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 138 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 2024
/10
Population: 10,307
Poverty Level: 18.1%
Median Home Price $355,984
Married Households 22.0%
Households With Kids 22.94%
More on Waynesville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Waynesville 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 Waynesville aren’t missing out on love; more than 22% of them are married. Plus, the average commute time here is only about 18 minutes each way. That means a lot more time with the spouse and kids.
/10
Population: 8,000
Poverty Level: 7.3%
Median Home Price $435,289
Married Households 30.0%
Households With Kids 19.78%
More on Fletcher: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Things look to be pretty pleasant in Fletcher. Crime is really low here, and the percentage of married residents (30%) 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: 7,901
Poverty Level: 14.4%
Median Home Price $400,598
Married Households 14.0%
Households With Kids 17.07%
More on Woodfin: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
The people who live in Woodfin have a lot going for them. 38% 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: 15,102
Poverty Level: 16.6%
Median Home Price $395,150
Married Households 12.0%
Households With Kids 17.17%
More on Hendersonville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Hendersonville 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 2.2% 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: 9,632
Poverty Level: 15.4%
Median Home Price $382,949
Married Households 19.0%
Households With Kids 20.9%
More on Morehead City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
If you want to see a bunch of happy people, go to Morehead City. 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: 58,919
Poverty Level: 18.6%
Median Home Price $603,034
Married Households 6.0%
Households With Kids 26.55%
More on Chapel Hill: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
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 Chapel Hill have that covered. Plus about 6% of households are married.
/10
Population: 8,430
Poverty Level: 6.1%
Median Home Price $450,375
Married Households 15.0%
Households With Kids 16.81%
More on Black Mountain: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Most of the people in Black Mountain have to be plum’ happy. True happiness is Home Sweet Home’ with your kids and spouse, being reminded to do chores, run errands and fold the clothes right.
/10
Population: 93,695
Poverty Level: 13.3%
Median Home Price $451,444
Married Households 11.0%
Households With Kids 21.27%
More on Asheville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Less than 4.1% of the residents in Asheville 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 down 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: 10,696
Poverty Level: 24.0%
Median Home Price $150,964
Married Households 28.0%
Households With Kids 27.78%
More on Tarboro: Data | Cost Of Living
About 26% of residents in Tarboro, NC have a college degree. While we’ve all heard the saying, Ignorance is bliss,’ our argument is: Ignorance is also broke.
Not only are most of the residents of Tarboro smart, they’re safe, too.
/10
Population: 8,564
Poverty Level: 9.1%
Median Home Price $536,118
Married Households 27.0%
Households With Kids 10.38%
More on Oak Island: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
In Oak Island, most of the population is married, and most own their own homes.
The commute times (25 minutes each way) might eventually start to turn the corners of those smiles sideways.
But for now, it’s all roses in Oak Island.
