RANKING · 2024 ACS · 175 SHOWN OF 175

Lowest unemployment, North Carolina cities

North Carolina cities ranked by the lowest unemployment rate (2023 ACS). This list covers the 175 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

RELATEDHighest unemployment Highest labor force participation Lowest labor force participation Most white-collar workforce Most self-employed workers

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPUNEMPLOYMENT RATEVS 2000

01Archer Lodge, NCNC5,6490.0%–

02King, NCNC7,9771.0%–

03St. Stephens, NCNC9,4571.1%–

04Pittsboro, NCNC5,0541.1%–

05Half Moon, NCNC7,3781.3%–

06Wendell, NCNC19,6871.3%–

07Ogden, NCNC8,2491.4%–

08Barbecue, NCNC5,9101.5%–

09Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9081.6%–

10Midland, NCNC5,1511.8%–

11Weddington, NCNC14,5171.8%–

12Waynesville, NCNC11,0061.9%–

13Lewisville, NCNC14,4211.9%–

14Stokesdale, NCNC6,1331.9%–

15Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1651.9%–

16Morehead City, NCNC10,4342.0%–

17Matthews, NCNC32,7692.1%–

18Summerfield, NCNC11,3272.1%–

19Cornelius, NCNC35,0942.4%–

20Archdale, NCNC12,2542.5%–

21Walkertown, NCNC6,1202.5%–

22Oak Ridge, NCNC7,8962.5%–

23Long View, NCNC5,3872.5%–

24Kernersville, NCNC29,1282.7%–

25Midway, NCNC5,1042.7%–

26Mills River, NCNC7,5042.8%–

27Moyock, NCNC5,6842.8%–

28Clayton, NCNC32,6332.8%–

29Surf City, NCNC5,1422.8%–

30Etowah, NCNC7,9682.8%–

31Kings Grant, NCNC9,0032.9%–

32Harrisburg, NCNC20,7423.0%–

33Oak Island, NCNC9,3373.0%–

34Cherryville, NCNC6,5233.0%–

35Woodfin, NCNC8,2293.0%–

36Fletcher, NCNC8,3733.0%–

37Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,4943.1%–

38Shallotte, NCNC5,3353.1%–

39Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6373.1%–

40Trinity, NCNC7,2743.2%–

41Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2873.2%–

42Hendersonville, NCNC15,8673.2%–

43Huntersville, NCNC68,5353.2%–

44Dunn, NCNC8,8143.2%–

45Whispering Pines, NCNC5,5053.3%–

46Morrisville, NCNC32,4663.3%–

47Conover, NCNC8,9383.3%–

48Gibsonville, NCNC9,8763.3%–

49Holly Springs, NCNC50,2883.4%–

50Knightdale, NCNC23,1443.4%–

51Cary, NCNC183,5823.5%–

52Cramerton, NCNC5,7133.5%–

53Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8753.5%–

54Washington, NCNC9,9103.5%–

55Brevard, NCNC8,0983.6%–

56Shelby, NCNC23,3093.6%–

57Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5363.6%–

58Carrboro, NCNC20,9623.6%–

59Locust, NCNC6,1203.6%–

60Aberdeen, NCNC10,0663.7%–

61Rolesville, NCNC12,8393.7%–

62Lincolnton, NCNC12,4653.8%–

63Hickory, NCNC45,9753.8%–

64Apex, NCNC80,4193.8%–

65Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,9063.8%–

66Morganton, NCNC17,8493.8%–

67Durham, NCNC305,5613.8%–

68Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,5663.8%–

69Mebane, NCNC21,9523.9%–

70Carolina Shores, NCNC5,5403.9%–

71Black Mountain, NCNC8,4913.9%–

72Lillington, NCNC5,0403.9%–

73Marvin, NCNC7,0404.0%–

74Asheboro, NCNC27,9904.0%–

75Belmont, NCNC16,4154.0%–

76Wake Forest, NCNC58,1474.0%–

77Kannapolis, NCNC61,7084.1%–

78Unionville, NCNC7,3224.1%–

79Mint Hill, NCNC29,4764.1%–

80Davidson, NCNC16,6624.1%–

81Hillsborough, NCNC9,7784.1%–

82Mount Airy, NCNC10,6824.1%–

