The 10 Best Small Towns In North Carolina For 2025


The best small towns in North Carolina are Wrightsville Beach and Jame for 2025 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: October 1, 2025

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in North Carolina. Best sururbs in North Carolina. Best counties in North Carolina.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Tar Heel State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in North Carolina based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in North Carolina ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In North Carolina For 2025

  1. Wrightsville Beach
  2. Jame
  3. Trent Woods
  4. Northlakes
  5. Biltmore Forest
  6. Bayshore
  7. Royal Pines
  8. Weaverville
  9. Alamance
  10. Forest Oaks
  11. Kure Beach
  12. Avery Creek
  13. Valley Hill
  14. Fearrington Village
  15. Bermuda Run

Best Small Towns To Live In North Carolina Map

What’s the best small town in North Carolina? Wrightsville Beach is the best small town in North Carolina based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Wrightsville Beach, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Tar Heel State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In North Carolina For 2025

1. Wrightsville Beach

Wrightsville Beach, NC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 2,679
Median Income: $167,273 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,041,800 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

2. Jame

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 3,685
Median Income: $90,542 (29th Best)
Median Home Value: $266,600 (76th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.3%

3. Trent Woods

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 4,086
Median Income: $109,097 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $294,200 (65th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%

4. Northlakes

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,462
Median Income: $101,461 (21st Best)
Median Home Value: $335,500 (48th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

5. Biltmore Forest

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 1,536
Median Income: $172,500 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,249,000 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

6. Bayshore

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,870
Median Income: $97,174 (24th Best)
Median Home Value: $498,300 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.0%

7. Royal Pines

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 4,528
Median Income: $105,956 (17th Best)
Median Home Value: $369,500 (33rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%

8. Weaverville

Weaverville, NC

Source: Wikipedia User -ted | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 4,618
Median Income: $90,000 (30th Best)
Median Home Value: $452,700 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

9. Alamance

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,358
Median Income: $88,438 (36th Best)
Median Home Value: $404,700 (21st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.2%

10. Forest Oaks

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 4,095
Median Income: $108,250 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $294,400 (64th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

11. Kure Beach

Kure Beach, NC

Source: Wikipedia User Alexisrael | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,323
Median Income: $102,292 (20th Best)
Median Home Value: $633,800 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%

12. Avery Creek

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,998
Median Income: $107,684 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $326,200 (50th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

13. Valley Hill

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,540
Median Income: $87,250 (40th Best)
Median Home Value: $296,500 (59th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

14. Fearrington Village

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,535
Median Income: $101,384 (22nd Best)
Median Home Value: $439,900 (17th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%

15. Bermuda Run

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,166
Median Income: $66,800 (97th Best)
Median Home Value: $309,800 (54th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In North Carolina

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in North Carolina possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 280 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 280, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in North Carolina. Top of that list — Wrightsville Beach.

This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in North Carolina.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in North Carolina are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in North Carolina are Wrightsville Beach, Jame, Trent Woods, Northlakes, Biltmore Forest, Bayshore, Royal Pines, Weaverville, Alamance, and Forest Oaks.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in North Carolina:

  1. Rocky Point
  2. East Rockingham
  3. Enfield

For more North Carolina reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In North Carolina

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Wrightsville Beach, NC 2,679 $167,273 1.3%
2 Jame, NC 3,685 $90,542 0.3%
3 Trent Woods, NC 4,086 $109,097 2.9%
4 Northlakes, NC 1,462 $101,461 1.2%
5 Biltmore Forest, NC 1,536 $172,500 1.2%
6 Bayshore, NC 2,870 $97,174 4.0%
7 Royal Pines, NC 4,528 $105,956 2.1%
8 Weaverville, NC 4,618 $90,000 2.4%
9 Alamance, NC 1,358 $88,438 0.2%
10 Forest Oaks, NC 4,095 $108,250 0.0%
11 Kure Beach, NC 2,323 $102,292 1.5%
12 Avery Creek, NC 2,998 $107,684 0.0%
13 Valley Hill, NC 2,540 $87,250 0.0%
14 Fearrington Village, NC 2,535 $101,384 3.1%
15 Bermuda Run, NC 3,166 $66,800 0.0%
16 Emerald Isle, NC 3,915 $89,432 1.4%
17 Brices Creek, NC 3,592 $107,800 0.0%
18 Pine Knoll Shores, NC 1,387 $108,393 3.1%
19 Sunset Beach, NC 4,326 $84,934 2.1%
20 Southport, NC 4,143 $82,792 0.7%
21 Lake Park, NC 3,365 $76,366 2.5%
22 Faith, NC 1,090 $128,274 0.0%
23 Nags Head, NC 3,164 $87,619 2.0%
24 Holden Beach, NC 1,047 $110,000 2.4%
25 Laurel Park, NC 2,391 $89,107 3.3%
26 Swansboro, NC 3,887 $112,382 0.0%
27 River Bend, NC 2,896 $68,314 3.2%
28 Carolina Shores, NC 4,843 $74,310 6.0%
29 Walnut Creek, NC 1,684 $145,417 2.3%
30 Mars Hill, NC 2,738 $77,826 3.5%
31 Mountain Home, NC 3,518 $68,750 0.8%
32 Balfour, NC 1,132 $69,545 0.0%
33 Cedar Point, NC 2,005 $91,853 3.1%
34 Foxfire, NC 1,730 $75,163 1.3%
35 Lake Junaluska, NC 2,903 $82,115 6.0%
36 Seven Lakes, NC 4,823 $91,495 1.5%
37 Boiling Springs, NC 4,625 $98,796 6.4%
38 Southern Shores, NC 3,119 $116,859 13.9%
39 Swepsonville, NC 2,452 $94,028 3.1%
40 Surf City, NC 4,160 $84,833 1.7%
41 Red Oak, NC 3,372 $81,464 0.0%
42 Cape Carteret, NC 2,598 $75,313 2.3%
43 Advance, NC 1,544 $109,402 0.0%
44 Pittsboro, NC 4,640 $64,792 2.1%
45 Lowesville, NC 3,737 $117,835 1.7%
46 Midway, NC 4,826 $75,208 3.2%
47 Fairfield Harbour, NC 2,898 $69,661 5.0%
48 Flat Rock, NC 3,502 $103,981 5.5%
49 Kitty Hawk, NC 3,721 $88,811 7.9%
50 Banner Elk, NC 1,338 $67,917 5.6%
51 Mcadenville, NC 1,139 $117,411 5.1%
52 Efland, NC 1,064 $72,396 0.0%
53 James City, NC 4,859 $63,835 1.1%
54 Ranlo, NC 4,556 $75,843 5.5%
55 Buies Creek, NC 3,613 $52,458 1.4%
56 Buxton, NC 1,451 $67,054 3.5%
57 Moravian Falls, NC 1,015 $57,262 0.0%
58 Wanchese, NC 1,793 $73,542 1.9%
59 Fairview, NC 3,549 $89,417 2.4%
60 Fairview, NC 2,327 $74,388 6.2%
61 Pine Level, NC 2,072 $72,663 4.6%
62 Hoopers Creek, NC 1,623 $64,792 3.2%
63 Troutman, NC 3,813 $76,389 5.4%
64 Atlantic Beach, NC 1,705 $58,056 3.2%
65 Stanley, NC 4,014 $71,333 5.3%
66 Dortches, NC 1,317 $72,955 2.9%
67 Bethlehem, NC 3,928 $78,963 2.7%
68 Granite Falls, NC 4,921 $74,250 1.8%
69 Belville, NC 3,183 $86,875 7.8%
70 Lake Waccamaw, NC 1,666 $79,844 2.6%
71 Canton, NC 4,417 $64,034 1.2%
72 Sea Breeze, NC 1,731 $57,379 1.8%
73 Beaufort, NC 4,613 $48,111 6.8%
74 Horse Shoe, NC 1,699 $67,703 7.7%
75 Pleasant Garden, NC 4,989 $88,482 1.6%
76 Boonville, NC 1,502 $77,500 0.0%
77 Lake Lure, NC 1,488 $72,813 2.8%
78 Midland, NC 4,758 $85,551 1.9%
79 Tobaccoville, NC 2,632 $78,591 3.2%
80 Stedman, NC 1,613 $105,491 2.5%
81 Camden, NC 1,072 $81,583 9.0%
82 Stem, NC 1,064 $85,385 2.1%
83 Mount Pleasant, NC 1,866 $81,250 4.3%
84 Youngsville, NC 2,581 $61,813 3.5%
85 Highlands, NC 1,276 $63,750 3.7%
86 Wallburg, NC 3,104 $78,821 6.7%
87 Holly Ridge, NC 4,532 $106,230 2.0%
88 Rutherford College, NC 1,327 $63,000 1.9%
89 Landis, NC 3,726 $82,645 3.7%
90 Eastover, NC 3,666 $80,000 5.4%
91 Shallotte, NC 4,465 $75,642 3.0%
92 Clyde, NC 1,522 $59,315 2.0%
93 Newport, NC 4,428 $76,091 7.9%
94 Wingate, NC 4,169 $65,208 5.6%
95 Pumpkin Center, NC 1,753 $62,684 8.8%
96 Broadway, NC 1,429 $62,679 2.8%
97 Harkers Island, NC 1,080 $58,750 0.5%
98 Rockwell, NC 2,688 $64,141 5.3%
99 Hemby Bridge, NC 2,079 $71,953 0.6%
100 Lake Royale, NC 2,959 $96,250 1.7%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings