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There’s no denying it: there are plenty of places in North Carolina that are downright beautiful and full of excitement. Unfortunately, not all towns and cities in NC are so lucky. Just like in all U.S. States, there are definitely some boring places within North Carolina’s borders. You know the places: the ones where everyone has an AARP card and the most exciting thing they do all day is post a picture of their grandchild on FB.
Like Lake Norman of Catawba, for instance. In our latest analysis, we found that this city was the most boring city in all of North Carolina. But don’t feel bad if you’re a resident of Lake Norman of Catawba. There are plenty of other boring, lackluster places in North Carolina as well.
Here they are. Try not to jump out of your seat with excitement
- Lake Norman of Catawba
- Summerfield
- Etowah
- Seven Lakes
- Oak Ridge
- Lewisville
- Trinity
- Weddington
- Pinehurst Village
- Mills River
Before you get all upset if your city’s name is on the list, rest assured that we didn’t use personal opinion when it comes to what classifies a city or town as “boring” or “exciting”. We crunched actual numbers to figure out which towns are statistically more boring.
And at least they aren’t the worst places to live in North Carolina.
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How We Determined The Most Boring Places In The Tar Heel State
In order to find the most mind-numbing and down-right exhausting places to live in North Carolina, we used the U.S. Census data to gather up all of the places in the state with populations of less than 5,000. Then, we used the Census to research each place in each of the following categories:
- % of Population Over 35 (Higher is more boring)
- % of Married Household (Higher is more boring)
- Median Age (higher is more boring)
- % of Households With Kids (higher is more boring)
- % of Households with People Over 65 (higher is more boring)
- Percentage of young residents ages 18 to 34 (lower is more boring)
- Population density (lower is more boring)
Next, we ranked each place with a score according to the seven criteria above. The lower the number, the more boring the place.
We averaged these rankings into an overall score, where again, the lowest score was the most boring, least fun, or mind-numbing. And, the winner is: Lake Norman of Catawba!
But, like all U.S. states, there are good and bad, fun and boring, places everywhere you go. So read on for a look at the most boring places in NC or hop down to the end of the page and check out the top ten least boring places in North Carolina.
Here we go!
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1. Lake Norman of Catawba
Population Over 35: 63.92%
Population Density: 4th Lowest In State
% of Married Households: 68.86%, 7th highest in state
Median Age: 45.2, 14th highest in State
Just where in the world is this place? The fact you haven’t heard of it means it must be boring!
Lake Norman of Catawba is a ‘census designated place’ meaning it isn’t an actual city, but an area that relies on other cities for basic services. Boooring!
It’s actually located right on Lake Norman, north of Charlotte. So while there might be fun ‘boating’ things to do, odds are, everyone there will be pretty much a bump on a log. Why?
When 63.92% of the population is over 35, chances are things aren’t going to get wild in your town on a Saturday night. In fact, the median age in Lake Norman of Catawba is 45.2, which is the 14th highest in the state. As you can imagine, the nightlife isn’t exactly bumping when the percentage of married households is 68.86%, which is the 7th highest in the state.
If that wasn’t bad enough, the population density is the 4th lowest in the state. Meaning there are hardly any people, anywhere. And the people you do see are probably married and settled down. Not exactly “hip”.
2. Summerfield
Population over 35: 65.34%
Population density: 7th lowest in the state
% of Married Households: 67.65%, 11th highest in the state
% of Households With Kids: 39.00%
If you’re living in Summerfield, chances are you don’t see many people: it has the 7th lowest population density in the state. To make matters worse, the people you do meet are probably not looking to party: the percentage of married households in Summerfield is 67.65%, meaning you’re not going to find Mr. or Mrs. Right for you here.
Summerfield is just north of Greensboro.
3. Etowah
Population Over 35: 65.92%, 5th Highest In The State
Population density: 9th Lowest In The State
Median age: 47.5, 6th Highest In State
% of Households With old People: 47.97%, 9th HIghest In State
Etowah is waaaaaay south of Asheville on Route 64.
Break out your AARP cards and dentures, cause Etowah is boring enough to be a nursing home. 65.92 of the population is over 35, which is the fifth highest percentage in NC. Plus, the median age is 47.5, the 6th highest in the state and the percentage of households with old people is 47.97%, the 9th highest in the state.
That being said, there are surprisingly less married households with children here than there are in Summerfield and Lake Norman, meaning that the town is mostly filled with older couples who still enjoy adult activities (like drinking cocktails during a night out on the town). Just make sure grandma doesn’t have one too many
4. Seven Lakes
Population Over 35: 72.43%, 3rd highest in North Carolina
Population density: 15th lowest in the state
% of Married Households: 74.45%, 2nd highest in NC
Median Age: 53.4, 2nd Highest in NC
What really makes Seven Lakes boring is how everyone here is on the verge of grandparenthood, and with the 3rd highest percentage of population over 35 in the state of NC (and the 2nd highest median age in the state!) it’s not exactly the most fun town around. Plus, the percentage of married households is the 2nd highest in NC (74.45%!) so if you’re single and living in Seven Lakes you should probably consider moving
Seven Lakes is northwest of Fayetteville. While there might be 7 lakes nearby, you’re gonna be bored hanging out on them with that kind of crowd.
