Do you live in one of the most miserable places in North Carolina?
Only a third of North Carolinians say they are truly happy. That’s too bad, considering that folks in North Carolina don’t really have it too bad in the grand scheme of things.
But, we were curious – which North Carolina cities might be the most miserable? We’re about to find out, using Saturday Night Science and data.
After analyzing the 136 largest cities, we sadly present the most miserable cities in the Tar Heel State.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Miserable 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 don’t live in one of these cities.
Oh, and by the way, Waynesville is the happiest place in North Carolina.
For more North Carolina reading, check out:
The 10 Most Miserable Places In North Carolina For 2023
/10
Population: 7,742
Poverty Level: 26.2%
Median Home Price $124,400
Married Households 12.0%
Households With Kids 42.22%
More on Siler City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 6,958
Poverty Level: 7.9%
Median Home Price $170,000
Married Households 15.0%
Households With Kids 31.65%
More on Zebulon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 34,464
Poverty Level: 13.6%
Median Home Price $189,800
Married Households 12.0%
Households With Kids 37.98%
More on Monroe: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 8,097
Poverty Level: 40.3%
Median Home Price $84,900
Married Households 11.0%
Households With Kids 27.73%
More on Roxboro: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 17,421
Poverty Level: 15.8%
Median Home Price $141,100
Married Households 18.0%
Households With Kids 37.54%
More on Hope Mills: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 39,603
Poverty Level: 3.5%
Median Home Price $252,200
Married Households 14.0%
Households With Kids 48.36%
More on Indian Trail: Data | Cost Of Living
/10
/10
Population: 17,570
Poverty Level: 13.1%
Median Home Price $150,600
Married Households 7.0%
Households With Kids 44.31%
More on Havelock: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 19,347
Poverty Level: 24.9%
Median Home Price $117,100
Married Households 19.0%
Households With Kids 32.36%
More on Lexington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
/10
Population: 52,173
Poverty Level: 12.8%
Median Home Price $168,800
Married Households 20.0%
Households With Kids 36.68%
More on Kannapolis: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Methodology: How We Measured The Most Miserable Cities In The Tar Heel State
To rank the unhappiest 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 2017-2021 report for the happy criteria, flipped the list with Saturday Night Science, and it spit out the answer.
Like magic.
Here are the criteria we used to measure misery:
- 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 136 places in North Carolina with over 5,000 people.
We then ranked each place from one to 136 for each of the seven criteria, with a score of one being the most miserable (Any ties were given to the larger place).
Next, we averaged the seven rankings into a Miserable Index for each place with the lowest overall Miserable Index “earning” the title “Most Miserable City In North Carolina.”
If you’d like to see the complete list of states, most miserable to happiest, scroll to the bottom of this post to see the unabridged chart.
We updated this article for 2023, and it’s our tenth time ranking the most miserable cities in North Carolina.
There You Have It – The Least Happy 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.
If you’re curious enough, here are the happiest cities in North Carolina, according to science:
- Waynesville
- Fletcher
- Elon
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
Miserable Cities In North Carolina For 2023
| Rank | City | Population | Poverty Level | Median Home Value | % Married | % Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Siler City, NC | 7,742 | 26.2% | $124,400 | 12.0% | 42.22% |
| 2 | Zebulon, NC | 6,958 | 7.9% | $170,000 | 15.0% | 31.65% |
| 3 | Monroe, NC | 34,464 | 13.6% | $189,800 | 12.0% | 37.98% |
| 4 | Roxboro, NC | 8,097 | 40.3% | $84,900 | 11.0% | 27.73% |
| 5 | Hope Mills, NC | 17,421 | 15.8% | $141,100 | 18.0% | 37.54% |
| 6 | Indian Trail, NC | 39,603 | 3.5% | $252,200 | 14.0% | 48.36% |
| 7 | Dallas, NC | 5,777 | 11.1% | $159,600 | 26.0% | 41.89% |
| 8 | Havelock, NC | 17,570 | 13.1% | $150,600 | 7.0% | 44.31% |
| 9 | Lexington, NC | 19,347 | 24.9% | $117,100 | 19.0% | 32.36% |
| 10 | Kannapolis, NC | 52,173 | 12.8% | $168,800 | 20.0% | 36.68% |
| 11 | Selma, NC | 6,317 | 33.6% | $126,100 | 15.0% | 34.15% |
| 12 | Jacksonville, NC | 73,224 | 16.3% | $156,500 | 6.0% | 37.38% |
| 13 | Spring Lake, NC | 11,629 | 22.1% | $96,800 | 8.0% | 33.79% |
| 14 | Sanford, NC | 30,024 | 18.5% | $150,600 | 20.0% | 39.37% |
| 15 | Marion, NC | 7,703 | 21.9% | $107,000 | 26.0% | 30.91% |
| 16 | Hamlet, NC | 6,098 | 25.7% | $88,800 | 25.0% | 35.28% |
| 17 | Wake Forest, NC | 46,387 | 3.3% | $328,200 | 13.0% | 41.52% |
| 18 | Asheboro, NC | 26,729 | 23.1% | $124,100 | 18.0% | 32.53% |
| 19 | Wesley Chapel, NC | 8,661 | 3.3% | $368,200 | 13.0% | 47.36% |
| 20 | Waxhaw, NC | 19,645 | 3.6% | $383,800 | 9.0% | 62.29% |
| 21 | Clayton, NC | 25,486 | 7.8% | $224,400 | 17.0% | 40.43% |
| 22 | Mebane, NC | 17,192 | 10.0% | $223,300 | 20.0% | 39.85% |
| 23 | Forest City, NC | 7,330 | 37.9% | $116,300 | 24.0% | 32.56% |
| 24 | Henderson, NC | 15,084 | 25.6% | $94,200 | 18.0% | 32.91% |
| 25 | Concord, NC | 102,566 | 8.3% | $247,800 | 15.0% | 36.39% |
| 26 | Marvin, NC | 6,326 | 3.0% | $686,600 | 10.0% | 60.94% |
| 27 | Harrisburg, NC | 18,415 | 2.8% | $321,100 | 15.0% | 53.05% |
| 28 | Rolesville, NC | 8,995 | 0.6% | $357,200 | 21.0% | 55.96% |
| 29 | Mount Holly, NC | 17,315 | 9.3% | $200,900 | 22.0% | 32.06% |
| 30 | Knightdale, NC | 18,614 | 5.1% | $246,600 | 14.0% | 37.04% |
| 31 | Stallings, NC | 15,932 | 5.6% | $291,500 | 18.0% | 39.84% |
| 32 | Lincolnton, NC | 10,926 | 21.6% | $174,500 | 21.0% | 31.73% |
| 33 | Eden, NC | 15,317 | 19.8% | $96,300 | 25.0% | 28.66% |
| 34 | Huntersville, NC | 60,166 | 4.2% | $332,600 | 11.0% | 40.53% |
| 35 | Thomasville, NC | 26,941 | 19.9% | $126,500 | 28.0% | 32.84% |
| 36 | Boiling Spring Lakes, NC | 5,863 | 9.6% | $192,000 | 19.0% | 25.57% |
| 37 | Fayetteville, NC | 208,497 | 19.1% | $138,800 | 11.0% | 29.64% |
| 38 | Holly Springs, NC | 40,198 | 4.1% | $383,400 | 13.0% | 56.61% |
| 39 | Butner, NC | 8,295 | 14.0% | $170,000 | 27.0% | 37.21% |
| 40 | Bessemer City, NC | 5,452 | 12.7% | $113,200 | 23.0% | 27.67% |
| 41 | Wadesboro, NC | 5,079 | 37.1% | $70,100 | 22.0% | 26.15% |
