RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Highest unemployment, North Carolina cities · 2020

North Carolina cities ranked by the highest unemployment rate (2023 ACS). This list covers the 174 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPUNEMPLOYMENT RATEVS 2000

01Boone, NCNC19,92916.6%–

02Williamston, NCNC5,08615.1%–

03Wadesboro, NCNC5,03514.5%–

04Laurinburg, NCNC14,58214.3%–

05Kinston, NCNC19,70513.6%–

06Porters Neck, NCNC7,65413.4%–

07Northchase, NCNC5,89613.2%–

08Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92712.4%–

09Roxboro, NCNC8,38012.0%–

10Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54011.9%–

11Sawmills, NCNC5,10511.8%–

12Goldsboro, NCNC35,01210.8%–

13Half Moon, NCNC7,37810.7%–

14Ayden, NCNC5,26310.5%–

15Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11710.5%–

16Lexington, NCNC20,23810.4%–

17Nashville, NCNC5,91110.3%–

18Cullowhee, NCNC7,97310.3%–

19Hampstead, NCNC9,29210.2%–

20Wilson, NCNC49,57210.0%–

21Dallas, NCNC6,3929.9%–

22Reidsville, NCNC14,6929.6%–

23Jacksonville, NCNC72,7329.6%–

24Washington, NCNC9,9109.5%–

25Forest City, NCNC7,4109.4%–

26Long View, NCNC5,3879.3%–

27Spring Lake, NCNC11,2529.3%–

28Oxford, NCNC8,9859.2%–

29Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1209.1%–

30Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6229.0%–

31Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2878.9%–

32Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8708.8%–

33Mount Holly, NCNC19,0338.8%–

34Marion, NCNC7,4408.7%–

35Henderson, NCNC15,0138.7%–

36Greenville, NCNC96,4438.7%–

37Fayetteville, NCNC209,1208.4%–

38Hickory, NCNC45,9758.3%–

39Lincolnton, NCNC12,4658.3%–

40Spout Springs, NCNC11,2428.2%–

41Briar Chapel, NCNC6,0498.2%–

42Siler City, NCNC8,1558.2%–

43Southern Pines, NCNC17,3578.1%–

44Midway, NCNC5,1048.1%–

45Salisbury, NCNC36,8798.0%–

46Eden, NCNC15,5007.9%–

47Lumberton, NCNC18,9557.9%–

48Zebulon, NCNC11,9337.8%–

49Smithfield, NCNC13,1147.6%–

50St. Stephens, NCNC9,4577.6%–

51Kannapolis, NCNC61,7087.5%–

52Thomasville, NCNC27,7337.4%–

53Hamlet, NCNC5,8707.1%–

54Shelby, NCNC23,3097.1%–

55Selma, NCNC7,4067.1%–

56Piney Green, NCNC14,0787.0%–

57Albemarle, NCNC17,7696.9%–

58High Point, NCNC120,5716.8%–

59Statesville, NCNC32,1816.8%–

60New Bern, NCNC34,7246.7%–

61Dunn, NCNC8,8146.7%–

62Hope Mills, NCNC18,3246.7%–

63Hillsborough, NCNC9,7786.7%–

64Graham, NCNC20,1316.6%–

65Mount Airy, NCNC10,6826.6%–

66Lenoir, NCNC18,3726.6%–

67Rockingham, NCNC8,8156.5%–

68Greensboro, NCNC308,6676.5%–

69Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7316.5%–

70Pittsboro, NCNC5,0546.4%–

71Monroe, NCNC42,6446.4%–

72Gastonia, NCNC87,0676.4%–

73Mebane, NCNC21,9526.4%–

74Butner, NCNC8,1126.3%–

75Asheboro, NCNC27,9906.1%–

76Burlington, NCNC61,4966.0%–

77Sanford, NCNC34,1386.0%–

78Indian Trail, NCNC44,3035.9%–

79Brevard, NCNC8,0985.9%–

80Clinton, NCNC8,4665.9%–

81Surf City, NCNC5,1425.8%–

82Bessemer City, NCNC5,8345.7%–

83Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2715.6%–

84Wake Forest, NCNC58,1475.6%–

85Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,9065.6%–