5. Oak Ridge
Population Over 35: 62.90%
Population density: 10th lowest population density in NC
% of Married Households: 68.69%, 8th highest in NC
% of Households With Kids: 43.81%, 16th highest in NC
If you thought Seven Lakes was bad when it came to a total lack of people, then Oak Ridge is going to upset you: they have the 10th lowest population density in North Carolina, which is even worse than Seven Lakes. Again, this is not the place for meeting new people and shaking things up. Plus, the percentage of married households is the 8th highest in the state.
That being said, the median age is 42.8, which is a whopping eleven years younger than Seven Lakes, so at least you’re surrounded by a drastically younger group of people, right?
Oak Ridge is an unincorporated area north of Greensboro.
6. Lewisville
Population Over 35: 64.26%, 10th Highest in NC
Median Age: 45.3, 11th highest in NC
% of Married Households: 61.94%
% of Households With Old People: 38.54%
While Lewisville is definitely home to slightly more single ladies and gentlemen than Oak Ridge, the people are just as old. In fact, the median age of people living in Lewisville is the 11th highest in the state and the percentage of people over 35 is the 10th highest in the state. So invest in an old tobacco pipe and some suspenders because Lewisville is grandpa-land.
Lewisville is a western suburb of Winston-Salem.
7. Trinity
Population Over 35: 64.98%
Population density: 8th lowest in the state
% of Married Households: 61.55%
Median Age: 47.9, 5th highest in the state
Wow, sounds like Winston-Salem is just a boring place in general. Trinity is another W-S burb where you’re gonna be bored if you try and surround yourself with fun people.
If you’ve ever been to Trinity, then you know it’s not necessarily the most exciting town in North Carolina, unless you define “exciting” as basically a ghost town. It has the 8th lowest population density in the state, so there aren’t necessarily a whole of people to keep you busy. Plus, 64.98% of the population is over 35 (the 8th highest in the state) and the median age is the 5th highest in the state. Yeah, it’s not gonna make for a great time.
8. Weddington
Population Over 35: 60.83%
Median Age: 43.23, 18th highest in NC
% of Married Households: 66.14%, 12th Highest in the state
% of Households With Kids: 43.23%, 19th Highest in the state
While Weddington certainly has a younger crowd than some of the other towns on this list, it’s not exactly the most happening place in North Carolina, especially considering it has the 12th highest percentage of married people in the state and the 19th highest percentage of households with kids. Basically, if you’re living in Weddington you’re either married with a family or single and have nowhere to mingle…and no one to mingle with.
Sounds like if you’re single and ready to mingle, and you live in the greater Charlotte area, you should consider another place to hang out.
9. Pinehurst Village
Population Over 35: 76.13%, Highest In the state
Median Age: 60.8, Highest In The State
% of Married Households: 71.13%, Highest In The State
% of Households With Old People: 3rd Highest In The State
While Pinehurst might be slightly more exciting than Weddington, especially considering the population density is wayyy higher in Pinehurst, this town still has the 3rd highest percentage of households with old people, the highest percentage of married households, and the highest median age in NC . So, as you can imagine, Pinehurst has a lot of bocce ball and bridge. And if people aren’t playing bocce ball, they’re probably married and settled down. Yikes.
10. Mills River
Population Over 35: 61.99%
Median Age: 46.4, 8th Highest in the state
Population Density: 5th lowest in the state
% of Households With Old People: 13th highest in the state
Mills River is south of Asheville, where, much like Pinehurst, the majority of the people living there are pretty old. In fact, Mills River has the 8th highest median age in the state and the 13th highest percentage of households with old people. Plus, the population density is the 5th lowest in the state. Looks like you’re going to have to travel quite a distance to find a little fun.
But Hold Your Horses! North Carolina Can Be Fun Too…
As we mentioned in the beginning, there are certainly areas of the state that are, without a doubt, more exciting than others. There are plenty of upbeat, fun, and entertaining places here too, like these ten least boring cities in North Carolina:
- Boone
- Cullowhee
- Greenville
- Chapel Hill
- Carrboro
- Elon
- Raleigh
- Durham
- Wilmington
- Elizabeth City
Of course, if a quiet place to settle down and have children is what you’re looking for , then maybe these “most boring places” in North Carolina are, in fact, your perfect match. To each his own, right?
For more “uplifting” infotainment, check out the worst places to live in North Carolina.