83Mocksville, NCNC6,2824.2%–

84Wilmington, NCNC126,8094.3%–

85Sanford, NCNC34,1384.4%–

86Raleigh, NCNC506,3064.4%–

87Mooresville, NCNC55,8424.4%–

88Dallas, NCNC6,3924.5%–

89Clemmons, NCNC22,8084.5%–

90Tarboro, NCNC10,9794.5%–

91Chapel Hill, NCNC63,5654.5%–

92Lenoir, NCNC18,3724.6%–

93New Bern, NCNC34,7244.6%–

94Thomasville, NCNC27,7334.6%–

95Charlotte, NCNC964,7844.6%–

96Monroe, NCNC42,6444.6%–

97Leland, NCNC35,7314.7%–

98Siler City, NCNC8,1554.7%–

99Selma, NCNC7,4064.9%–

100Waxhaw, NCNC23,1404.9%–

101Havelock, NCNC17,4304.9%–

102Clinton, NCNC8,4664.9%–

103East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3235.0%–

104Elon, NCNC11,3665.1%–

105Greensboro, NCNC308,6675.1%–

106Asheville, NCNC93,5235.1%–

107Angier, NCNC9,4105.1%–

108Pinehurst, NCNC18,6705.2%–

109High Point, NCNC120,5715.2%–

110Pineville, NCNC11,8515.2%–

111Stallings, NCNC17,7605.3%–

112Silver Lake, NCNC6,5635.3%–

113Indian Trail, NCNC44,3035.3%–

114Marion, NCNC7,4405.4%–

115Spring Lake, NCNC11,2525.4%–

116Winterville, NCNC10,9735.4%–

117Mount Holly, NCNC19,0335.5%–

118Butner, NCNC8,1125.5%–

119Concord, NCNC114,5985.5%–

120Albemarle, NCNC17,7695.6%–

121Lumberton, NCNC18,9555.6%–

122Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2715.7%–

123Gastonia, NCNC87,0675.7%–

124Spout Springs, NCNC11,2425.7%–

125Murraysville, NCNC16,3395.8%–

126Salisbury, NCNC36,8795.8%–

127Piney Green, NCNC14,0785.9%–

128Bessemer City, NCNC5,8345.9%–

129Lexington, NCNC20,2386.0%–

130Newton, NCNC13,8226.2%–

131St. James, NCNC7,3186.2%–

132Garner, NCNC41,5626.2%–

133Hampstead, NCNC9,2926.3%–

134Reidsville, NCNC14,6926.4%–

135Burlington, NCNC61,4966.5%–

136Wilson, NCNC49,5726.7%–

137Southern Pines, NCNC17,3576.7%–

138Ayden, NCNC5,2636.7%–

139Statesville, NCNC32,1816.8%–

140Westport, NCNC5,9156.8%–

141Graham, NCNC20,1316.8%–

142Oxford, NCNC8,9857.0%–

143Wadesboro, NCNC5,0357.0%–

144Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6227.0%–

145Nashville, NCNC5,9117.0%–

146Anderson Creek, NCNC13,9277.1%–

147Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7317.1%–

148Zebulon, NCNC11,9337.1%–

149Smithfield, NCNC13,1147.2%–

150Jacksonville, NCNC72,7327.4%–

151Forest City, NCNC7,4107.5%–

152Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1177.7%–

153Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8707.8%–

154Fayetteville, NCNC209,1207.9%–

155Sawmills, NCNC5,1058.0%–

156Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1208.0%–

157Goldsboro, NCNC35,0128.0%–

158Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3868.1%–

159Creedmoor, NCNC5,0468.2%–

160Briar Chapel, NCNC6,0498.2%–

161Hope Mills, NCNC18,3248.2%–

162Eden, NCNC15,5008.3%–

163Hamlet, NCNC5,8708.7%–

164Greenville, NCNC96,4439.0%–

165Henderson, NCNC15,0139.4%–

166Williamston, NCNC5,0869.8%–

167Laurinburg, NCNC14,58211.0%–

168Rockingham, NCNC8,81511.3%–

169Cullowhee, NCNC7,97311.8%–

170Boone, NCNC19,92912.0%–

171Porters Neck, NCNC7,65412.5%–

172Roxboro, NCNC8,38013.5%–

173Swannanoa, NCNC6,90114.8%–

174Kinston, NCNC19,70516.1%–

175Northchase, NCNC5,89619.2%–

SHOWING 1–175 OF 175

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