RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Most unemployed people, North Carolina cities · 2020

North Carolina cities with the most unemployed people in the civilian labor force, as of the 2020 American Community Survey. Ranked by number of people, not the unemployment rate. This list covers the 174 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 174 is 305.

North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

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

RANKPLACESTATEPOPUNEMPLOYED RESIDENTSVS –

01Charlotte, NCNC964,78424,498–

02Raleigh, NCNC506,30611,594–

03Greensboro, NCNC308,66710,062–

04Durham, NCNC305,5617,281–

05Fayetteville, NCNC209,1207,179–

06Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2716,682–

07Greenville, NCNC96,4434,183–

08High Point, NCNC120,5713,823–

09Wilmington, NCNC126,8093,146–

10Cary, NCNC183,5823,016–

11Concord, NCNC114,5982,658–

12Gastonia, NCNC87,0672,454–

13Wilson, NCNC49,5722,313–

14Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1202,283–

15Jacksonville, NCNC72,7321,977–

16Kannapolis, NCNC61,7081,859–

17Asheville, NCNC93,5231,820–

18Hickory, NCNC45,9751,697–

19Boone, NCNC19,9291,678–

20Burlington, NCNC61,4961,644–

21Chapel Hill, NCNC63,5651,574–

22Goldsboro, NCNC35,0121,486–

23Apex, NCNC80,4191,365–

24Wake Forest, NCNC58,1471,327–

25Indian Trail, NCNC44,3031,310–

26Salisbury, NCNC36,8791,243–

27Huntersville, NCNC68,5351,170–

28Kinston, NCNC19,7051,145–

29Monroe, NCNC42,6441,144–

30Statesville, NCNC32,181969–

31New Bern, NCNC34,724930–

32Thomasville, NCNC27,733921–

33Laurinburg, NCNC14,582866–

34Sanford, NCNC34,138852–

35Lexington, NCNC20,238806–

36Garner, NCNC41,562799–

37Mount Holly, NCNC19,033794–

38Mooresville, NCNC55,842738–

39Mint Hill, NCNC29,476731–

40Asheboro, NCNC27,990707–

41Elizabeth City, NCNC19,622700–

42Anderson Creek, NCNC13,927665–

43Shelby, NCNC23,309654–

44Lumberton, NCNC18,955604–

45Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536596–

46Holly Springs, NCNC50,288588–

47Cornelius, NCNC35,094573–

48Reidsville, NCNC14,692558–

49Henderson, NCNC15,013557–

50Kernersville, NCNC29,128552–

51Eden, NCNC15,500545–

52Matthews, NCNC32,769531–

53Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117524–

54Morrisville, NCNC32,466522–

55Albemarle, NCNC17,769519–

56Lenoir, NCNC18,372506–

57Mebane, NCNC21,952506–

58Porters Neck, NCNC7,654498–

59Roxboro, NCNC8,380491–

60Piney Green, NCNC14,078484–

61Hope Mills, NCNC18,324481–

62Leland, NCNC35,731474–

63Graham, NCNC20,131472–

64Southern Pines, NCNC17,357466–

65Carrboro, NCNC20,962446–

66Lincolnton, NCNC12,465442–

67Murraysville, NCNC16,339434–

68Knightdale, NCNC23,144413–

69Smithfield, NCNC13,114395–

70Williamston, NCNC5,086392–

71St. Stephens, NCNC9,457391–

72Clemmons, NCNC22,808384–

73Oxford, NCNC8,985369–

74Washington, NCNC9,910367–

75Havelock, NCNC17,430364–

76Half Moon, NCNC7,378359–

77Spring Lake, NCNC11,252352–

78Wadesboro, NCNC5,035350–

79Clayton, NCNC32,633338–

80Hampstead, NCNC9,292336–

81Spout Springs, NCNC11,242335–

82Northchase, NCNC5,896327–

83Morganton, NCNC17,849325–

84Cullowhee, NCNC7,973323–

85Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,386316–

86Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870312–

87Nashville, NCNC5,911305–

88Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731305–

89Siler City, NCNC8,155303–

90Belmont, NCNC16,415291–

91Mount Airy, NCNC10,682289–

92Winterville, NCNC10,973289–

93Harrisburg, NCNC20,742286–

94Sawmills, NCNC5,105284–

95Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,637283–

96Newton, NCNC13,822282–

97Forest City, NCNC7,410281–

98Dunn, NCNC8,814274–

99Waxhaw, NCNC23,140266–

100Rockingham, NCNC8,815262–

101Stallings, NCNC17,760261–

102Archdale, NCNC12,254260–

103Dallas, NCNC6,392250–

104Tarboro, NCNC10,979248–

105Marion, NCNC7,440244–

106Ayden, NCNC5,263243–

107Long View, NCNC5,387243–

108Lewisville, NCNC14,421237–

109Hillsborough, NCNC9,778235–

110Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,906234–

111Butner, NCNC8,112233–

112Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287222–

113Pinehurst, NCNC18,670221–

114Midway, NCNC5,104212–

115Selma, NCNC7,406212–

116Brevard, NCNC8,098205–

117Hamlet, NCNC5,870203–

118Davidson, NCNC16,662203–

119Clinton, NCNC8,466192–

120Zebulon, NCNC11,933186–

121Elon, NCNC11,366181–

122Morehead City, NCNC10,434175–

123Rolesville, NCNC12,839160–

124Pineville, NCNC11,851159–

125Bessemer City, NCNC5,834155–

126Carolina Shores, NCNC5,540150–

127Summerfield, NCNC11,327141–

128Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,494139–

129East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323138–

130Pittsboro, NCNC5,054138–

131Aberdeen, NCNC10,066136–

132Briar Chapel, NCNC6,049133–

133Unionville, NCNC7,322133–

134Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566130–

135Silver Lake, NCNC6,563128–

136Mocksville, NCNC6,282127–

137Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875121–

138Stokesdale, NCNC6,133120–

139Trinity, NCNC7,274118–

140Conover, NCNC8,938117–

141Oak Island, NCNC9,337112–

142Marvin, NCNC7,040109–

143Waynesville, NCNC11,006108–

144Gibsonville, NCNC9,876107–

145Hendersonville, NCNC15,867107–

146Walkertown, NCNC6,120103–

147Ogden, NCNC8,249102–

148Kings Grant, NCNC9,00399–

149Surf City, NCNC5,14296–

150Woodfin, NCNC8,22992–

151Cherryville, NCNC6,52386–

152Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89681–

153Fletcher, NCNC8,37380–

154Cramerton, NCNC5,71375–

155Locust, NCNC6,12072–

156Weddington, NCNC14,51772–

157Westport, NCNC5,91569–

158Wendell, NCNC19,68768–

159Black Mountain, NCNC8,49167–

160Mills River, NCNC7,50465–

161King, NCNC7,97759–

162Angier, NCNC9,41057–

163Shallotte, NCNC5,33554–

164Creedmoor, NCNC5,04649–

165Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90838–

166Moyock, NCNC5,68436–

167Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16536–

168St. James, NCNC7,31835–

169Swannanoa, NCNC6,90134–

170Midland, NCNC5,15124–

171Etowah, NCNC7,96823–

172Lillington, NCNC5,04017–

173Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50511–

174Archer Lodge, NCNC5,6490–

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS