#1Newton
Catawba County · 13,822 peopleHazard risk grade, better than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #161 of 286 in NC
Newton, #1 on this list · Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0North Carolina rankings · Hazard risk
Towns with the lowest natural-hazard risk in North Carolina
Newton ranks first on hazard risk among North Carolina’s 290 towns of 2,500+; 36 of the 290 grade A− or better on hazard risk nationally.
The Hazard risk grade: FEMA’s expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, where residents live (National Risk Index). How grades work
#1A
#2Yadkinville
Yadkin County · 3,055 peopleHazard risk grade, better than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #147 of 286 in NC
East Flat Rock
unincorporated, Henderson County · 6,323 peopleHazard risk grade, better than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #55 of 286 in NC
All 290 towns
Hazard risk grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
290 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
3East Flat Rockunincorporated, Henderson County · 6,323 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #55 of 286
9HendersonvilleHenderson County · 15,867 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #182 of 286
17Royal Pinesunincorporated, Buncombe County · 4,325 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #29 of 286
19Emmaunincorporated, Buncombe County · 2,657 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #16 of 286
25ReidsvilleRockingham County · 14,692 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #219 of 286
26Kings MountainCleveland County · 12,117 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #253 of 286
32Valley Hillunincorporated, Henderson County · 2,675 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #61 of 286
38Boiling SpringsCleveland County · 4,799 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #86 of 286
43Danaunincorporated, Henderson County · 4,147 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #138 of 286
45Southern PinesMoore County · 17,357 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #128 of 286
48Black MountainBuncombe County · 8,491 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #51 of 286
51Etowahunincorporated, Henderson County · 7,968 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #110 of 286
52CorneliusMecklenburg County · 35,094 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #32 of 286
57Glen Ravenunincorporated, Alamance County · 3,506 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #168 of 286
60Cajah's MountainCaldwell County · 2,702 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #155 of 286
63Westportunincorporated, Lincoln County · 5,915 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #52 of 286
69Mountain Homeunincorporated, Henderson County · 3,437 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #76 of 286
73Mountain Viewunincorporated, Catawba County · 3,982 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #83 of 286
77Granite FallsCaldwell County · 4,964 peopleBbetter than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #174 of 286
81St. Stephensunincorporated, Catawba County · 9,457 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #106 of 286
83Lowesvilleunincorporated, Lincoln County · 3,874 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #4 of 286
87Pleasant GardenGuilford County · 5,165 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #99 of 286
88Avery Creekunincorporated, Buncombe County · 2,887 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #3 of 286
91RutherfordtonRutherford County · 3,723 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #263 of 286
98Briar Chapelunincorporated, Chatham County · 6,049 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #35 of 286
108Roanoke RapidsHalifax County · 14,386 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #276 of 286
109Lake Norman of Iredellunincorporated, Iredell County · 12,494 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #33 of 286
110KernersvilleForsyth County · 29,128 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #207 of 286
113Welcomeunincorporated, Davidson County · 3,521 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #88 of 286
115Seven Lakesunincorporated, Moore County · 4,535 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 286
116Lake Norman of Catawbaunincorporated, Catawba County · 9,906 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #90 of 286
117High PointGuilford County · 120,571 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #206 of 286
124Granite QuarryRowan County · 3,129 peopleB−better than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #134 of 286
126Anderson Creekunincorporated, Harnett County · 13,927 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #220 of 286
128Swannanoaunincorporated, Buncombe County · 6,901 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #36 of 286
129Spring LakeCumberland County · 11,252 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #224 of 286
134Enochvilleunincorporated, Rowan County · 3,321 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #143 of 286
136Winston-SalemForsyth County · 257,271 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #243 of 286
138FayettevilleCumberland County · 209,120 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #245 of 286
140Mint HillMecklenburg County · 29,476 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #58 of 286
142Forest CityRutherford County · 7,410 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #259 of 286
143Lake Royaleunincorporated, Franklin County · 3,168 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #98 of 286
148Rockfishunincorporated, Hoke County · 3,574 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #202 of 286
150Tyrounincorporated, Davidson County · 3,833 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #70 of 286
156East Rockinghamunincorporated, Richmond County · 2,779 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #278 of 286
159LaurinburgScotland County · 14,582 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #282 of 286