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 2018-2022 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 138 places in North Carolina with over 5,000 people.
We then ranked each place from one to 138 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 2024, 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 Waynesville, Fletcher, Woodfin, Hendersonville, Morehead City, Chapel Hill, Black Mountain, Asheville, Tarboro, and Oak Island.
If you’re curious enough, here are the most miserable cities in North Carolina, according to science:
- Zebulon
- Monroe
- Hope Mills
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 2024
| Rank | City | Population | Poverty Level | Median Home Value | % Married | % Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waynesville, NC | 10,307 | 18.1% | $355,984 | 22.0% | 22.94% |
| 2 | Fletcher, NC | 8,000 | 7.3% | $435,289 | 30.0% | 19.78% |
| 3 | Woodfin, NC | 7,901 | 14.4% | $400,598 | 14.0% | 17.07% |
| 4 | Hendersonville, NC | 15,102 | 16.6% | $395,150 | 12.0% | 17.17% |
| 5 | Morehead City, NC | 9,632 | 15.4% | $382,949 | 19.0% | 20.9% |
| 6 | Chapel Hill, NC | 58,919 | 18.6% | $603,034 | 6.0% | 26.55% |
| 7 | Black Mountain, NC | 8,430 | 6.1% | $450,375 | 15.0% | 16.81% |
| 8 | Asheville, NC | 93,695 | 13.3% | $451,444 | 11.0% | 21.27% |
| 9 | Tarboro, NC | 10,696 | 24.0% | $150,964 | 28.0% | 27.78% |
| 10 | Oak Island, NC | 8,564 | 9.1% | $536,118 | 27.0% | 10.38% |
| 11 | Wilmington, NC | 116,933 | 17.8% | $390,034 | 14.0% | 18.82% |
| 12 | Boone, NC | 19,368 | 55.9% | $458,456 | 6.0% | 10.6% |
| 13 | Kernersville, NC | 27,177 | 12.2% | $302,017 | 20.0% | 24.19% |
| 14 | Washington, NC | 9,759 | 23.0% | $222,313 | 26.0% | 23.49% |
| 15 | Brevard, NC | 7,777 | 15.5% | $431,629 | 13.0% | 20.32% |
| 16 | Elon, NC | 11,161 | 25.0% | $322,868 | 13.0% | 26.86% |
| 17 | Summerfield, NC | 10,986 | 9.2% | $467,749 | 18.0% | 32.97% |
| 18 | Walke, NC | 5,706 | 9.0% | $264,550 | 29.0% | 28.24% |
| 19 | Carrboro, NC | 21,242 | 11.7% | $438,237 | 6.0% | 25.5% |
| 20 | Ayden, NC | 5,002 | 20.9% | $180,809 | 36.0% | 27.41% |
| 21 | Durham, NC | 284,094 | 12.6% | $395,610 | 12.0% | 25.61% |
| 22 | Archdale, NC | 11,873 | 7.4% | $233,051 | 27.0% | 26.28% |
| 23 | New Bern, NC | 31,373 | 16.5% | $262,377 | 15.0% | 26.68% |
| 24 | Trinity, NC | 7,012 | 10.4% | $268,416 | 31.0% | 27.69% |
| 25 | Gibsonville, NC | 8,827 | 7.7% | $278,388 | 28.0% | 33.15% |
| 26 | Raleigh, NC | 465,517 | 11.8% | $431,992 | 12.0% | 27.0% |
| 27 | Pineville, NC | 10,532 | 14.0% | $390,836 | 7.0% | 29.45% |
| 28 | Clemmons, NC | 21,281 | 6.8% | $353,229 | 22.0% | 28.22% |
| 29 | Davidson, NC | 15,199 | 5.9% | $624,402 | 7.0% | 31.31% |
| 30 | Kill Devil Hills, NC | 7,658 | 6.6% | $490,281 | 11.0% | 16.91% |
| 31 | Shelby, NC | 21,712 | 18.3% | $181,135 | 23.0% | 26.42% |
| 32 | Belmont, NC | 14,842 | 10.3% | $403,471 | 19.0% | 28.4% |
| 33 | Hickory, NC | 43,352 | 16.6% | $277,464 | 20.0% | 29.89% |
| 34 | Greenville, NC | 87,894 | 25.2% | $229,462 | 14.0% | 25.18% |
| 35 | Mount Airy, NC | 10,621 | 31.7% | $196,528 | 20.0% | 26.54% |
| 36 | Lewisville, NC | 13,509 | 9.4% | $358,604 | 27.0% | 35.69% |
| 37 | Pinehurst, NC | 17,653 | 3.5% | $487,605 | 14.0% | 17.14% |
| 38 | Carolina Beach, NC | 6,583 | 8.7% | $582,789 | 19.0% | 16.64% |
| 39 | Oak Ridge, NC | 7,637 | 3.6% | $514,942 | 24.0% | 36.87% |
| 40 | Mills River, NC | 7,100 | 2.4% | $503,109 | 22.0% | 32.72% |
| 41 | St. James, NC | 6,566 | 2.5% | $705,540 | 7.0% | 4.91% |
| 42 | Southern Pines, NC | 15,701 | 9.7% | $460,376 | 13.0% | 22.44% |
| 43 | Cornelius, NC | 31,396 | 5.2% | $501,024 | 10.0% | 28.8% |
| 44 | Cary, NC | 174,880 | 5.2% | $600,101 | 9.0% | 37.21% |
| 45 | Nashville, NC | 5,624 | 21.9% | $245,007 | 29.0% | 29.91% |
| 46 | Salisbury, NC | 35,437 | 23.3% | $259,125 | 21.0% | 29.54% |
| 47 | Leland, NC | 24,473 | 4.6% | $383,768 | 16.0% | 23.48% |
| 48 | Dunn, NC | 8,549 | 21.6% | $213,087 | 24.0% | 24.82% |
| 49 | King, NC | 7,210 | 5.0% | $249,231 | 38.0% | 33.12% |
| 50 | Morganton, NC | 17,457 | 28.0% | $233,341 | 19.0% | 34.21% |
| 51 | Winterville, NC | 10,510 | 7.1% | $271,791 | 23.0% | 29.82% |
| 52 | Newton, NC | 13,173 | 13.3% | $237,137 | 24.0% | 28.21% |
| 53 | Wendell, NC | 10,575 | 5.7% | $361,432 | 19.0% | 28.19% |
| 54 | Smithfield, NC | 11,527 | 27.8% | $283,417 | 18.0% | 27.72% |
| 55 | Morrisville, NC | 29,756 | 5.8% | $486,190 | 4.0% | 37.97% |
| 56 | Oxford, NC | 8,685 | 25.6% | $232,049 | 24.0% | 26.65% |
| 57 | Conover, NC | 8,457 | 10.8% | $254,865 | 22.0% | 41.0% |
| 58 | Goldsboro, NC | 33,566 | 20.9% | $185,899 | 19.0% | 26.61% |
| 59 | Cramerton, NC | 5,294 | 3.2% | $282,370 | 33.0% | 32.0% |
| 60 | Matthews, NC | 29,613 | 4.8% | $468,340 | 13.0% | 30.26% |
| 61 | Mocksville, NC | 5,908 | 23.7% | $254,179 | 20.0% | 31.02% |
| 62 | Wilson, NC | 47,767 | 23.9% | $200,278 | 25.0% | 29.56% |
| 63 | Winston-Salem, NC | 249,571 | 18.4% | $241,673 | 16.0% | 28.65% |
| 64 | Hillsborough, NC | 9,534 | 7.9% | $440,106 | 16.0% | 29.94% |
| 65 | Unionville, NC | 6,694 | 6.1% | $400,244 | 40.0% | 32.45% |
| 66 | Weddington, NC | 13,173 | 2.2% | $936,823 | 16.0% | 50.4% |
| 67 | Burlington, NC | 56,951 | 18.7% | $223,842 | 19.0% | 27.5% |
| 68 | Angier, NC | 5,348 | 9.3% | $318,115 | 18.0% | 24.52% |
| 69 | Greensboro, NC | 297,202 | 18.1% | $248,523 | 13.0% | 30.38% |
| 70 | Roanoke Rapids, NC | 15,143 | 20.4% | $102,080 | 25.0% | 31.09% |
| 71 | Clinton, NC | 8,362 | 25.5% | $130,559 | 22.0% | 31.44% |
| 72 | Williamston, NC | 5,224 | 32.8% | $117,948 | 25.0% | 28.24% |
| 73 | Rocky Mount, NC | 54,260 | 19.6% | $188,742 | 22.0% | 27.71% |
| 74 | Mint Hill, NC | 26,537 | 8.3% | $471,547 | 21.0% | 32.84% |
| 75 | Stokesdale, NC | 5,900 | 4.7% | $349,634 | 25.0% | 46.09% |
| 76 | Lumberton, NC | 19,099 | 29.4% | $138,892 | 20.0% | 32.37% |
| 77 | Thomasville, NC | 27,130 | 20.7% | $214,034 | 28.0% | 32.51% |
| 78 | Rolesville, NC | 9,696 | 1.7% | $497,136 | 24.0% | 56.74% |
| 79 | Charlotte, NC | 875,045 | 11.7% | $387,529 | 10.0% | 29.59% |
| 80 | Fuquay-Varina, NC | 35,428 | 10.6% | $496,644 | 16.0% | 43.61% |
| 81 | Elizabeth City, NC | 18,570 | 19.0% | $228,656 | 19.0% | 26.66% |
| 82 | Rockingham, NC | 9,174 | 28.2% | $124,284 | 26.0% | 29.45% |
| 83 | High Point, NC | 114,120 | 15.4% | $229,659 | 17.0% | 30.08% |
| 84 | Bessemer City, NC | 5,472 | 14.2% | $218,355 | 22.0% | 24.39% |
| 85 | Siler City, NC | 7,847 | 28.9% | $246,037 | 16.0% | 40.11% |
| 86 | Gastonia, NC | 80,615 | 14.7% | $275,514 | 23.0% | 32.44% |
| 87 | Cherryville, NC | 6,113 | 13.7% | $231,051 | 35.0% | 39.02% |
| 88 | Statesville, NC | 28,576 | 18.5% | $276,418 | 18.0% | 31.97% |
| 89 | Reidsville, NC | 14,526 | 29.8% | $188,591 | 20.0% | 29.56% |
| 90 | Aberdeen, NC | 8,674 | 8.1% | $315,702 | 18.0% | 32.85% |
| 91 | Apex, NC | 65,541 | 2.9% | $591,542 | 11.0% | 46.84% |
| 92 | Marvin, NC | 6,421 | 8.5% | $1,073,504 | 9.0% | 60.52% |
| 93 | Garner, NC | 31,684 | 5.4% | $374,654 | 18.0% | 28.63% |
| 94 | Kinston, NC | 19,704 | 28.2% | $129,381 | 17.0% | 24.75% |
| 95 | Asheboro, NC | 27,117 | 21.6% | $229,584 | 18.0% | 30.86% |
| 96 | Mooresville, NC | 50,025 | 7.6% | $468,555 | 11.0% | 37.83% |
| 97 | Laurinburg, NC | 14,971 | 33.8% | $130,067 | 21.0% | 30.91% |
| 98 | Holly Springs, NC | 42,023 | 4.9% | $550,787 | 12.0% | 54.35% |
| 99 | Long View, NC | 5,029 | 13.1% | $183,003 | 22.0% | 26.64% |
| 100 | Albemarle, NC | 16,444 | 21.6% | $230,975 | 24.0% | 30.36% |