| 42 | Apex, NC | 58,066 | 3.3% | $371,200 | 11.0% | 46.01% |
| 43 | Lenoir, NC | 18,205 | 17.1% | $119,700 | 26.0% | 27.07% |
| 44 | Angier, NC | 5,312 | 9.6% | $170,800 | 19.0% | 28.68% |
| 45 | Garner, NC | 30,859 | 8.4% | $236,600 | 17.0% | 30.47% |
| 46 | Kings Mountain, NC | 10,775 | 20.7% | $150,500 | 22.0% | 24.24% |
| 47 | Laurinburg, NC | 15,242 | 33.2% | $108,600 | 21.0% | 30.15% |
| 48 | Mooresville, NC | 48,431 | 8.2% | $260,300 | 11.0% | 38.15% |
| 49 | Aberdeen, NC | 8,333 | 7.4% | $212,200 | 16.0% | 33.39% |
| 50 | Nashville, NC | 5,626 | 18.8% | $148,800 | 28.0% | 37.19% |
| 51 | Graham, NC | 16,793 | 23.7% | $150,900 | 21.0% | 32.25% |
| 52 | Fuquay-Varina, NC | 33,135 | 11.6% | $303,400 | 15.0% | 42.8% |
| 53 | Gastonia, NC | 79,483 | 14.4% | $178,800 | 23.0% | 32.48% |
| 54 | Rocky Mount, NC | 54,375 | 18.9% | $114,400 | 23.0% | 27.06% |
| 55 | Mocksville, NC | 5,714 | 26.3% | $159,600 | 16.0% | 32.51% |
| 56 | Salisbury, NC | 35,258 | 23.7% | $156,300 | 22.0% | 32.59% |
| 57 | Statesville, NC | 27,777 | 19.6% | $167,700 | 18.0% | 32.9% |
| 58 | Kinston, NC | 19,888 | 27.9% | $97,400 | 18.0% | 23.4% |
| 59 | Reidsville, NC | 14,463 | 28.5% | $112,600 | 23.0% | 28.02% |
| 60 | Albemarle, NC | 16,318 | 23.9% | $136,900 | 27.0% | 30.75% |
| 61 | Stokesdale, NC | 5,895 | 8.0% | $250,900 | 24.0% | 45.85% |
| 62 | Sawmills, NC | 5,053 | 19.3% | $150,600 | 34.0% | 31.62% |
| 63 | Williamston, NC | 5,221 | 29.4% | $97,900 | 32.0% | 31.18% |
| 64 | Wilson, NC | 47,914 | 21.3% | $150,000 | 23.0% | 30.9% |
| 65 | Conover, NC | 8,393 | 12.0% | $171,900 | 23.0% | 41.42% |
| 66 | Charlotte, NC | 864,871 | 11.6% | $258,000 | 10.0% | 30.25% |
| 67 | Elizabeth City, NC | 18,466 | 21.2% | $150,700 | 19.0% | 26.91% |
| 68 | Burlington, NC | 56,563 | 17.2% | $145,000 | 19.0% | 27.21% |
| 69 | Lumberton, NC | 19,186 | 31.1% | $112,300 | 20.0% | 33.63% |
| 70 | Unionville, NC | 6,634 | 6.1% | $263,000 | 44.0% | 33.17% |
| 71 | High Point, NC | 113,148 | 14.6% | $167,900 | 18.0% | 32.02% |
| 72 | Newton, NC | 13,081 | 10.3% | $120,700 | 25.0% | 27.76% |
| 73 | Greensboro, NC | 295,483 | 17.4% | $169,100 | 14.0% | 30.49% |
| 74 | Oxford, NC | 8,658 | 24.0% | $143,800 | 24.0% | 26.39% |
| 75 | Winterville, NC | 10,336 | 6.4% | $169,300 | 30.0% | 34.97% |
| 76 | Hillsborough, NC | 9,342 | 7.6% | $321,000 | 15.0% | 29.41% |
| 77 | Cornelius, NC | 30,925 | 6.6% | $371,100 | 10.0% | 30.09% |
| 78 | Roanoke Rapids, NC | 15,294 | 20.4% | $110,500 | 24.0% | 30.33% |
| 79 | Mint Hill, NC | 26,236 | 7.9% | $313,900 | 21.0% | 32.32% |
| 80 | Weddington, NC | 12,851 | 2.1% | $549,200 | 17.0% | 49.89% |
| 81 | Matthews, NC | 29,417 | 4.6% | $299,900 | 14.0% | 31.8% |
| 82 | Cherryville, NC | 6,044 | 15.1% | $149,800 | 39.0% | 39.36% |
| 83 | Cary, NC | 171,603 | 5.7% | $404,300 | 9.0% | 38.23% |
| 84 | Goldsboro, NC | 33,214 | 24.1% | $135,900 | 19.0% | 26.83% |
| 85 | Morrisville, NC | 28,824 | 4.1% | $358,800 | 5.0% | 38.85% |
| 86 | Winston-Salem, NC | 247,917 | 19.0% | $158,600 | 16.0% | 28.55% |
| 87 | Dunn, NC | 8,616 | 23.2% | $142,900 | 24.0% | 26.87% |
