RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Lowest unemployment, North Carolina cities · 2020

North Carolina cities ranked by the lowest 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

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%–

02Etowah, NCNC7,9680.7%–

03Whispering Pines, NCNC5,5051.0%–

04Moyock, NCNC5,6841.2%–

05Midland, NCNC5,1511.3%–

06Weddington, NCNC14,5171.4%–

07Lillington, NCNC5,0401.5%–

08Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1651.6%–

09Wendell, NCNC19,6871.6%–

10King, NCNC7,9771.6%–

11Hendersonville, NCNC15,8671.7%–

12Mills River, NCNC7,5041.8%–

13Swannanoa, NCNC6,9011.8%–

14Fletcher, NCNC8,3731.9%–

15Kings Grant, NCNC9,0032.0%–

16Black Mountain, NCNC8,4912.1%–

17Creedmoor, NCNC5,0462.1%–

18Ogden, NCNC8,2492.2%–

19Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,4942.2%–

20Angier, NCNC9,4102.3%–

21Waynesville, NCNC11,0062.3%–

22Summerfield, NCNC11,3272.4%–

23Oak Ridge, NCNC7,8962.5%–

24St. James, NCNC7,3182.5%–

25Clayton, NCNC32,6332.7%–

26Woodfin, NCNC8,2292.8%–

27Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,5662.8%–

28Cramerton, NCNC5,7132.9%–

29Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9082.9%–

30Gibsonville, NCNC9,8762.9%–

31Stallings, NCNC17,7603.0%–

32Conover, NCNC8,9383.0%–

33Oak Island, NCNC9,3373.0%–

34Matthews, NCNC32,7693.0%–

35Davidson, NCNC16,6623.1%–

36Unionville, NCNC7,3223.2%–

37Holly Springs, NCNC50,2883.2%–

38Cary, NCNC183,5823.3%–

39Shallotte, NCNC5,3353.3%–

40Cherryville, NCNC6,5233.3%–

41Marvin, NCNC7,0403.3%–

42Lewisville, NCNC14,4213.3%–

43Morrisville, NCNC32,4663.3%–

44Waxhaw, NCNC23,1403.4%–

45Pineville, NCNC11,8513.5%–

46Westport, NCNC5,9153.5%–

47Carrboro, NCNC20,9623.6%–

48Harrisburg, NCNC20,7423.6%–

49Asheville, NCNC93,5233.7%–

50Mooresville, NCNC55,8423.7%–

51Cornelius, NCNC35,0943.7%–

52Morehead City, NCNC10,4343.7%–

53Trinity, NCNC7,2743.8%–

54Huntersville, NCNC68,5353.8%–

55Clemmons, NCNC22,8083.8%–

56Silver Lake, NCNC6,5633.8%–

57East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3233.9%–

58Pinehurst, NCNC18,6704.0%–

59Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5364.1%–

60Kernersville, NCNC29,1284.1%–

61Aberdeen, NCNC10,0664.1%–

62Locust, NCNC6,1204.1%–

63Knightdale, NCNC23,1444.1%–

64Stokesdale, NCNC6,1334.2%–

65Raleigh, NCNC506,3064.3%–

66Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8754.3%–

67Elon, NCNC11,3664.4%–

68Archdale, NCNC12,2544.4%–

69Walkertown, NCNC6,1204.5%–

70Apex, NCNC80,4194.5%–

71Rolesville, NCNC12,8394.5%–

72Murraysville, NCNC16,3394.5%–

73Mocksville, NCNC6,2824.6%–

74Durham, NCNC305,5614.7%–

75Newton, NCNC13,8224.8%–

76Belmont, NCNC16,4154.8%–

77Garner, NCNC41,5624.8%–

78Leland, NCNC35,7314.8%–

79Morganton, NCNC17,8494.8%–

80Wilmington, NCNC126,8094.9%–

81Mint Hill, NCNC29,4764.9%–

82Charlotte, NCNC964,7844.9%–

83Chapel Hill, NCNC63,5655.1%–

84Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6375.1%–

85Tarboro, NCNC10,9795.1%–

86Winterville, NCNC10,9735.2%–

87Concord, NCNC114,5985.3%–

88Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3865.3%–

