The 10 Most Miserable Cities In North Carolina For 2023


The most miserable cities in North Carolina are Siler City and Zebulon for 2023 based on Saturday Night Science.

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

  1. Siler City
  2. Zebulon
  3. Monroe
  4. Roxboro
  5. Hope Mills
  6. Indian Trail
  7. Dallas
  8. Havelock
  9. Lexington
  10. Kannapolis

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

Siler City, NC

Source: Wikipedia User Gerry Dincher | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

2
/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

Zebulon, NC

Source: Wikipedia User James Willamor | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

3
/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

Monroe, NC

Source: Wikipedia User Mpbusyb | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/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

Roxboro, NC

Source: Wikipedia User FotoDawg | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

1
/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

Hope Mills, NC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/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

Indian Trail, NC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/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

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 5,777
Poverty Level: 11.1%
Median Home Price $159,600
Married Households 26.0%
Households With Kids 41.89%
More on Dallas: Data | Crime

Havelock, NC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/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

Lexington, NC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/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

Kannapolis, NC

Source: Wikipedia User Jon Platek | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/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:

  1. Waynesville
  2. Fletcher
  3. Elon

For more North Carolina reading, check out:

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%
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.

7 thoughts on “The 10 Most Miserable Cities In North Carolina For 2023

    1. 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.

  1. 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.

    1. 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!

  2. 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.

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