160Moyockunincorporated, Currituck County · 5,684 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #75 of 286
164HuntersvilleMecklenburg County · 68,535 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #45 of 286
168Hope MillsCumberland County · 18,324 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #227 of 286
169KannapolisCabarrus County · 61,708 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #125 of 286
170CharlotteMecklenburg County · 964,784 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #165 of 286
171Spout Springsunincorporated, Harnett County · 11,242 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #149 of 286
172PinevilleMecklenburg County · 11,851 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #199 of 286
173Archer LodgeJohnston County · 5,649 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #28 of 286
179MatthewsMecklenburg County · 32,769 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #107 of 286
182Forest Oaksunincorporated, Guilford County · 4,293 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #41 of 286
184Edneyvilleunincorporated, Henderson County · 2,716 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #120 of 286
185Bethlehemunincorporated, Alexander County · 4,101 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #65 of 286
187Wilson's MillsJohnston County · 2,987 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #108 of 286
191Buies Creek College campusunincorporated, Harnett County · 3,746 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall C
192Whispering PinesMoore County · 5,505 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #15 of 286
196WaynesvilleHaywood County · 11,006 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #183 of 286
199Lake Junaluskaunincorporated, Haywood County · 3,175 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #84 of 286
211Elroyunincorporated, Wayne County · 3,251 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #229 of 286
212North WilkesboroWilkes County · 4,369 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #187 of 286
213Elizabeth CityPasquotank County · 19,622 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #258 of 286
218Mar-Macunincorporated, Wayne County · 2,877 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #201 of 286
227Brogdenunincorporated, Wayne County · 2,733 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #268 of 286
228Cullowhee College campusunincorporated, Jackson County · 7,973 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall C+
244Northchaseunincorporated, New Hanover County · 5,896 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #208 of 286
247WilmingtonNew Hanover County · 126,809 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #192 of 286
248Myrtle Groveunincorporated, New Hanover County · 12,637 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #44 of 286
249Carolina BeachNew Hanover County · 6,870 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #151 of 286
251Skippers Cornerunincorporated, New Hanover County · 3,792 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #173 of 286
254Kings Grantunincorporated, New Hanover County · 9,003 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #133 of 286
255Carolina ShoresBrunswick County · 5,540 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #146 of 286
256Boiling Spring LakesBrunswick County · 6,875 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #167 of 286
257Wrightsborounincorporated, New Hanover County · 6,287 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #68 of 286
259Bayshoreunincorporated, New Hanover County · 2,949 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #62 of 286
261Porters Neckunincorporated, New Hanover County · 7,654 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #118 of 286
262Hampsteadunincorporated, Pender County · 9,292 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #113 of 286
263Ogdenunincorporated, New Hanover County · 8,249 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #64 of 286
264Silver Lakeunincorporated, New Hanover County · 6,563 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #129 of 286
265Murraysvilleunincorporated, New Hanover County · 16,339 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #77 of 286
266River Roadunincorporated, Beaufort County · 3,366 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #256 of 286
270James Cityunincorporated, Craven County · 4,789 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C+ · #139 of 286
273Fairfield Harbourunincorporated, Craven County · 2,948 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C− · #190 of 286
277Brices Creekunincorporated, Craven County · 3,415 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C+ · #136 of 286
278Sneads Ferryunincorporated, Onslow County · 2,728 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C− · #177 of 286
281Neuse Forestunincorporated, Craven County · 2,671 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B · #74 of 286
283Half Moonunincorporated, Onslow County · 7,378 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B · #73 of 286
284Emerald IsleCarteret County · 3,970 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B− · #102 of 286
285Piney Greenunincorporated, Onslow County · 14,078 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C− · #181 of 286
288Morehead CityCarteret County · 10,434 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C− · #194 of 286
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which North Carolina town has the lowest natural-hazard risk?
Newton (Catawba County) ranks first on hazard risk among 290 towns, with an A; Yadkinville and East Flat Rock follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Hazard risk grade: FEMA’s expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, where residents live (National Risk Index). 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 hazard risk grade (290 in North Carolina). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the North Carolina page.
Go deeper
All North Carolina rankings →More North Carolina lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
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