There are all types when it comes to being a snob in North Carolina. You’ve got your Wine Snobs, Book Snobs, and, of course, Clothes Snobs. Then there are the Technology Snobs, Car Snobs, and yes, even City Snobs — as in, I’m better than you because I live in (insert snooty city here).
How can we tell which North Carolina cities are the snobbiest? By measuring snobby things, that’s how.
We used Saturday Night Science to look at things like expensive homes, high incomes, and overly educated populations by city in North Carolina. These are the criteria you’d argue with a friend over a foodie dinner about who’s snobbier.
After analyzing 136 of the state’s most populous areas over 5,000 people, we came up with this ranking of the ten snobbiest places in the state of North Carolina.
The North Carolinian in these places aren’t snobby, they just know they’re better than you.
$250,001 median income · $1,251,047 median home · #1 income in North Carolina
Located in
Union County, North Carolina
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$166,556 median income · $655,968 median home · #3 income in North Carolina
Located in
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
Davidson is a lakeside town on Lake Norman in northern Mecklenburg County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 10,944 at the 2010 census. It is home to Davidson College. The town is centered on the college from which it takes its name.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$190,766 median income · $1,074,644 median home · #2 income in North Carolina
Located in
Union County, North Carolina
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$134,905 median income · $626,396 median home · #10 income in North Carolina
Located in
Wake County, North Carolina
Cary is the seventh-largest municipality in North Carolina. Cary is predominantly in Wake, with a small area in Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is the county’s second-largest municipality and the third-largest municipality in The Triangle after Raleigh and Durham. The town’s population was 135,234 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest town and seventh-largest municipality statewide. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the town’s population to be 159,769 as of July 1, 2015. Cary is the second most populous incorporated town in the United States.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers | Compare
$144,135 median income · $599,085 median home · #8 income in North Carolina
Located in
Wake County, North Carolina
Apex is a town in Wake County, North Carolina and a suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the town’s population to be 43,907 as of July 1, 2014.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$116,383 median income · $694,377 median home · #18 income in North Carolina
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$135,578 median income · $579,090 median home · #9 income in North Carolina
Located in
Wake County, North Carolina
Holly Springs is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 24,661, over 2 times its population in 2000.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$155,385 median income · $599,278 median home · #5 income in North Carolina
Located in
Guilford County, North Carolina
Oak Ridge is a town in northwestern Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 6,185 at the 2010 census, up from 3,988 at the 2000 census. As of 2015 the population had risen to an estimated 6,671. Oak Ridge is 15 miles northwest of the center of Greensboro, North Carolina’s third-largest city, and it is a part of the Piedmont Triad urban area.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$126,450 median income · $529,288 median home · #13 income in North Carolina
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$160,275 median income · $519,610 median home · #4 income in North Carolina
Located in
Guilford County, North Carolina
Summerfield is a town in Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 7,018 at the 2000 census. At the 2010 census, the population had risen to 10,232. The official town limits of Summerfield is entirely located within Guilford County.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is North Carolina’s statewide median.
North Carolina statewide median: $72,388
North Carolina statewide median: $336,408
On the map
Where the snobs live in North Carolina
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the snobbiest cities in the Tar Heel State
Do you think we’d just come up with this list willy-nilly? Not a chance – we only use Saturday Night Science around here.
We gathered up all of the places in North Carolina with populations of 5,000 people or more. This left us with a total of 136 places. Then, we looked at each place in terms of these snoot-er-iffic criteria (And no, it’s not a word. English snob.):
- Median home price (Higher is snobbier)
- Median household income (Higher is snobbier)
- Percent of population with a college degree (Higher is snobbier)
Incomes and college education levels come from the American Community Survey. Home prices come from Zillow.
Turned out this simple criteria was much better at sniffing out the snobby places then more snobby criteria like:
- Libaries per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Museums per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Private schools per capita (Higher is snobbier)
From there, we ranked each of our 136 places in each category with scores from one to 136. We then averaged each place’s ranking into one overall score, where the lowest score went to the snobbiest place in North Carolina. So let’s all flip a table in honor of Marvin (with our pinkies up, of course.)
Before you get upset and ruin your blowout or something drastic here, let’s remember that this is all in good fun. Would we live in one of these 10 places if we had the chance? Of course, we would.
And it’s not like your real estate agent would ever point out how snobby the town you’re moving to is. We’re here to keep you grounded, even if you’re wearing a monocle.
The full plate
Table: The Snobbiest Cities In North Carolina For 2026
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Snob Score | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Adult Highly Educated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvin | 1.00 | 6,692 | $250,001 | $1,251,047 | 80.0% |
| 2 | Davidson | 3.50 | 15,660 | $166,556 | $655,968 | 76.0% |
| 3 | Weddington | 4.00 | 13,805 | $190,766 | $1,074,644 | 68.0% |
| 4 | Cary | 7.67 | 179,306 | $134,905 | $626,396 | 71.0% |
| 5 | Apex | 8.33 | 70,630 | $144,135 | $599,085 | 70.0% |
| 6 | St. James | 10.17 | 7,072 | $116,383 | $694,377 | 67.0% |
| 7 | Holly Springs | 10.67 | 45,248 | $135,578 | $579,090 | 66.0% |
| 8 | Oak Ridge | 11.00 | 7,744 | $155,385 | $599,278 | 58.0% |
| 9 | Whispering Pines | 13.17 | 5,211 | $126,450 | $529,288 | 67.0% |
| 10 | Summerfield | 14.00 | 11,116 | $160,275 | $519,610 | 59.0% |
| 11 | Waxhaw | 14.33 | 22,275 | $131,894 | $628,812 | 56.0% |
| 12 | Rolesville | 14.67 | 10,766 | $149,565 | $497,996 | 62.0% |
| 13 | Morrisville | 15.67 | 31,422 | $125,396 | $480,926 | 73.0% |
| 14 | Huntersville | 16.67 | 63,969 | $120,516 | $550,755 | 58.0% |
| 15 | Cornelius | 17.00 | 32,783 | $113,767 | $527,117 | 63.0% |
| 16 | Chapel Hill | 17.17 | 61,607 | $85,989 | $631,167 | 76.0% |
| 17 | Pinehurst | 17.17 | 18,256 | $109,802 | $535,650 | 61.0% |
| 18 | Wesley Chapel | 17.17 | 9,090 | $132,188 | $659,096 | 48.0% |
| 19 | Wake Forest | 18.00 | 52,844 | $123,802 | $512,161 | 60.0% |
| 20 | Harrisburg | 18.33 | 19,633 | $148,254 | $494,884 | 57.0% |
| 21 | Fuquay-Varina | 21.33 | 40,485 | $115,497 | $525,746 | 55.0% |
| 22 | Hillsborough | 24.50 | 9,724 | $98,163 | $472,962 | 61.0% |
| 23 | Matthews | 24.67 | 30,577 | $108,611 | $501,848 | 54.0% |
| 24 | Carolina Beach | 24.83 | 6,745 | $94,398 | $606,035 | 51.0% |
| 25 | Stallings | 27.00 | 16,886 | $115,974 | $461,633 | 53.0% |
| 26 | Mills River | 28.83 | 7,281 | $105,398 | $530,766 | 44.0% |
| 27 | Carrboro | 30.33 | 21,204 | $85,743 | $429,675 | 69.0% |
| 28 | Belmont | 34.17 | 15,546 | $94,883 | $432,565 | 51.0% |
| 29 | Kill Devil Hills | 34.17 | 7,761 | $89,773 | $521,722 | 44.0% |
| 30 | Southern Pines | 34.67 | 16,420 | $88,535 | $456,116 | 52.0% |
| 31 | Oak Island | 34.83 | 9,030 | $85,872 | $568,672 | 43.0% |
| 32 | Lewisville | 35.50 | 13,828 | $100,917 | $404,564 | 49.0% |
| 33 | Mooresville | 35.67 | 52,381 | $89,647 | $482,315 | 46.0% |
| 34 | Mint Hill | 35.83 | 27,556 | $100,860 | $513,193 | 40.0% |
| 35 | Raleigh | 36.67 | 481,031 | $85,395 | $433,996 | 54.0% |
| 36 | Black Mountain | 37.67 | 8,513 | $77,042 | $463,739 | 56.0% |
| 37 | Stokesdale | 38.50 | 6,004 | $121,071 | $386,451 | 43.0% |
| 38 | Knightdale | 39.50 | 20,214 | $103,220 | $370,204 | 48.0% |
| 39 | Durham | 40.50 | 291,467 | $81,619 | $396,395 | 57.0% |
| 40 | Indian Trail | 41.17 | 42,036 | $108,483 | $419,103 | 40.0% |
| 41 | Clemmons | 41.50 | 21,871 | $87,655 | $387,814 | 49.0% |
| 42 | Asheville | 43.00 | 94,535 | $71,102 | $460,994 | 54.0% |
| 43 | Charlotte | 45.67 | 903,844 | $82,068 | $397,125 | 48.0% |
| 44 | Leland | 46.50 | 29,607 | $91,977 | $376,599 | 43.0% |
| 45 | Elon | 48.00 | 11,032 | $84,773 | $350,880 | 50.0% |
| 46 | Garner | 49.33 | 34,473 | $78,756 | $384,100 | 47.0% |
| 47 | Concord | 49.50 | 108,719 | $86,921 | $382,592 | 41.0% |
| 48 | Wendell | 50.00 | 13,064 | $95,787 | $369,603 | 39.0% |
| 49 | Fletcher | 50.17 | 8,098 | $75,272 | $446,279 | 41.0% |
| 50 | Woodfin | 50.17 | 8,048 | $71,384 | $427,001 | 45.0% |
| 51 | Archer Lodge | 51.17 | 5,186 | $91,188 | $377,862 | 38.0% |
| 52 | Wilmington | 52.00 | 120,805 | $66,738 | $416,159 | 46.0% |
| 53 | Unionville | 52.00 | 6,954 | $96,028 | $419,701 | 26.0% |
| 54 | Pineville | 53.50 | 11,055 | $69,354 | $403,663 | 45.0% |
| 55 | Cramerton | 54.67 | 5,450 | $82,160 | $305,443 | 46.0% |
| 56 | Mebane | 54.83 | 19,538 | $83,174 | $353,221 | 41.0% |
| 57 | Gibsonville | 56.00 | 9,467 | $95,861 | $307,075 | 37.0% |
| 58 | Clayton | 57.17 | 29,320 | $78,822 | $364,742 | 40.0% |
| 59 | Brevard | 58.50 | 7,897 | $54,103 | $464,518 | 43.0% |
| 60 | Mount Holly | 59.67 | 18,208 | $79,385 | $360,773 | 37.0% |
| 61 | Pleasant Garden | 61.00 | 5,060 | $88,204 | $315,482 | 30.0% |
| 62 | Boone | 61.17 | 20,032 | $30,065 | $483,789 | 57.0% |
| 63 | Winterville | 61.83 | 10,725 | $83,193 | $278,291 | 41.0% |
| 64 | Zebulon | 64.67 | 8,711 | $79,112 | $341,721 | 30.0% |
| 65 | Aberdeen | 65.17 | 9,228 | $75,078 | $352,796 | 32.0% |
| 66 | Kernersville | 66.33 | 27,830 | $71,918 | $322,447 | 37.0% |
| 67 | Hendersonville | 68.33 | 15,408 | $53,449 | $405,676 | 39.0% |
| 68 | Carolina Shores | 69.00 | 5,017 | $76,087 | $319,366 | 28.0% |
| 69 | Hickory | 71.50 | 44,258 | $64,576 | $293,999 | 38.0% |
| 70 | Locust | 71.67 | 5,840 | $76,504 | $384,686 | 22.0% |
| 71 | Kannapolis | 73.67 | 57,890 | $73,836 | $279,708 | 30.0% |
| 72 | Monroe | 73.83 | 36,759 | $72,540 | $356,520 | 24.0% |
| 73 | Greensboro | 74.67 | 301,198 | $61,515 | $264,428 | 42.0% |
| 74 | Waynesville | 75.00 | 10,502 | $54,923 | $355,352 | 34.0% |
| 75 | Butner | 77.67 | 8,065 | $74,739 | $273,631 | 27.0% |
| 76 | Winston-Salem | 78.50 | 252,037 | $59,268 | $264,333 | 40.0% |
| 77 | New Bern | 79.83 | 32,734 | $61,031 | $281,328 | 29.0% |
| 78 | Angier | 79.83 | 6,241 | $52,214 | $333,903 | 32.0% |
| 79 | High Point | 83.00 | 116,245 | $64,561 | $249,821 | 33.0% |
| 80 | Gastonia | 83.00 | 82,884 | $64,059 | $277,331 | 26.0% |
| 81 | Trinity | 83.00 | 7,111 | $82,664 | $287,548 | 19.0% |
| 82 | Boiling Spring Lakes | 83.50 | 6,347 | $62,676 | $315,223 | 23.0% |
| 83 | Salisbury | 84.33 | 35,825 | $53,716 | $280,646 | 30.0% |
| 84 | Conover | 84.83 | 8,580 | $65,972 | $277,412 | 24.0% |
| 85 | Statesville | 86.33 | 29,894 | $52,880 | $297,070 | 26.0% |
| 86 | Graham | 86.83 | 18,048 | $56,239 | $292,521 | 25.0% |
| 87 | Hope Mills | 88.17 | 17,939 | $65,774 | $263,454 | 24.0% |
| 88 | Cherryville | 88.17 | 6,226 | $70,625 | $249,357 | 25.0% |
| 89 | Mocksville | 89.17 | 6,068 | $55,367 | $280,268 | 25.0% |
| 90 | Burlington | 90.17 | 59,610 | $56,880 | $256,022 | 29.0% |
| 91 | Jacksonville | 91.00 | 71,279 | $57,697 | $261,056 | 26.0% |
| 92 | Sanford | 92.17 | 31,478 | $57,586 | $291,206 | 22.0% |
| 93 | Fayetteville | 92.33 | 210,815 | $58,407 | $225,534 | 30.0% |
| 94 | King | 92.50 | 7,408 | $57,817 | $276,086 | 23.0% |
| 95 | Greenville | 93.67 | 92,857 | $49,748 | $235,821 | 39.0% |
| 96 | Smithfield | 93.67 | 12,116 | $43,270 | $293,391 | 26.0% |
| 97 | Archdale | 93.83 | 12,087 | $64,757 | $248,494 | 23.0% |
| 98 | Morganton | 94.00 | 17,646 | $51,355 | $261,445 | 27.0% |
| 99 | Lincolnton | 96.17 | 11,783 | $46,320 | $296,022 | 24.0% |
| 100 | Dallas | 96.83 | 6,104 | $58,403 | $273,282 | 21.0% |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, Zillow research. 136 places with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
There You Have It – Now That You’re On Your High Horse
When it comes to snobbery, these places in North Carolina are heading ever upward. Residents in these communities are well educated, well paid, and appear to have all the sophisticated culture and entertainment of an Ernst Lubitsch film right at their fingertips.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
The snobbiest cities in North Carolina are Marvin, Davidson, Weddington, Cary, Apex, St. James, Holly Springs, Oak Ridge, Whispering Pines, and Summerfield. Not sold on North Carolina? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