86Havelock, NCNC17,4305.4%–

87Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3865.3%–

88Concord, NCNC114,5985.3%–

89Winterville, NCNC10,9735.2%–

90Tarboro, NCNC10,9795.1%–

91Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6375.1%–

92Chapel Hill, NCNC63,5655.1%–

93Charlotte, NCNC964,7844.9%–

94Mint Hill, NCNC29,4764.9%–

95Wilmington, NCNC126,8094.9%–

96Morganton, NCNC17,8494.8%–

97Leland, NCNC35,7314.8%–

98Garner, NCNC41,5624.8%–

99Belmont, NCNC16,4154.8%–

100Newton, NCNC13,8224.8%–

101Durham, NCNC305,5614.7%–

102Mocksville, NCNC6,2824.6%–

103Murraysville, NCNC16,3394.5%–

104Rolesville, NCNC12,8394.5%–

105Apex, NCNC80,4194.5%–

106Walkertown, NCNC6,1204.5%–

107Archdale, NCNC12,2544.4%–

108Elon, NCNC11,3664.4%–

109Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8754.3%–

110Raleigh, NCNC506,3064.3%–

111Stokesdale, NCNC6,1334.2%–

112Knightdale, NCNC23,1444.1%–

113Locust, NCNC6,1204.1%–

114Aberdeen, NCNC10,0664.1%–

115Kernersville, NCNC29,1284.1%–

116Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5364.1%–

117Pinehurst, NCNC18,6704.0%–

118East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3233.9%–

119Silver Lake, NCNC6,5633.8%–

120Clemmons, NCNC22,8083.8%–

121Huntersville, NCNC68,5353.8%–

122Trinity, NCNC7,2743.8%–

123Morehead City, NCNC10,4343.7%–

124Cornelius, NCNC35,0943.7%–

125Mooresville, NCNC55,8423.7%–

126Asheville, NCNC93,5233.7%–

127Harrisburg, NCNC20,7423.6%–

128Carrboro, NCNC20,9623.6%–

129Westport, NCNC5,9153.5%–

130Pineville, NCNC11,8513.5%–

131Waxhaw, NCNC23,1403.4%–

132Morrisville, NCNC32,4663.3%–

133Lewisville, NCNC14,4213.3%–

134Marvin, NCNC7,0403.3%–

135Cherryville, NCNC6,5233.3%–

136Shallotte, NCNC5,3353.3%–

137Cary, NCNC183,5823.3%–

138Holly Springs, NCNC50,2883.2%–

139Unionville, NCNC7,3223.2%–

140Davidson, NCNC16,6623.1%–

141Matthews, NCNC32,7693.0%–

142Oak Island, NCNC9,3373.0%–

143Conover, NCNC8,9383.0%–

144Stallings, NCNC17,7603.0%–

145Gibsonville, NCNC9,8762.9%–

146Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9082.9%–

147Cramerton, NCNC5,7132.9%–

148Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,5662.8%–

149Woodfin, NCNC8,2292.8%–

150Clayton, NCNC32,6332.7%–

151St. James, NCNC7,3182.5%–

152Oak Ridge, NCNC7,8962.5%–

153Summerfield, NCNC11,3272.4%–

154Waynesville, NCNC11,0062.3%–

155Angier, NCNC9,4102.3%–

156Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,4942.2%–

157Ogden, NCNC8,2492.2%–

158Creedmoor, NCNC5,0462.1%–

159Black Mountain, NCNC8,4912.1%–

160Kings Grant, NCNC9,0032.0%–

161Fletcher, NCNC8,3731.9%–

162Swannanoa, NCNC6,9011.8%–

163Mills River, NCNC7,5041.8%–

164Hendersonville, NCNC15,8671.7%–

165King, NCNC7,9771.6%–

166Wendell, NCNC19,6871.6%–

167Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1651.6%–

168Lillington, NCNC5,0401.5%–

169Weddington, NCNC14,5171.4%–

170Midland, NCNC5,1511.3%–

171Moyock, NCNC5,6841.2%–

172Whispering Pines, NCNC5,5051.0%–

173Etowah, NCNC7,9680.7%–

174Archer Lodge, NCNC5,6490.0%–

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

Download CSV (full list, 174 rows)

UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES