These Are The 10 Most Liberal Cities In North Carolina For 2019


We used science and data to determine which cities in North Carolina probably voted for Obama.

Editor’s Note: We updated this article for 2019. This is our third time ranking the most liberal places to live in North Carolina.

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Now that we’re starting up the election swing to decide not only our next President, but many other local statewide initiatives, it’s important to put into context the types of decisions that will be made in the coming years.

Who makes the decisions? Not the people getting elected. It’s the voters.

Specifically, we wanted to know which cities have the highest number of liberal voters in the Tar Heel State?

In order to do so, we turned our sites on measuring how each city in North Carolina with populations greater than 5,000 voted and contributed to political campaigns in the past several years. The cities with the highest percentage of voters who voted Democrat and gave the most to liberals where named the most liberal cities in the state.

Here are the 10 most liberal places in North Carolina for 2019:

  1. Durham (Photos)
  2. Carrboro (Photos)
  3. Chapel Hill (Photos)
  4. Hillsborough (Photos)
  5. Tarboro (Photos)
  6. Roanoke Rapids (Photos)
  7. Cornelius (Photos)
  8. Mint Hill (Photos)
  9. Matthews (Photos)
  10. Charlotte (Photos)

If you’re wondering, Archdale is the most conservative city in North Carolina of all those we measured.

And to be clear, we didn’t form this list based on our own biases — we relied on the cold hard data. For more on how we ran the numbers, keep on reading. Then we’ll take a closer look at each of our top 10 most liberal cities in North Carolina.

And if you already knew these places were liberal, check out some more reading about North Carolina and the most lberal places in the country:

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How we determined the most liberal cities in North Carolina for 2019

We started by making a list of every city in North Carolina over 5,000 people based on the 2013-2017 American Community Survey (The most recent data). That left us with 132 cities and towns.

We then measured the voting record and donation data to determine which places lean the most rightward in their allegiances by:

  1. Percentage Of Registered Democrats
  2. # Of Contributions To Democrats Per Capita
  3. $ Amount Contributed To Democrats Per Capita

Next, we ranked each city from 1 to 132 for each of the criteria where number one was the most liberal.

The winner, Durham, is “The Most liberal City in North Carolina For 2019”.

Let’s go through these liberal places, shall we?

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The 10 Most liberal Places In North Carolina For 2019

Durham, NC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 257,232
Percent Democrat: 77.7%
$ Democrat Amount Per Capita: $53.76
# Democrat Contributions Per Capita: 0.36
More on Durham: PhotosData

Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city’s population to be 251,893 as of July 1, 2014, making it the 4th-most populous city in North Carolina, and the 78th-most populous city in the United States. Durham is the core of the four-county Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Area, which has a population of 542,710 as of U.S. Census 2014 Population Estimates. The US Office of Management and Budget also includes Durham as a part of the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Combined Statistical Area, which has a population of 2,037,430 as of U.S. Census 2014 Population Estimates.

Carrboro, NC

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 21,099
Percent Democrat: 72.8%
$ Democrat Amount Per Capita: $75.38
# Democrat Contributions Per Capita: 0.71
More on Carrboro: PhotosData

Carrboro is a town in Orange County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 19,582 at the 2010 census. The town, which is part of the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill combined statistical area, was named after North Carolina industrialist Julian Shakespeare Carr.

Chapel Hill, NC

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 59,234
Percent Democrat: 72.8%
$ Democrat Amount Per Capita: $165.45
# Democrat Contributions Per Capita: 0.96
More on Chapel Hill: PhotosData

Chapel Hill is a town in Orange and Durham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Its population was 57,233 in the 2010 census, making Chapel Hill the 15th-largest city in the state. Chapel Hill, Durham, and the state capital, Raleigh, make up the corners of the Research Triangle, with a total population of 1,998,808.

Hillsborough, NC

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 7,033
Percent Democrat: 72.8%
$ Democrat Amount Per Capita: $122.5
# Democrat Contributions Per Capita: 1.29
More on Hillsborough: PhotosData

The town of Hillsborough is the county seat of Orange County, North Carolina. The population was 6,087 in 2010.

Tarboro, NC

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 11,038
Percent Democrat: 65.2%
$ Democrat Amount Per Capita: $2.24
# Democrat Contributions Per Capita: 0.02
More on Tarboro: PhotosData

Tarboro is a town located in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Rocky Mount Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 11,415. It is the county seat of Edgecombe County. Tarboro is located near the western edge of North Carolina’s coastal plain. It has many historical churches, some dating from the early 19th century.

Roanoke Rapids, NC

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 15,107
Percent Democrat: 62.6%
$ Democrat Amount Per Capita: $2.04
# Democrat Contributions Per Capita: 0.03
More on Roanoke Rapids: PhotosData

Cornelius, NC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 28,052
Percent Democrat: 62.3%
$ Democrat Amount Per Capita: $35.51
# Democrat Contributions Per Capita: 0.34
More on Cornelius: PhotosData

Cornelius is a lakeside town located along Lake Norman in northern Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 24,866 at the 2010 census.

Mint Hill, NC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 25,600
Percent Democrat: 62.3%
$ Democrat Amount Per Capita: $17.02
# Democrat Contributions Per Capita: 0.17
More on Mint Hill: PhotosData

Matthews, NC

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 30,760
Percent Democrat: 62.3%
$ Democrat Amount Per Capita: $19.27
# Democrat Contributions Per Capita: 0.19
More on Matthews: PhotosData

Matthews is a large suburban town of Charlotte located in southeastern Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The population was 27,198 according to the 2010 Census.

Charlotte, NC

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 826,060
Percent Democrat: 62.3%
$ Democrat Amount Per Capita: $9.56
# Democrat Contributions Per Capita: 0.04
More on Charlotte: PhotosData

Charlotte is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2016, the U.S.Census Bureau estimated the population was 842,051, making it the 17th-most populous city in the United States. The Charlotte metropolitan area ranks 22nd-largest in the U.S., and had a 2016 population of 2,474,314. The Charlotte metropolitan area is part of a sixteen-county market region or combined statistical area with a 2016 U.S.Census population estimate of 2,632,249. Between 2004 and 2014, Charlotte was ranked as the country’s fastest growing metro area, with 888,000 new residents. Based on U.S. Census data from 2005 to 2015, it also tops the 50 largest U.S. cities as the millennial hub. It is the second-largest city in the southeastern United States, just behind Jacksonville, Florida. It is the third-fastest growing major city in the United States. It is listed as a “gamma-minus” global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Residents are referred to as “Charlotteans”.

Summing Up The Liberal Snowflakes in North Carolina

Well there you have it, the places in North Carolina that have the highest number of liberals per capita, with Durham ranking as the least conservative in the entire state.

If you’re curious, here are the least liberal cities in North Carolina:

  1. Archdale
  2. Asheboro
  3. Trinity

For more North Carolina reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Most Liberal Places In North Carolina

Rank City Population % Liberal
1 Durham, NC 257,232 77.7%
2 Carrboro, NC 21,099 72.8%
3 Chapel Hill, NC 59,234 72.8%
4 Hillsborough, NC 7,033 72.8%
5 Tarboro, NC 11,038 65.2%
6 Roanoke Rapids, NC 15,107 62.6%
7 Cornelius, NC 28,052 62.3%
8 Mint Hill, NC 25,600 62.3%
9 Matthews, NC 30,760 62.3%
10 Charlotte, NC 826,060 62.3%
11 Huntersville, NC 53,302 62.3%
12 Davidson, NC 12,325 62.3%
13 Pineville, NC 8,418 62.3%
14 Henderson, NC 15,009 61.2%
15 High Point, NC 109,849 58.0%
16 Stokesdale, NC 5,331 58.0%
17 Gibsonville, NC 6,845 58.0%
18 Summerfield, NC 10,957 58.0%
19 Greensboro, NC 284,816 58.0%
20 Oak Ridge, NC 6,728 58.0%
21 Wake Forest, NC 38,473 57.4%
22 Knightdale, NC 14,363 57.4%
23 Rolesville, NC 6,308 57.4%
24 Cary, NC 159,715 57.4%
25 Morrisville, NC 23,873 57.4%
26 Garner, NC 28,048 57.4%
27 Raleigh, NC 449,477 57.4%
28 Holly Springs, NC 31,827 57.4%
29 Wendell, NC 6,516 57.4%
30 Apex, NC 45,899 57.4%
31 Hope Mills, NC 16,106 56.2%
32 Fayetteville, NC 210,324 56.2%
33 Spring Lake, NC 12,746 56.2%
34 Wadesboro, NC 5,414 55.6%
35 Black Mountain, NC 8,110 54.3%
36 Woodfin, NC 6,394 54.3%
37 Asheville, NC 89,318 54.3%
38 Kernersville, NC 23,988 53.0%
39 Clemmons, NC 19,844 53.0%
40 Lewisville, NC 13,516 53.0%
41 Siler City, NC 8,116 52.9%
42 Laurinburg, NC 15,320 52.5%
43 Greenville, NC 90,347 51.9%
44 Ayden, NC 5,120 51.9%
45 Winterville, NC 9,488 51.9%
46 Wilson, NC 49,237 51.6%
47 Elizabeth City, NC 17,732 49.5%
48 Williamston, NC 5,398 48.9%
49 Nashville, NC 5,473 48.7%
50 Rocky Mount, NC 55,373 48.7%
51 Butner, NC 7,709 47.2%
52 Oxford, NC 8,614 47.2%
53 Boone, NC 18,493 47.2%
54 Kinston, NC 21,004 47.1%
55 Lumberton, NC 21,366 46.5%
56 Wilmington, NC 115,261 45.6%
57 Carolina Beach, NC 6,116 45.6%
58 Hamlet, NC 6,401 44.0%
59 Rockingham, NC 9,094 44.0%
60 Goldsboro, NC 35,432 42.9%
61 Mebane, NC 14,426 41.9%
62 Burlington, NC 52,813 41.9%
63 Elon, NC 9,939 41.9%
64 Graham, NC 14,540 41.9%
65 Sanford, NC 29,051 41.7%
66 Clinton, NC 8,630 40.7%
67 Roxboro, NC 8,273 39.9%
68 Whiteville, NC 5,487 38.2%
69 Kannapolis, NC 46,498 38.1%
70 Harrisburg, NC 14,856 38.1%
71 Concord, NC 87,607 38.1%
72 Havelock, NC 20,404 37.5%
73 New Bern, NC 29,664 37.5%
74 Kill Devil Hills, NC 6,978 36.8%
75 Brevard, NC 7,759 36.7%
76 Washington, NC 9,721 36.6%
77 Angier, NC 5,151 36.3%
78 Dunn, NC 9,657 36.3%
79 Hendersonville, NC 13,620 34.1%
80 Boiling Spring Lakes, NC 5,777 34.1%
81 Mills River, NC 7,079 34.1%
82 Leland, NC 18,023 34.1%
83 Fletcher, NC 7,737 34.1%
84 Oak Island, NC 7,400 34.1%
85 Waynesville, NC 9,804 34.1%
86 Eden, NC 15,235 33.7%
87 Reidsville, NC 13,933 33.7%
88 Aberdeen, NC 7,265 33.5%
89 Kings Mountain, NC 10,929 33.5%
90 Shelby, NC 20,058 33.5%
91 Pinehurst, NC 15,580 33.5%
92 Southern Pines, NC 13,426 33.5%
93 Smithfield, NC 11,824 33.0%
94 Selma, NC 6,375 33.0%
95 Clayton, NC 19,306 33.0%
96 Stallings, NC 14,970 32.5%
97 Wesley Chapel, NC 8,447 32.5%
98 Waxhaw, NC 13,343 32.5%
99 Weddington, NC 10,388 32.5%
100 Indian Trail, NC 37,191 32.5%

About Nick Johnson

Nick Johnson earned his masters in Business Administration from the Drucker School At Claremont Graduate University. He has written for 39 publications across the country and ran the media relations department at Movoto, a real estate portal based in San Francisco. He has been featured in over 500 publications as an expert in real estate and as an authority on real estate trends.

Nick's the creator of the HomeSnacks YouTube channel that now has over 260,000 subscribers and is an excellent source to learn about different parts of the country.