Whitest cities in North Carolina research summary. We analyzed North Carolina’s most recent Census data to determine the whitest cities in North Carolina based on the percentage of White residents. Here are the results of our analysis:
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The whitest city in North Carolina is Oak Island based on the most recent Census data.
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Oak Island is 94.13% White.
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The least White city in North Carolina is Siler City.
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Siler City is 20.78% White.
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North Carolina is 60.0% White.
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North Carolina is the 33rd Whitest state in the United States.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Today, we are looking at the whitest places in North Carolina. We won’t measure the number of Whole Foods or Pottery Barns per capita. Instead, we’ll focus on the Census data’s report of race by place in North Carolina. In particular, we ranked each place in North Carolina by the percentage of white people.
So where are the whitest cities you can live in North Carolina?
After analyzing cities with populations greater than 5,000, we came up with this list as the whitest cities in North Carolina for 2026.
Here are the 10 whites places in North Carolina for 2026:
What is the whitest city in North Carolina for 2026? According to the most recent census data Oak Island ranks as the whitest. If you’re wondering, Siler City is the least white city of all those we measured.
Read on below to see where your hometown ranked and why. Or check out the whitest states in America and the most diverse states in America.
For more North Carolina reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In North Carolina
- Most Dangerous Cities In North Carolina
- Safest Cities in North Carolina
The 10 Whitest Cities In North Carolina For 2026
/10
Population: 9,030
% White: 94.13%
More on Oak Island: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 5,042
% White: 93.81%
More on Sawmills: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 8,513
% White: 89.19%
More on Black Mountain: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 6,954
% White: 89.04%
More on Unionville: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,502
% White: 87.71%
More on Waynesville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 6,745
% White: 87.5%
More on Carolina Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 6,226
% White: 85.64%
More on Cherryville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 18,256
% White: 85.57%
More on Pinehurst: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 20,032
% White: 83.74%
More on Boone: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 7,111
% White: 83.52%
More on Trinity: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How we determined the whitest places in North Carolina for 2026
To rank the whitest places in North Carolina, we used Saturday Night Science to look at Census demographic data.
We had to look at the number of white people living in each city in North Carolina on a per capita basis. In other words, the percentage of white people living in each city in North Carolina.
We looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:
- Hispanic or Latino
- White alone*
- Black or African American alone*
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
- Asian alone*
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
- Some other race alone*
- Two or more races*
Our particular column of interest here was the number of people who identified as White alone.
We limited our analysis to town with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 124 cities.
We then calculated the percentage of residents that are White. The percentages ranked from 94.1% to 20.8%.
Finally, we ranked each city based on the percentage of White population, with a higher score being more White than a lower score. Oak Island took the distinction of being the most White, while Siler City was the least White city.
We updated this article for 2026. This report represents our eleventh time ranking the whitest cities in North Carolina.
Read on for more information on how the cities in North Carolina ranked by population of White residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.
Summary: White Populations Across North Carolina
We measured the locations with the highest percentage of white people in North Carolina. According to the most recent data, this list provides accurate information on the whitest places in North Carolina.
The most White cities in North Carolina are Oak Island, Sawmills, Black Mountain, Unionville, Waynesville, Carolina Beach, Cherryville, Pinehurst, Boone, and Trinity.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least White places in North Carolina:
- Siler City
- Henderson
- Kinston
For more North Carolina reading, check out:
- Worst Places To Live In North Carolina
- Cheapest Places To Live In North Carolina
- Best Places To Live In North Carolina
White Population By City In North Carolina
| Rank | City | Population | White Population | % White |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oak Island | 9,030 | 8,500 | 94.13% |
| 2 | Sawmills | 5,042 | 4,730 | 93.81% |
| 3 | Black Mountain | 8,513 | 7,593 | 89.19% |
| 4 | Unionville | 6,954 | 6,192 | 89.04% |
| 5 | Waynesville | 10,502 | 9,211 | 87.71% |
| 6 | Carolina Beach | 6,745 | 5,902 | 87.5% |
| 7 | Cherryville | 6,226 | 5,332 | 85.64% |
| 8 | Pinehurst | 18,256 | 15,621 | 85.57% |
| 9 | Boone | 20,032 | 16,774 | 83.74% |
| 10 | Trinity | 7,111 | 5,939 | 83.52% |
| 11 | Leland | 29,607 | 24,589 | 83.05% |
| 12 | Cornelius | 32,783 | 26,887 | 82.02% |
| 13 | King | 7,408 | 6,066 | 81.88% |
| 14 | Kill Devil Hills | 7,761 | 6,274 | 80.84% |
| 15 | Brevard | 7,897 | 6,376 | 80.74% |
| 16 | Fletcher | 8,098 | 6,528 | 80.61% |
| 17 | Belmont | 15,546 | 12,519 | 80.53% |
| 18 | Davidson | 15,660 | 12,560 | 80.2% |
| 19 | Mills River | 7,281 | 5,814 | 79.85% |
| 20 | Asheville | 94,535 | 75,465 | 79.83% |
| 21 | Elon | 11,032 | 8,713 | 78.98% |
| 22 | Lewisville | 13,828 | 10,794 | 78.06% |
| 23 | Hendersonville | 15,408 | 11,964 | 77.65% |
| 24 | Oak Ridge | 7,744 | 5,993 | 77.39% |
| 25 | Morehead City | 9,806 | 7,585 | 77.35% |
| 26 | Archdale | 12,087 | 9,292 | 76.88% |
| 27 | Mount Airy | 10,633 | 8,161 | 76.75% |
| 28 | Woodfin | 8,048 | 6,131 | 76.18% |
| 29 | Weddington | 13,805 | 10,427 | 75.53% |
| 30 | Stallings | 16,886 | 12,723 | 75.35% |
| 31 | Bessemer City | 5,580 | 4,179 | 74.89% |
| 32 | Summerfield | 11,116 | 8,290 | 74.58% |
| 33 | Hillsborough | 9,724 | 7,188 | 73.92% |
| 34 | Wesley Chapel | 9,090 | 6,698 | 73.69% |
| 35 | Southern Pines | 16,420 | 12,058 | 73.43% |
| 36 | Lenoir | 18,299 | 13,394 | 73.2% |
| 37 | Clemmons | 21,871 | 15,494 | 70.84% |
| 38 | Holly Springs | 45,248 | 31,917 | 70.54% |
| 39 | Matthews | 30,577 | 21,417 | 70.04% |
| 40 | Wilmington | 120,805 | 84,455 | 69.91% |
| 41 | Mooresville | 52,381 | 36,316 | 69.33% |
| 42 | Conover | 8,580 | 5,827 | 67.91% |
| 43 | Waxhaw | 22,275 | 15,025 | 67.45% |
| 44 | Huntersville | 63,969 | 43,073 | 67.33% |
| 45 | Fuquay-Varina | 40,485 | 26,531 | 65.53% |
| 46 | Kings Mountain | 12,039 | 7,888 | 65.52% |
| 47 | Mount Holly | 18,208 | 11,907 | 65.39% |
| 48 | Indian Trail | 42,036 | 27,181 | 64.66% |
| 49 | Wake Forest | 52,844 | 34,160 | 64.64% |
| 50 | Aberdeen | 9,228 | 5,928 | 64.24% |
| 51 | Mint Hill | 27,556 | 17,676 | 64.15% |
| 52 | Newton | 13,333 | 8,551 | 64.13% |
| 53 | Kernersville | 27,830 | 17,825 | 64.05% |
| 54 | Gibsonville | 9,467 | 6,011 | 63.49% |
| 55 | Chapel Hill | 61,607 | 38,670 | 62.77% |
| 56 | Hickory | 44,258 | 27,704 | 62.6% |
| 57 | Albemarle | 16,762 | 10,404 | 62.07% |
| 58 | Apex | 70,630 | 43,592 | 61.72% |
| 59 | Carrboro | 21,204 | 12,968 | 61.16% |
| 60 | Marion | 7,579 | 4,634 | 61.14% |
| 61 | Lincolnton | 11,783 | 7,091 | 60.18% |
| 62 | Eden | 15,356 | 9,211 | 59.98% |
| 63 | Smithfield | 12,116 | 7,206 | 59.48% |
| 64 | Morganton | 17,646 | 10,301 | 58.38% |
| 65 | Cary | 179,306 | 101,742 | 56.74% |
| 66 | Havelock | 17,691 | 9,928 | 56.12% |
| 67 | Thomasville | 27,321 | 15,299 | 56.0% |
| 68 | Winterville | 10,725 | 5,980 | 55.76% |
| 69 | Forest City | 7,363 | 4,095 | 55.62% |
| 70 | Hamlet | 5,961 | 3,311 | 55.54% |
| 71 | Kannapolis | 57,890 | 32,113 | 55.47% |
| 72 | Mebane | 19,538 | 10,758 | 55.06% |
| 73 | Jacksonville | 71,279 | 39,138 | 54.91% |
| 74 | Clayton | 29,320 | 15,886 | 54.18% |
| 75 | Graham | 18,048 | 9,730 | 53.91% |
| 76 | Shelby | 22,100 | 11,872 | 53.72% |
| 77 | Asheboro | 27,580 | 14,490 | 52.54% |
| 78 | Reidsville | 14,585 | 7,604 | 52.14% |
| 79 | Rockingham | 8,967 | 4,673 | 52.11% |
| 80 | Garner | 34,473 | 17,919 | 51.98% |
| 81 | Statesville | 29,894 | 15,525 | 51.93% |
| 82 | Raleigh | 481,031 | 246,042 | 51.15% |
| 83 | Gastonia | 82,884 | 42,263 | 50.99% |
| 84 | Harrisburg | 19,633 | 9,963 | 50.75% |
| 85 | New Bern | 32,734 | 16,588 | 50.68% |
| 86 | Dunn | 8,559 | 4,300 | 50.24% |
| 87 | Roanoke Rapids | 14,856 | 7,446 | 50.12% |
| 88 | Concord | 108,719 | 53,709 | 49.4% |
| 89 | Salisbury | 35,825 | 17,589 | 49.1% |
| 90 | Greenville | 92,857 | 45,071 | 48.54% |
| 91 | Wendell | 13,064 | 6,213 | 47.56% |
| 92 | Washington | 9,726 | 4,507 | 46.34% |
| 93 | Roxboro | 8,182 | 3,662 | 44.76% |
| 94 | Burlington | 59,610 | 26,399 | 44.29% |
| 95 | Butner | 8,065 | 3,549 | 44.0% |
| 96 | Monroe | 36,759 | 16,059 | 43.69% |
| 97 | Winston-Salem | 252,037 | 109,867 | 43.59% |
| 98 | Lexington | 19,690 | 8,417 | 42.75% |
| 99 | Pineville | 11,055 | 4,660 | 42.15% |
| 100 | Elizabeth City | 18,871 | 7,939 | 42.07% |