Welcome to the happiest places in North Carolina.
Using Saturday Night Science and data, we determined the cities and towns with the most rainbows, butterflies, puppies, and unicorns.
You know, the places where people have jobs, white-picked fences, and friendly neighbors – unicorn cities.
After analyzing the 139 largest cities, we happily present the happiest cities in the Tar Heel State.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Happiest Places In North Carolina
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. If you have a smile on your face, you probably live in one of these cities.
Oh, and by the way, Zebulon is the most miserable place in North Carolina.
For more North Carolina reading, check out:
The 10 Happiest Places In North Carolina For 2025
/10
Population: 8,888
Poverty Level: 9.7%
Median Home Price $407,400
Married Households 27.0%
Households With Kids 9.99%
More on Oak Island: Data
Oak Island is by far the happiest place in the state of North Carolina. Let’s see why.
First off, having a solid family life is a good indication of how happy someone is. Lots of the residents of Oak Island aren’t missing out on love; more than 27% of them are married. Plus, the average commute time here is only about 22 minutes each way. That means a lot more time with the spouse and kids.
/10
Population: 9,696
Poverty Level: 17.4%
Median Home Price $330,900
Married Households 19.0%
Households With Kids 22.03%
More on Morehead City: Data
Things look to be pretty pleasant in Morehead City. Crime is really low here, and the percentage of married residents (19%) mean there’s lots of stability at home.
In addition to those factors, there is a thriving amount of community involvement. Studies have shown that a key factor to happiness is when people volunteer, especially in their own neighborhoods.
/10
Population: 7,957
Poverty Level: 13.0%
Median Home Price $326,600
Married Households 14.0%
Households With Kids 13.88%
More on Woodfin: Data
The people who live in Woodfin have a lot going for them. 47% of them have college degrees, and they command some of the highest salaries in NC. 14% of the people here are married.
Most of these all tops in the entire state.
/10
Population: 59,889
Poverty Level: 19.6%
Median Home Price $576,500
Married Households 6.0%
Households With Kids 24.79%
More on Chapel Hill: Data
Chapel Hill is where you can bet there are lots of smiley and happy people all over town. Crime is essentially something that just doesn’t happen here very often. And when you can let your guard down and relax a little, the lack of stress really makes a difference.
Same goes on the job front. Only 4.6% of residents here are out of work. Sounds like there are jobs for just about everyone who wants one. Which must be a good feeling to have.
/10
Population: 8,022
Poverty Level: 7.4%
Median Home Price $324,000
Married Households 27.0%
Households With Kids 19.25%
More on Fletcher: Data
If you want to see a bunch of happy people, go to Fletcher. It seriously looks like something out of a commercial.
They have a 19 minute commute time, which means lots more time with the kids.
/10
Population: 11,325
Poverty Level: 22.5%
Median Home Price $355,800
Married Households 14.0%
Households With Kids 29.82%
More on Elon: Data
For those who say that money doesn’t buy happiness, you’re half right. Studies have shown that people are happy up to a certain point when it comes to annual salaries, somewhere around $72,000 a year. After that, it doesn’t matter how much you make, you’re not going to be much happier.
The residents of Elon have that covered. Plus about 14% of households are married.
/10
Population: 10,408
Poverty Level: 15.3%
Median Home Price $254,800
Married Households 18.0%
Households With Kids 20.05%
More on Waynesville: Data
Most of the people in Waynesville have to be âplum’ happy. True happiness is âHome Sweet Home’ with your kids and spouse, being reminded to do chores, run errands and fold the clothes right.
/10
Population: 10,705
Poverty Level: 19.8%
Median Home Price $155,500
Married Households 32.0%
Households With Kids 25.68%
More on Tarboro: Data
Less than 2.3% of the residents in Tarboro are jobless, which is just about as low as you’ll see.
Incomes are steady, and commute times are really low as well. That really takes away the stress factors that stop folks from relaxing and enjoying their âdown time’ to do the little things that matter: Walks in the park, time alone with a book and extra face time with the children.
/10
Population: 94,369
Poverty Level: 14.6%
Median Home Price $411,000
Married Households 10.0%
Households With Kids 21.9%
More on Asheville: Data
About 52% of residents in Asheville, NC have a college degree. While we’ve all heard the saying, âIgnorance is bliss,’ our argument is: Ignorance is also broke.
Not only are most of the residents of Asheville smart, they’re safe, too.
/10
Population: 15,253
Poverty Level: 16.8%
Median Home Price $282,500
Married Households 11.0%
Households With Kids 16.94%
More on Hendersonville: Data
In Hendersonville, most of the population is married, and most own their own homes.