89Havelock, NCNC17,4305.4%–

90Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,9065.6%–

91Wake Forest, NCNC58,1475.6%–

92Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2715.6%–

93Bessemer City, NCNC5,8345.7%–

94Surf City, NCNC5,1425.8%–

95Clinton, NCNC8,4665.9%–

96Brevard, NCNC8,0985.9%–

97Indian Trail, NCNC44,3035.9%–

98Sanford, NCNC34,1386.0%–

99Burlington, NCNC61,4966.0%–

100Asheboro, NCNC27,9906.1%–

101Butner, NCNC8,1126.3%–

102Mebane, NCNC21,9526.4%–

103Gastonia, NCNC87,0676.4%–

104Monroe, NCNC42,6446.4%–

105Pittsboro, NCNC5,0546.4%–

106Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7316.5%–

107Greensboro, NCNC308,6676.5%–

108Rockingham, NCNC8,8156.5%–

109Lenoir, NCNC18,3726.6%–

110Mount Airy, NCNC10,6826.6%–

111Graham, NCNC20,1316.6%–

112Hillsborough, NCNC9,7786.7%–

113Hope Mills, NCNC18,3246.7%–

114Dunn, NCNC8,8146.7%–

115New Bern, NCNC34,7246.7%–

116Statesville, NCNC32,1816.8%–

117High Point, NCNC120,5716.8%–

118Albemarle, NCNC17,7696.9%–

119Piney Green, NCNC14,0787.0%–

120Selma, NCNC7,4067.1%–

121Shelby, NCNC23,3097.1%–

122Hamlet, NCNC5,8707.1%–

123Thomasville, NCNC27,7337.4%–

124Kannapolis, NCNC61,7087.5%–

125St. Stephens, NCNC9,4577.6%–

126Smithfield, NCNC13,1147.6%–

127Zebulon, NCNC11,9337.8%–

128Lumberton, NCNC18,9557.9%–

129Eden, NCNC15,5007.9%–

130Salisbury, NCNC36,8798.0%–

131Midway, NCNC5,1048.1%–

132Southern Pines, NCNC17,3578.1%–

133Siler City, NCNC8,1558.2%–

134Briar Chapel, NCNC6,0498.2%–

135Spout Springs, NCNC11,2428.2%–

136Lincolnton, NCNC12,4658.3%–

137Hickory, NCNC45,9758.3%–

138Fayetteville, NCNC209,1208.4%–

139Greenville, NCNC96,4438.7%–

140Henderson, NCNC15,0138.7%–

141Marion, NCNC7,4408.7%–

142Mount Holly, NCNC19,0338.8%–

143Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8708.8%–

144Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2878.9%–

145Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6229.0%–

146Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1209.1%–

147Oxford, NCNC8,9859.2%–

148Spring Lake, NCNC11,2529.3%–

149Long View, NCNC5,3879.3%–

150Forest City, NCNC7,4109.4%–

151Washington, NCNC9,9109.5%–

152Jacksonville, NCNC72,7329.6%–

153Reidsville, NCNC14,6929.6%–

154Dallas, NCNC6,3929.9%–

155Wilson, NCNC49,57210.0%–

156Hampstead, NCNC9,29210.2%–

157Cullowhee, NCNC7,97310.3%–

158Nashville, NCNC5,91110.3%–

159Lexington, NCNC20,23810.4%–

160Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11710.5%–

161Ayden, NCNC5,26310.5%–

162Half Moon, NCNC7,37810.7%–

163Goldsboro, NCNC35,01210.8%–

164Sawmills, NCNC5,10511.8%–

165Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54011.9%–

166Roxboro, NCNC8,38012.0%–

167Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92712.4%–

168Northchase, NCNC5,89613.2%–

169Porters Neck, NCNC7,65413.4%–

170Kinston, NCNC19,70513.6%–

171Laurinburg, NCNC14,58214.3%–

172Wadesboro, NCNC5,03514.5%–

173Williamston, NCNC5,08615.1%–

174Boone, NCNC19,92916.6%–

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

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