Most Americans have never been to North Carolina. However, as the people who live there know, North Carolina is an awesome state.
But is it all roses? Definitely not. Just like any other state, North Carolina has its trouble spots. This article aims to determine, using science, the absolute worst small towns to live in the Tar Heel State. Don’t shoot the messenger, this is all using data.
After analyzing more than 239 of North Carolina’s smallest cities, we came up with this list as the 10 worst small towns in North Carolina where you’d never want to live:
Of course, many of these cities would rank highly if they were in other states, since North Carolina has its stuff figured out.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers, or scroll to the bottom to see how your town ranked.
And if you already know about the small towns, check out the best places to live in North Carolina or the worst places to live in North Carolina.
How do you decide if a place is lousy or not?
In order to rank the worst small towns to live in North Carolina, we had to determine what criteria people like or dislike about a place. It isn’t a stretch to assume that people like low crime, solid education, things to do and a stable economy.
So we scraped the internet for those criteria, and it spit out the answer. Like magic.
How we crunched the numbers
We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using FBI crime data, the Census’s 2010-2014 American Community Survey, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (The lower the worse)
- Highest Unemployment Rates
- Low housing costs (meaning there’s no demand)
- Adjusted Median Income (Median income adjusted for the cost of living)
- Education (Number of high school dropouts)
- High Crime
We looked at cities with populations between 100 and 1,000 people, of which, there were a lot – 239 to be exact.
Additional note: We get the crime numbers from the FBI, which gets its crime numbers from the cities themselves. Dropout numbers are based on the adult population, not just the current graduation rates of teenagers.
1. Mcfarlan
Population: 146 Median Income: $20,938
Median Home Value: $76,900
2. Norman
Population: 107 Median Income: $19,688
Median Home Value: $27,500
3. East Arcadia
Population: 595 Median Income: $25,556
Median Home Value: $57,500
4. Old Hundred
Population: 325 Median Income: $23,864
Median Home Value: $61,100
5. Casar
Population: 275 Median Income: $24,583
Median Home Value: $69,400
6. Everetts
Population: 167 Median Income: $25,694
Median Home Value: $73,600
7. Fountain
Population: 341 Median Income: $18,472
Median Home Value: $93,000
8. Morven
Population: 452 Median Income: $21,111
Median Home Value: $31,400
9. Keener
Population: 811 Median Income: $25,238
Median Home Value: $108,100
10. Woodland
Population: 977 Median Income: $19,129
Median Home Value: $72,400
There You Have It – The Worst Small Towns In North Carolina
If you’re analyzing teeny places in the Tar Heel State with the worst economic situations, where there’s high crime and there’s not a lot to do, this is an accurate list.
If you’re curious enough, here are the best small towns to live in North Carolina, according to science.
- Best: Alamance
- 2nd Best: Deercroft
- 3rd Best: Walnut Creek
For more reading, check out:
As a resident outsider to Casar (from Miami, FL) I have to say that whomever (Bud Tapman) wrote this is an idiot and knows nothing about our town. First, our population is 298, not 410. Second, despite the fact that our average median income is under $20,000, there is not one single resident that would ever allow a neighbor to go to bed hungry. We pull together as a community to help one another in one way or another. This town is built on generations of kindness, humility, and hard working people. The folks her have strong roots in faith, love, and compassion. So when you say that we are number three on the your uninformed list of places to live, stay out if you don’t like the type of people I have described.
My husband and I have lived here our entire marriage(43) yrs. In 2005 our home burned to the ground. Neither of is we’re home that day. He is a minister, was in Gastonia that day. I worked for a dermatologist, was off that day at a Dr’s appt. picked my granddaughter up. When I pulled in the fire department was trying to save our hpme. The fire men worked so hard to some actually passed out. Strangers showed up with clothes for us. My sister in law Carol fixed us a meal that night, stayed the night with my mother. Came the next morning to our burnt home and fireman had came back to check on us. Neighbors, strangers brought us money, food and clothes to wear. We lost everything, even a car sitting on the carport. This little town you describe as third came in first that day. It might be small and poor in your estimation but when it comes to a tragedy or needing a helping hand, its number one. Faith, living right, and being a good neighbor is all around us. Rethinking your status of #3 might be in order. No, we are not perfect. Come check is put in person.
from Shelby lived here 34 years best town and best fire dept. in Cleveland county
This must be another Gay rights Activist writing these articles, who is supported by our Attorney General, Roy Cooper!
whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?!
Lewiston is not a poor town with a lot of dropouts. There’s 36 teachers, doctors, parents of am NBA star, nurses, and prominent business owners within a 4 mile radius of my childhood home. It’s quiet and most people are related or friends. People need not write about things they truly don’t know.
It very much is a poor town. I could not believe how bad it looks now compared to when I was a teenager. It’s gone downhill.
I love living in Stonewall. Unlike these demographics, I have a job (often more than 3-4!) a college eduation (plus a grad degree!) and am not a criminal. Yes, we have some uneployment here.. but there are MANY retirees who chose to stay in Stonewall.
SHEESH!
THANK You For all the Great Info, and the Great replies too. Does anyone here happen to know the area or areas of Mt. Airy, NC.? From what im hearing about the drug scene, Andy has left the building. Have considered moving there for the good home prices, but there’s always a minus for a plus, understood, but druggies and violence in my face, ain’t worth it. I may have to redneck it on over to Robbinsville, Lol.