RANKING · 2024 ACS · 175 SHOWN OF 175

Lowest unemployment, North Carolina cities

North Carolina cities ranked by the lowest unemployment rate (2024 ACS). This list covers the 175 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 175 is 4.5%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Half Moon, NC, up 157 places to #5.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPUNEMPLOYMENT RATEVS 2020

01Archer Lodge, NCNC5,6490.0%0.0 pts

02▲8King, NCNC7,9771.0%−0.6 pts

03▲122St. Stephens, NCNC9,4571.1%−6.5 pts

04▲101Pittsboro, NCNC5,0541.1%−5.3 pts

05▲157Half Moon, NCNC7,3781.3%−9.4 pts

06▲3Wendell, NCNC19,6871.3%−0.2 pts

07▲11Ogden, NCNC8,2491.4%−0.8 pts

08Barbecue, NCNC5,9101.5%–

09▲20Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9081.6%−1.3 pts

10▼5Midland, NCNC5,1511.8%+0.4 pts

11▼5Weddington, NCNC14,5171.8%+0.4 pts

12▲9Waynesville, NCNC11,0061.9%−0.5 pts

13▲29Lewisville, NCNC14,4211.9%−1.5 pts

14▲50Stokesdale, NCNC6,1331.9%−2.3 pts

15▼7Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1651.9%+0.3 pts

16▲36Morehead City, NCNC10,4342.0%−1.8 pts

17▲17Matthews, NCNC32,7692.1%−0.9 pts

18▲4Summerfield, NCNC11,3272.1%−0.3 pts

19▲32Cornelius, NCNC35,0942.4%−1.2 pts

20▲48Archdale, NCNC12,2542.5%−1.9 pts

21▲48Walkertown, NCNC6,1202.5%−2.0 pts

22▲1Oak Ridge, NCNC7,8962.5%0.0 pts

23▲126Long View, NCNC5,3872.5%−6.8 pts

24▲36Kernersville, NCNC29,1282.7%−1.4 pts

25▲106Midway, NCNC5,1042.7%−5.3 pts

26▼14Mills River, NCNC7,5042.8%+1.0 pts

27▼23Moyock, NCNC5,6842.8%+1.6 pts

28▼3Clayton, NCNC32,6332.8%+0.1 pts

29▲65Surf City, NCNC5,1422.8%−3.0 pts

30▼28Etowah, NCNC7,9682.8%+2.2 pts

31▼16Kings Grant, NCNC9,0032.9%+0.9 pts

32▲16Harrisburg, NCNC20,7423.0%−0.7 pts

33Oak Island, NCNC9,3373.0%0.0 pts

34▲6Cherryville, NCNC6,5233.0%−0.3 pts

35▼9Woodfin, NCNC8,2293.0%+0.2 pts

36▼22Fletcher, NCNC8,3733.0%+1.1 pts

37▼18Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,4943.1%+0.9 pts

38▲1Shallotte, NCNC5,3353.1%−0.2 pts

39▲45Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6373.1%−2.0 pts

40▲13Trinity, NCNC7,2743.2%−0.6 pts

41▲103Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2873.2%−5.7 pts

42▼31Hendersonville, NCNC15,8673.2%+1.4 pts

43▲11Huntersville, NCNC68,5353.2%−0.6 pts

44▲70Dunn, NCNC8,8143.2%−3.5 pts

45▼42Whispering Pines, NCNC5,5053.3%+2.3 pts

46▼3Morrisville, NCNC32,4663.3%0.0 pts

47▼15Conover, NCNC8,9383.3%+0.4 pts

48▼18Gibsonville, NCNC9,8763.3%+0.4 pts

49▼12Holly Springs, NCNC50,2883.4%+0.1 pts

50▲13Knightdale, NCNC23,1443.4%−0.7 pts

51▼13Cary, NCNC183,5823.5%+0.2 pts

52▼24Cramerton, NCNC5,7133.5%+0.6 pts

53▲13Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8753.5%−0.8 pts

54▲97Washington, NCNC9,9103.5%−6.0 pts

55▲41Brevard, NCNC8,0983.6%−2.3 pts

56▲65Shelby, NCNC23,3093.6%−3.5 pts

57▲2Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5363.6%−0.4 pts

58▼11Carrboro, NCNC20,9623.6%+0.1 pts

59▲3Locust, NCNC6,1203.6%−0.5 pts

60▲1Aberdeen, NCNC10,0663.7%−0.5 pts

61▲10Rolesville, NCNC12,8393.7%−0.8 pts

62▲74Lincolnton, NCNC12,4653.8%−4.5 pts

63▲74Hickory, NCNC45,9753.8%−4.5 pts

64▲6Apex, NCNC80,4193.8%−0.7 pts

65▲25Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,9063.8%−1.8 pts

66▲13Morganton, NCNC17,8493.8%−1.0 pts

67▲7Durham, NCNC305,5613.8%−0.9 pts

68▼41Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,5663.8%+1.0 pts

69▲33Mebane, NCNC21,9523.9%−2.5 pts

70▲95Carolina Shores, NCNC5,5403.9%−8.0 pts

71▼55Black Mountain, NCNC8,4913.9%+1.8 pts

72▼65Lillington, NCNC5,0403.9%+2.5 pts

73▼32Marvin, NCNC7,0404.0%+0.6 pts

74▲26Asheboro, NCNC27,9904.0%−2.1 pts

75▲1Belmont, NCNC16,4154.0%−0.8 pts

76▲15Wake Forest, NCNC58,1474.0%−1.6 pts

77▲47Kannapolis, NCNC61,7084.1%−3.4 pts

78▼42Unionville, NCNC7,3224.1%+0.9 pts

79▲2Mint Hill, NCNC29,4764.1%−0.8 pts

80▼45Davidson, NCNC16,6624.1%+1.0 pts

81▲31Hillsborough, NCNC9,7784.1%−2.5 pts

82▲28Mount Airy, NCNC10,6824.1%−2.4 pts

83▼10Mocksville, NCNC6,2824.2%−0.4 pts

84▼4Wilmington, NCNC126,8094.3%−0.6 pts

85▲13Sanford, NCNC34,1384.4%−1.7 pts

86▼21Raleigh, NCNC506,3064.4%+0.1 pts

87▼37Mooresville, NCNC55,8424.4%+0.7 pts

88▲66Dallas, NCNC6,3924.5%−5.4 pts

89▼34Clemmons, NCNC22,8084.5%+0.7 pts

90▼5Tarboro, NCNC10,9794.5%−0.6 pts

91▼8Chapel Hill, NCNC63,5654.5%−0.5 pts

92▲17Lenoir, NCNC18,3724.6%−2.0 pts

93▲22New Bern, NCNC34,7244.6%−2.1 pts

94▲29Thomasville, NCNC27,7334.6%−2.8 pts

95▼13Charlotte, NCNC964,7844.6%−0.3 pts

96▲8Monroe, NCNC42,6444.6%−1.8 pts

97▼19Leland, NCNC35,7314.7%−0.1 pts

98▲35Siler City, NCNC8,1554.7%−3.5 pts

99▲21Selma, NCNC7,4064.9%−2.2 pts

100▼56Waxhaw, NCNC23,1404.9%+1.5 pts

101▼12Havelock, NCNC17,4304.9%−0.5 pts

102▼7Clinton, NCNC8,4664.9%−1.0 pts

103▼46East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3235.0%+1.1 pts

104▼37Elon, NCNC11,3665.1%+0.7 pts

105▲2Greensboro, NCNC308,6675.1%−1.5 pts

106▼57Asheville, NCNC93,5235.1%+1.4 pts

107▼87Angier, NCNC9,4105.1%+2.8 pts

108▼50Pinehurst, NCNC18,6705.2%+1.2 pts

109▲8High Point, NCNC120,5715.2%−1.7 pts

110▼65Pineville, NCNC11,8515.2%+1.8 pts

111▼80Stallings, NCNC17,7605.3%+2.3 pts

112▼56Silver Lake, NCNC6,5635.3%+1.5 pts

113▼16Indian Trail, NCNC44,3035.3%−0.6 pts

114▲27Marion, NCNC7,4405.4%−3.4 pts

115▲33Spring Lake, NCNC11,2525.4%−3.9 pts

116▼30Winterville, NCNC10,9735.4%+0.2 pts

117▲25Mount Holly, NCNC19,0335.5%−3.3 pts

118▼17Butner, NCNC8,1125.5%−0.8 pts

119▼32Concord, NCNC114,5985.5%+0.3 pts

120▼2Albemarle, NCNC17,7695.6%−1.4 pts

121▲7Lumberton, NCNC18,9555.6%−2.2 pts

122▼30Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2715.7%0.0 pts

123▼20Gastonia, NCNC87,0675.7%−0.7 pts

124▲11Spout Springs, NCNC11,2425.7%−2.6 pts

125▼53Murraysville, NCNC16,3395.8%+1.3 pts

126▲4Salisbury, NCNC36,8795.8%−2.2 pts

127▼8Piney Green, NCNC14,0785.9%−1.1 pts

128▼35Bessemer City, NCNC5,8345.9%+0.2 pts

129▲30Lexington, NCNC20,2386.0%−4.4 pts

130▼55Newton, NCNC13,8226.2%+1.4 pts

131▼107St. James, NCNC7,3186.2%+3.7 pts

132▼55Garner, NCNC41,5626.2%+1.5 pts

133▲23Hampstead, NCNC9,2926.3%−3.9 pts

134▲19Reidsville, NCNC14,6926.4%−3.2 pts

135▼36Burlington, NCNC61,4966.5%+0.5 pts

136▲19Wilson, NCNC49,5726.7%−3.3 pts

137▼5Southern Pines, NCNC17,3576.7%−1.3 pts

138▲23Ayden, NCNC5,2636.7%−3.8 pts

139▼23Statesville, NCNC32,1816.8%−0.1 pts

140▼94Westport, NCNC5,9156.8%+3.3 pts

141▼30Graham, NCNC20,1316.8%+0.2 pts

142▲5Oxford, NCNC8,9857.0%−2.2 pts

143▲29Wadesboro, NCNC5,0357.0%−7.5 pts

144▲1Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6227.0%−1.9 pts

145▲13Nashville, NCNC5,9117.0%−3.3 pts

146▲21Anderson Creek, NCNC13,9277.1%−5.3 pts

147▼41Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7317.1%+0.6 pts

148▼21Zebulon, NCNC11,9337.1%−0.7 pts

149▼23Smithfield, NCNC13,1147.2%−0.4 pts

150▲2Jacksonville, NCNC72,7327.4%−2.2 pts

151▼1Forest City, NCNC7,4107.5%−1.9 pts

152▲8Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1177.7%−2.8 pts

153▼10Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8707.8%−1.0 pts

154▼16Fayetteville, NCNC209,1207.9%−0.5 pts

155▲9Sawmills, NCNC5,1058.0%−3.8 pts

156▼10Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1208.0%−1.1 pts

157▲6Goldsboro, NCNC35,0128.0%−2.8 pts

158▼70Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3868.1%+2.8 pts

159▼142Creedmoor, NCNC5,0468.2%+6.0 pts

160▼26Briar Chapel, NCNC6,0498.2%0.0 pts

161▼48Hope Mills, NCNC18,3248.2%+1.6 pts

162▼33Eden, NCNC15,5008.3%+0.3 pts

163▼41Hamlet, NCNC5,8708.7%+1.5 pts

164▼25Greenville, NCNC96,4439.0%+0.3 pts

165▼25Henderson, NCNC15,0139.4%+0.7 pts

166▲7Williamston, NCNC5,0869.8%−5.3 pts

167▲4Laurinburg, NCNC14,58211.0%−3.2 pts

168▼60Rockingham, NCNC8,81511.3%+4.8 pts

169▼12Cullowhee, NCNC7,97311.8%+1.5 pts

170▲4Boone, NCNC19,92912.0%−4.6 pts

171▼2Porters Neck, NCNC7,65412.5%−1.0 pts

172▼6Roxboro, NCNC8,38013.5%+1.5 pts

173▼160Swannanoa, NCNC6,90114.8%+13.0 pts

174▼4Kinston, NCNC19,70516.1%+2.5 pts

175▼7Northchase, NCNC5,89619.2%+6.1 pts

SHOWING 1–175 OF 175

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES