RANKING · 2024 ACS · 175 SHOWN OF 175

Most unemployed people, North Carolina cities

North Carolina cities with the most unemployed people in the civilian labor force, as of the 2024 American Community Survey. Ranked by number of people, not the unemployment rate. This list covers the 175 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPUNEMPLOYED RESIDENTSVS 2020

01Charlotte, NCNC964,78424,189−1%

02Raleigh, NCNC506,30612,345+6%

03Greensboro, NCNC308,6678,047−20%

04Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2716,994+5%

05Fayetteville, NCNC209,1206,573−8%

06Durham, NCNC305,5616,345−13%

07Greenville, NCNC96,4434,414+6%

08Cary, NCNC183,5823,410+13%

09Concord, NCNC114,5983,225+21%

10High Point, NCNC120,5713,002−21%

11Wilmington, NCNC126,8092,938−7%

12Asheville, NCNC93,5232,584+42%

13Gastonia, NCNC87,0672,390−3%

14Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1202,076−9%

15Burlington, NCNC61,4961,952+19%

16Wilson, NCNC49,5721,516−34%

17Jacksonville, NCNC72,7321,452−27%

18Apex, NCNC80,4191,448+6%

19Chapel Hill, NCNC63,5651,427−9%

20Indian Trail, NCNC44,3031,316+0%

21Kinston, NCNC19,7051,306+14%

22Mooresville, NCNC55,8421,270+72%

23Kannapolis, NCNC61,7081,264−32%

24Boone, NCNC19,9291,233−27%

25Huntersville, NCNC68,5351,183+1%

26Garner, NCNC41,5621,151+44%

27Wake Forest, NCNC58,1471,136−14%

28Goldsboro, NCNC35,0121,083−27%

29Statesville, NCNC32,1811,035+7%

30Salisbury, NCNC36,879927−25%

31Monroe, NCNC42,644864−24%

32Hickory, NCNC45,975814−52%

33Holly Springs, NCNC50,288786+34%

34Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536716+20%

35New Bern, NCNC34,724684−26%

36Leland, NCNC35,731677+43%

37Laurinburg, NCNC14,582667−23%

38Henderson, NCNC15,013647+16%

39Graham, NCNC20,131638+35%

40Sanford, NCNC34,138631−26%

41Elizabeth City, NCNC19,622626−11%

42Thomasville, NCNC27,733623−32%

43Morrisville, NCNC32,466623+19%

44Hope Mills, NCNC18,324622+29%

45Mint Hill, NCNC29,476619−15%

46Murraysville, NCNC16,339600+38%

47Eden, NCNC15,500576+6%

48Mount Holly, NCNC19,033552−30%

49Waxhaw, NCNC23,140551+107%

50Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,386546+73%

51Northchase, NCNC5,896545+67%

52Stallings, NCNC17,760531+103%

53Cullowhee, NCNC7,973527+63%

54Clemmons, NCNC22,808518+35%

55Asheboro, NCNC27,990513−27%

56Lexington, NCNC20,238503−38%

57Roxboro, NCNC8,380492+0%

58Carrboro, NCNC20,962457+2%

59Clayton, NCNC32,633455+35%

60Southern Pines, NCNC17,357450−3%

61Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117440−16%

62Cornelius, NCNC35,094426−26%

63Rockingham, NCNC8,815424+62%

64Albemarle, NCNC17,769424−18%

65Porters Neck, NCNC7,654412−17%

66Mebane, NCNC21,952411−19%

67Knightdale, NCNC23,144404−2%

68Lumberton, NCNC18,955394−35%

69Kernersville, NCNC29,128393−29%

70Swannanoa, NCNC6,901393+1056%

71Newton, NCNC13,822385+37%

72Reidsville, NCNC14,692382−32%

73Lenoir, NCNC18,372363−28%

74Smithfield, NCNC13,114361−9%

75Anderson Creek, NCNC13,927359−46%

76Piney Green, NCNC14,078354−27%

77Shelby, NCNC23,309353−46%

78Matthews, NCNC32,769350−34%

79Zebulon, NCNC11,933331+78%

80Belmont, NCNC16,415327+12%

81Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731321+5%

82Winterville, NCNC10,973321+11%

83Davidson, NCNC16,662319+57%

84Pineville, NCNC11,851318+100%

85Pinehurst, NCNC18,670313+42%

86Harrisburg, NCNC20,742312+9%

87Havelock, NCNC17,430310−15%

88Morganton, NCNC17,849300−8%

89Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870289−7%

90Hampstead, NCNC9,292265−21%

91Williamston, NCNC5,086250−36%

92Hamlet, NCNC5,870248+22%

93Briar Chapel, NCNC6,049246+85%

94Oxford, NCNC8,985246−33%

95Hendersonville, NCNC15,867223+108%

96Forest City, NCNC7,410219−22%

97Elon, NCNC11,366217+20%

98Sawmills, NCNC5,105215−24%

99Tarboro, NCNC10,979210−15%

100Lincolnton, NCNC12,465207−53%

101Hillsborough, NCNC9,778207−12%

102Rolesville, NCNC12,839207+29%

103Spring Lake, NCNC11,252203−42%

104Spout Springs, NCNC11,242202−40%

105Nashville, NCNC5,911201−34%

106Butner, NCNC8,112200−14%

107Creedmoor, NCNC5,046194+296%

108Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,637194−31%

109Westport, NCNC5,915194+181%

110Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,906194−17%

111Silver Lake, NCNC6,563191+49%

112Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,494182+31%

113Siler City, NCNC8,155181−40%

114Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566181+39%

115Mount Airy, NCNC10,682181−37%

116Wadesboro, NCNC5,035167−52%

117Bessemer City, NCNC5,834166+7%

118Dallas, NCNC6,392163−35%

119Unionville, NCNC7,322163+23%

120Selma, NCNC7,406161−24%

121Gibsonville, NCNC9,876159+49%

122Washington, NCNC9,910159−57%

123Clinton, NCNC8,466158−18%

124East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323158+14%

125Ayden, NCNC5,263156−36%

126Marion, NCNC7,440154−37%

127Angier, NCNC9,410152+167%

128Aberdeen, NCNC10,066150+10%

129Archdale, NCNC12,254148−43%

130Kings Grant, NCNC9,003145+46%

131Black Mountain, NCNC8,491145+116%

132Fletcher, NCNC8,373131+64%

133Lewisville, NCNC14,421130−45%

134Marvin, NCNC7,040130+19%

135Mocksville, NCNC6,282124−2%

136Dunn, NCNC8,814122−55%

137Woodfin, NCNC8,229122+33%

138Weddington, NCNC14,517119+65%

139Conover, NCNC8,938118+1%

140Summerfield, NCNC11,327117−17%

141Trinity, NCNC7,274114−3%

142Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287112−50%

143Oak Island, NCNC9,337111−1%

144Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875110−9%

145Brevard, NCNC8,098109−47%

146Cramerton, NCNC5,713104+39%

147Etowah, NCNC7,968104+352%

148Mills River, NCNC7,504103+58%

149Wendell, NCNC19,687100+47%

150Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89697+20%

151St. James, NCNC7,31896+174%

152Waynesville, NCNC11,00696−11%

153Morehead City, NCNC10,43495−46%

154Moyock, NCNC5,68492+156%

155Locust, NCNC6,12088+22%

156Cherryville, NCNC6,52381−6%

157Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54075−50%

158Walkertown, NCNC6,12075−27%

159Lillington, NCNC5,04073+329%

160Shallotte, NCNC5,33572+33%

161Long View, NCNC5,38770−71%

162Midway, NCNC5,10468−68%

163Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50562+464%

164Surf City, NCNC5,14262−35%

165Ogden, NCNC8,24961−40%

166Stokesdale, NCNC6,13350−58%

167Midland, NCNC5,15149+104%

168Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16548+33%

169St. Stephens, NCNC9,45748−88%

170Barbecue, NCNC5,91045–

171Half Moon, NCNC7,37843−88%

172Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90842+11%

173King, NCNC7,97731−47%

174Pittsboro, NCNC5,05430−78%

175Archer Lodge, NCNC5,6490–

SHOWING 1–175 OF 175

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES