #42 of 286
T195LouisburgFranklin County · 3,480 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #235 of 286
T195StanleyGaston County · 4,237 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #130 of 286
197HudsonCaldwell County · 3,786 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #124 of 286
198StokesdaleGuilford County · 6,133 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #43 of 286
199CalabashBrunswick County · 3,069 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #184 of 286
200Four OaksJohnston County · 2,978 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #100 of 286
T201NorwoodStanly County · 2,568 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #213 of 286
T201WindsorBertie County · 3,469 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #238 of 286
T203River BendCraven County · 2,890 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #211 of 286
T203Trent WoodsCraven County · 4,070 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #87 of 286
205MarshvilleUnion County · 2,739 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #156 of 286
206WalkertownForsyth County · 6,120 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #176 of 286
207WingateUnion County · 4,628 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #2 of 286
T208CreedmoorGranville County · 5,046 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #185 of 286
T208Red SpringsRobeson County · 3,216 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #274 of 286
210Hope MillsCumberland County · 18,324 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #227 of 286
211KannapolisCabarrus County · 61,708 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #125 of 286
212WarsawDuplin County · 2,853 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #244 of 286
213UnionvilleUnion County · 7,322 peopleD−better than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #22 of 286
214SawmillsCaldwell County · 5,105 peopleD−better than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #158 of 286
215SwepsonvilleAlamance County · 2,632 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #60 of 286
216Tabor CityColumbus County · 3,886 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #262 of 286
T217ConoverCatawba County · 8,938 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #126 of 286
T217DallasGaston County · 6,392 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #144 of 286
T219CherryvilleGaston County · 6,523 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #135 of 286
T219CramertonGaston County · 5,713 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #96 of 286
221La GrangeLenoir County · 2,947 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #261 of 286
T222Long ViewCatawba County · 5,387 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #81 of 286
T222TrinityRandolph County · 7,274 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #112 of 286
224SelmaJohnston County · 7,406 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #180 of 286
225Lake ParkUnion County · 3,609 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #50 of 286
T226FairviewUnion County · 3,805 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #18 of 286
T226Granite FallsCaldwell County · 4,964 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #174 of 286
228WallburgDavidson County · 3,255 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #27 of 286
229Bessemer CityGaston County · 5,834 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #193 of 286
230ArchdaleRandolph County · 12,254 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #91 of 286
231RandlemanRandolph County · 4,767 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #223 of 286
232Green LevelAlamance County · 3,409 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #239 of 286
233RanloGaston County · 4,848 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B− · #79 of 286
234MidwayDavidson County · 5,104 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall A− · #20 of 286
Not ranked

56 towns without a civic life grade

Towns of 2,500+ that don’t have the figures this grade needs. Each town’s page says which ones are missing.

Quick answers

Questions people ask

Which North Carolina town has the most civic life?

Asheville (Buncombe County) ranks first on civic life among 234 towns, with an A+; Beaufort and Black Mountain follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a civic life grade (234 in North Carolina). 56 towns of 2,500+ lack the figures and are listed above. Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the North Carolina page.

Go deeper

More North Carolina lists

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 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
Other states

Towns with the most civic life in other states

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