The commute times (18 minutes each way) might eventually start to turn the corners of those smiles sideways.
But for now, it’s all roses in Hendersonville.
Methodology: How We Measured The Happiest Cities In The Tar Heel State
To rank the happiest places in North Carolina, we had to determine what criteria make people happy. It isn’t a stretch to assume that happy people earn great salaries, are relatively stress-free, and have a stable home life.
So we went to the Census’s American Community Survey 2019-2023 report for the happy criteria, added some Saturday Night Science, and generated the answer.
Here are the criteria we used to measure happiness:
- Percentage of residents with a college degree
- Average commute times
- Unemployment rates
- Cost of living
- % of married couples
- % of families with kids
- Poverty rate
After we decided on the criteria, we gathered the data for the 139 places in North Carolina with over 5,000 people.
We then ranked each place from one to 139 for each of the seven criteria, with a score of one being the happiest.
Next, we averaged the seven rankings into a Happy Index for each place with the lowest overall Happy Index “earning” the title “Happiest City In North Carolina.”
If you’d like to see the complete list of cities, happiest to saddest, scroll to the bottom of this post to see the unabridged chart.
We updated this article for 2025, and it’s our tenth time ranking the happiest cities in North Carolina.
There You Have It – The Happiest Cities In North Carolina
As we said earlier, trying to determine the most miserable cities in North Carolina is usually a subjective matter.
But if you’re analyzing cities where people are not stable, where you’re stuck in traffic, and no one spent the time to go to college, then this is an accurate list.
The happiest cities in North Carolina are Oak Island, Morehead City, Woodfin, Chapel Hill, Fletcher, Elon, Waynesville, Tarboro, Asheville, and Hendersonville.
If you’re curious enough, here are the most miserable cities in North Carolina, according to science:
- Zebulon
- Hope Mills
- Monroe
For more North Carolina reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In North Carolina
- Cheapest Places To Live In North Carolina
- Most Dangerous Cities In North Carolina
- Richest Cities In North Carolina
- Safest Cities in North Carolina
- Worst Places To Live In North Carolina
- Most Expensive Places To Live In North Carolina
Happiest Cities In North Carolina For 2025
| Rank | City | Population | Poverty Level | Median Home Value | % Married | % Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oak Island, NC | 8,888 | 9.7% | $407,400 | 27.0% | 9.99% |
| 2 | Morehead City, NC | 9,696 | 17.4% | $330,900 | 19.0% | 22.03% |
| 3 | Woodfin, NC | 7,957 | 13.0% | $326,600 | 14.0% | 13.88% |
| 4 | Chapel Hill, NC | 59,889 | 19.6% | $576,500 | 6.0% | 24.79% |
| 5 | Fletcher, NC | 8,022 | 7.4% | $324,000 | 27.0% | 19.25% |
| 6 | Elon, NC | 11,325 | 22.5% | $355,800 | 14.0% | 29.82% |
| 7 | Waynesville, NC | 10,408 | 15.3% | $254,800 | 18.0% | 20.05% |
| 8 | Tarboro, NC | 10,705 | 19.8% | $155,500 | 32.0% | 25.68% |
| 9 | Asheville, NC | 94,369 | 14.6% | $411,000 | 10.0% | 21.9% |
| 10 | Hendersonville, NC | 15,253 | 16.8% | $282,500 | 11.0% | 16.94% |
| 11 | Wilmington, NC | 118,578 | 16.3% | $350,300 | 14.0% | 18.97% |
| 12 | Washington, NC | 9,754 | 19.7% | $193,800 | 28.0% | 21.81% |
| 13 | Boone, NC | 19,534 | 52.1% | $373,600 | 6.0% | 11.07% |
| 14 | Black Mountain, NC | 8,462 | 6.5% | $351,700 | 13.0% | 14.65% |
| 15 | Oak Ridge, NC | 7,660 | 2.7% | $523,500 | 28.0% | 34.61% |
| 16 | Brevard, NC | 7,795 | 17.2% | $411,000 | 12.0% | 19.9% |
| 17 | Carrboro, NC | 21,170 | 11.3% | $507,100 | 5.0% | 26.33% |
| 18 | Shelby, NC | 21,868 | 18.2% | $185,400 | 24.0% | 27.28% |
| 19 | Lewisville, NC | 13,655 | 10.3% | $284,300 | 29.0% | 34.5% |
| 20 | Durham, NC | 288,465 | 12.2% | $355,300 | 11.0% | 25.91% |
| 21 | Clemmons, NC | 21,574 | 7.9% | $306,900 | 23.0% | 27.2% |
| 22 | New Bern, NC | 31,563 | 16.3% | $211,500 | 16.0% | 26.95% |
| 23 | Hickory, NC | 43,747 | 16.9% | $248,300 | 20.0% | 29.42% |
| 24 | Kernersville, NC | 27,439 | 11.5% | $264,000 | 19.0% | 25.49% |
| 25 | Hillsborough, NC | 9,656 | 8.7% | $430,100 | 14.0% | 30.07% |
| 26 | Morganton, NC | 17,541 | 29.9% | $208,300 | 18.0% | 31.94% |
| 27 | Mount Airy, NC | 10,631 | 27.1% | $176,600 | 21.0% | 26.88% |
| 28 | Greenville, NC | 88,540 | 24.5% | $213,100 | 14.0% | 24.48% |
| 29 | Raleigh, NC | 470,763 | 11.4% | $377,800 | 12.0% | 26.43% |
| 30 | Southern Pines, NC | 16,052 | 10.0% | $416,300 | 14.0% | 22.21% |
| 31 | Gibsonville, NC | 9,289 | 8.4% | $262,400 | 27.0% | 32.79% |
| 32 | Carolina Beach, NC | 6,665 | 8.4% | $487,800 | 18.0% | 17.4% |
| 33 | Trinity, NC | 7,066 | 10.4% | $187,700 | 31.0% | 24.81% |
| 34 | King, NC | 7,345 | 6.4% | $227,500 | 34.0% | 34.68% |
| 35 | Conover, NC | 8,491 | 12.4% | $238,300 | 26.0% | 43.43% |
| 36 | Dunn, NC | 8,512 | 18.6% | $178,900 | 24.0% | 26.94% |
| 37 | Kill Devil Hills, NC | 7,727 | 7.0% | $401,700 | 12.0% | 19.96% |
| 38 | Pinehurst, NC | 17,992 | 4.3% | $423,300 | 13.0% | 16.31% |
| 39 | Walke, NC | 5,793 | 6.0% | $230,800 | 28.0% | 30.5% |
| 40 | Morrisville, NC | 30,471 | 4.8% | $481,800 | 4.0% | 38.17% |
| 41 | Mills River, NC | 7,214 | 2.0% | $358,500 | 23.0% | 30.84% |
| 42 | Davidson, NC | 14,852 | 7.0% | $626,000 | 8.0% | 31.95% |
| 43 | Lincolnton, NC | 11,503 | 18.4% | $224,600 | 24.0% | 30.43% |
| 44 | Summerfield, NC | 11,031 | 7.7% | $490,100 | 17.0% | 37.74% |
| 45 | Wilson, NC | 47,740 | 25.1% | $192,000 | 24.0% | 28.61% |
| 46 | Cary, NC | 176,686 | 5.3% | $525,200 | 9.0% | 35.39% |
| 47 | Cornelius, NC | 32,009 | 4.4% | $512,400 | 9.0% | 28.18% |
| 48 | Salisbury, NC | 35,730 | 24.3% | $215,200 | 20.0% | 29.69% |
| 49 | Belmont, NC | 15,140 | 10.1% | $349,700 | 18.0% | 27.57% |
| 50 | Stokesdale, NC | 5,943 | 7.6% | $368,600 | 25.0% | 45.24% |
| 51 | Archdale, NC | 11,992 | 6.2% | $188,200 | 26.0% | 24.94% |
| 52 | Cramerton, NC | 5,376 | 3.8% | $322,900 | 29.0% | 31.08% |
| 53 | Matthews, NC | 29,959 | 4.0% | $406,800 | 13.0% | 30.51% |
| 54 | Nashville, NC | 5,672 | 20.8% | $191,700 | 26.0% | 29.59% |
| 55 | Aberdeen, NC | 8,969 | 10.3% | $287,200 | 18.0% | 29.0% |
| 56 | Winterville, NC | 10,624 | 9.4% | $226,600 | 22.0% | 31.15% |
| 57 | Unionville, NC | 6,826 | 9.4% | $312,200 | 38.0% | 33.53% |
| 58 | Leland, NC | 26,307 | 5.8% | $358,800 | 14.0% | 23.07% |
| 59 | Ayden, NC | 5,035 | 21.6% | $161,200 | 34.0% | 27.6% |
| 60 | Greensboro, NC | 298,564 | 18.4% | $221,300 | 13.0% | 29.57% |
| 61 | Smithfield, NC | 11,798 | 31.4% | $217,000 | 18.0% | 25.96% |
| 62 | Archer Lodge, NC | 5,036 | 13.8% | $285,600 | 23.0% | 37.16% |
| 63 | Mint Hill, NC | 26,954 | 8.7% | $386,900 | 21.0% | 29.82% |
| 64 | Winston-Salem, NC | 250,887 | 17.9% | $208,200 | 16.0% | 28.89% |
| 65 | Charlotte, NC | 886,283 | 11.7% | $351,500 | 10.0% | 29.15% |
| 66 | Weddington, NC | 13,468 | 3.6% | $730,200 | 15.0% | 48.53% |
| 67 | Thomasville, NC | 27,261 | 18.4% | $163,200 | 28.0% | 31.45% |
| 68 | Goldsboro, NC | 33,448 | 20.8% | $173,700 | 18.0% | 28.17% |
| 69 | Elizabeth City, NC | 18,740 | 15.0% | $202,100 | 19.0% | 25.52% |
| 70 | High Point, NC | 115,263 | 14.7% | $212,400 | 16.0% | 28.93% |
| 71 | Boiling Spring Lakes, NC | 6,206 | 8.7% | $260,400 | 18.0% | 20.98% |
| 72 | St. James, NC | 6,901 | 5.5% | $599,300 | 4.0% | 1.57% |
| 73 | Mocksville, NC | 6,001 | 19.9% | $210,900 | 20.0% | 34.94% |
| 74 | Rocky Mount, NC | 54,175 | 21.2% | $148,300 | 22.0% | 25.98% |
| 75 | Roanoke Rapids, NC | 15,024 | 21.8% | $129,400 | 27.0% | 32.22% |
| 76 | Clinton, NC | 8,336 | 23.6% | $185,600 | 21.0% | 31.96% |
| 77 | Williamston, NC | 5,157 | 30.6% | $108,900 | 21.0% | 25.46% |
| 78 | Oxford, NC | 8,897 | 25.3% | $177,200 | 26.0% | 26.87% |
| 79 | Statesville, NC | 29,161 | 16.4% | $226,100 | 16.0% | 31.54% |
| 80 | Fuquay-Varina, NC | 37,749 | 8.8% | $410,600 | 15.0% | 40.81% |
| 81 | Sanford, NC | 30,833 | 20.3% | $222,000 | 19.0% | 38.57% |
| 82 | Pineville, NC | 10,780 | 14.0% | $344,700 | 7.0% | 32.52% |
| 83 | Kings Mountain, NC | 11,472 | 23.7% | $177,700 | 20.0% | 25.23% |
| 84 | Burlington, NC | 58,599 | 18.0% | $188,700 | 18.0% | 28.68% |
| 85 | Selma, NC | 6,611 | 27.1% | $161,100 | 20.0% | 30.38% |
| 86 | Apex, NC | 67,765 | 2.6% | $514,800 | 11.0% | 47.29% |
| 87 | Cherryville, NC | 6,154 | 15.0% | $198,000 | 36.0% | 35.98% |
| 88 | Reidsville, NC | 14,547 | 24.9% | $139,000 | 22.0% | 27.62% |
| 89 | Gastonia, NC | 81,632 | 14.3% | $250,000 | 22.0% | 33.84% |
| 90 | Lumberton, NC | 19,220 | 31.0% | $140,100 | 20.0% | 34.3% |
| 91 | Wendell, NC | 11,585 | 4.2% | $316,700 | 19.0% | 35.18% |
| 92 | Butner, NC | 7,996 | 15.5% | $225,600 | 26.0% | 34.06% |
| 93 | Harrisburg, NC | 19,203 | 3.8% | $431,900 | 15.0% | 48.19% |
| 94 | Marvin, NC | 6,542 | 6.6% | $860,600 | 8.0% | 60.4% |
| 95 | Mooresville, NC | 51,447 | 7.6% | $348,500 | 11.0% | 35.92% |
| 96 | Asheboro, NC | 27,353 | 20.2% | $162,800 | 17.0% | 31.07% |
| 97 | Holly Springs, NC | 43,429 | 4.4% | $485,500 | 13.0% | 52.88% |
| 98 | Kinston, NC | 19,576 | 28.9% | $108,300 | 17.0% | 25.14% |
| 99 | Garner, NC | 32,543 | 7.3% | $320,300 | 18.0% | 28.79% |
| 100 | Rolesville, NC | 10,200 | 0.9% | $467,400 | 20.0% | 55.95% |