| 88 | Rockingham, NC | 9,200 | 28.7% | $107,100 | 25.0% | 27.56% |
| 89 | Wendell, NC | 9,847 | 8.6% | $226,400 | 20.0% | 28.19% |
| 90 | Pineville, NC | 10,317 | 13.1% | $254,300 | 7.0% | 33.37% |
| 91 | Kill Devil Hills, NC | 7,541 | 7.5% | $278,000 | 12.0% | 17.26% |
| 92 | Davidson, NC | 14,644 | 6.5% | $478,000 | 9.0% | 32.92% |
| 93 | Hickory, NC | 42,831 | 16.7% | $199,100 | 18.0% | 28.58% |
| 94 | Belmont, NC | 14,442 | 14.8% | $262,200 | 20.0% | 32.81% |
| 95 | Walke, NC | 5,626 | 9.7% | $154,300 | 30.0% | 30.39% |
| 96 | Pinehurst, NC | 17,250 | 4.2% | $338,900 | 12.0% | 18.13% |
| 97 | King, NC | 7,258 | 5.3% | $170,200 | 35.0% | 29.68% |
| 98 | St. James, NC | 6,199 | 2.8% | $473,700 | 6.0% | 2.5% |
| 99 | Clinton, NC | 8,124 | 27.7% | $133,600 | 23.0% | 31.07% |
| 100 | Archdale, NC | 12,117 | 7.3% | $147,500 | 29.0% | 25.89% |
Oak Ridge is both the 1st and 3rd happiest town in NC?
The results we compiled incorrectly. There is no way Carolina Beach is a miserable place, it’s the BEACH!
I agree. I live in Carolina Beach. Been in the Wilmington area about a year. I love it. The number crunching doesn’t physically reflect people’s displeasure. It’s a deduction based on what percentage of people own homes, are married, average commute times and cost of living in that area.
Haha! I knew Moyock was too small to be considered a city. If it is listed, I miss it or it was in the very small print. However, those of you living in Elizabeth City, yes it is somewhat expensive, but you are living larger than you would be in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake or Norfolk. Their close proximity is what caused the higher cost of living in EC.
and your comment is nothing but the truth! i live in virginia beach, after coming from harnett county (dunn which was #25 on the list, which is pretty miserable but not that bad, and coats near dunn thats not even on the list!) and YES! the only reason anything near the VA line in close proximity to VB is so costly is because ts near this piece of garbage place! you wanna find the most miserable place to live? its not selma! its virginia beach! theyll rob you of every dime and force you to live in a tiny closet they call “luxury” only because scattered about are a few million dollar homes and this junky “tourist” suburb thinks ita worth a penny to someone! give me carolina beach any day over virginia beach! actually i prefer topsail but ill take anything carolina over va!
This is purest silly snobbery. Wealth and higher education don’t necessarily equal delirious happiness.i would hazard a guess: this has a lot to do with racial makeup, and willingness of the.down-and-outs to participate in town opportunities.. My pretty little town has so much to offer in addition to its ideal location, its (free) parks, cultural, recreational, volunteer and educational opportunities, There is no excuse for anyone to be miserable here except through laziness and lack of imagination and drive. Anybody who is bored or unhappy here needs to get off his or her duff and DO something.
So why are you afraid to name your town?