The 10 Worst Small Towns In North Carolina For 2024


The worst small towns in North Carolina are South Henderson and Fairplains for 2024 based on Friday Night Science.

Most Americans have never been to small town North Carolina. However, as the North Carolinian who live there know, small town North Carolina is an awesome place to call home.

But is it all roses? Definitely not. Just like any other state, North Carolina has its trouble spots. This article aims to determine, using Saturday Night Science, the absolute worst small towns to live in the Tar Heel State. Don’t freak out, we will use data to show which places have high crime, poverty, and unemployment.

After analyzing more than 278 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:


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table


These are the worst small towns in North Carolina for 2024:

  1. South Henderson
  2. Fairplains
  3. Red Springs
  4. Yanceyville
  5. Bonnetsville
  6. Robbins
  7. Weldon
  8. Brogden
  9. St. Pauls
  10. Enfield

Worst Small Towns To Live In North Carolina Map

So what is the worst small town to call home in North Carolina for 2024? According to the most recent census data, South Henderson is the worst small town to live in North Carolina.

While many of these small towns have seen better days, they have wonderful communities and people. This report in no way means to knock the folks that call towns like South Henderson home. Everyone

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.

If you’re looking for something more national, check out the worst cities in America or the worst states in America.

The 10 Worst Small Towns In North Carolina For 2024

1. South Henderson

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,187
Median Home Value: $0
Median Income: $35,341
Unemployment Rate: 23.1%

2. Fairplains

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,709
Median Home Value: $170,457
Median Income: $37,261
Unemployment Rate: 19.5%

3. Red Springs

Red Springs, NC

Source: Wikipedia User User:Dincher | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

1
/10

Population: 3,118
Median Home Value: $85,668
Median Income: $20,917
Unemployment Rate: 8.4%

4. Yanceyville

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,576
Median Home Value: $157,793
Median Income: $26,693
Unemployment Rate: 7.2%

5. Bonnetsville

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,297
Median Home Value: $157,366
Median Income: $41,135
Unemployment Rate: 4.5%

6. Robbins

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,511
Median Home Value: $157,866
Median Income: $47,770
Unemployment Rate: 8.7%

7. Weldon

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,536
Median Home Value: $55,906
Median Income: $37,330
Unemployment Rate: 12.3%

8. Brogden

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 2,744
Median Home Value: $132,820
Median Income: $32,132
Unemployment Rate: 10.5%

9. St. Pauls

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,261
Median Home Value: $127,827
Median Income: $36,490
Unemployment Rate: 9.9%

10. Enfield

Overall SnackAbility

1
/10

Population: 1,967
Median Home Value: $57,970
Median Income: $19,853
Unemployment Rate: 18.5%

Methodology: How do you decide if a small place in North Carolina is lousy or not?

To rank the worst small towns to live in North Carolina, we had to determine what criteria people like or dislike about a place. Assuming that people like low crime, solid education, things to do, and a stable economy isn’t a stretch.

We then analyzed the criteria using Saturday Night Science, the thinking you’d use at a bar. It seems like even your crazy Uncle would agree that a town with high crime is worse than a town with low crime; all else the same.

Using FBI crime data and the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, 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 1,000 and 5,000 people, of which there were many – 278 to be exact.

We get the crime numbers from the FBI, which gets them from the cities. Dropout numbers are based on the adult population, not just the current graduation rates of teenagers.

We base all our research on facts, which is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2024, which is our tenth time ranking the worst small places to live in North Carolina.

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.

The worst small towns in North Carolina are South Henderson, Fairplains, Red Springs, Yanceyville, Bonnetsville, Robbins, Weldon, Brogden, St. Pauls, and Enfield.

If you’re curious enough, here are the best small towns to live in North Carolina, according to science:

  1. Kure Beach (Pop. 2,313)
  2. Royal Pines (Pop. 4,681)
  3. Fearrington Village (Pop. 2,582)

For more North Carolina reading, check out:

Worst Small Towns In North Carolina

Rank Town Population Unemployment Rate Home Value Median Income
1 South Henderson 1,187 23.1% $0 $35,341
2 Fairplains 1,709 19.5% $170,457 $37,261
3 Red Springs 3,118 8.4% $85,668 $20,917
4 Yanceyville 2,576 7.2% $157,793 $26,693
5 Bonnetsville 1,297 4.5% $157,366 $41,135
6 Robbins 1,511 8.7% $157,866 $47,770
7 Weldon 1,536 12.3% $55,906 $37,330
8 Brogden 2,744 10.5% $132,820 $32,132
9 St. Pauls 2,261 9.9% $127,827 $36,490
10 Enfield 1,967 18.5% $57,970 $19,853
11 East Rockingham 3,328 12.5% $126,411 $31,475
12 Tabor City 3,709 6.1% $165,633 $34,722
13 Brunswick 1,233 6.1% $153,411 $16,643
14 Belhaven 1,378 11.2% $234,277 $30,147
15 Lucama 1,058 11.1% $181,220 $37,750
16 Rose Hill 1,754 13.3% $133,280 $45,000
17 Maxton 2,300 15.3% $101,013 $23,106
18 Andrews 2,086 12.9% $229,885 $34,939
19 Maury 1,055 13.5% $118,365 $19,797
20 Gamewell 3,710 6.5% $192,508 $54,037
21 Dana 3,629 6.5% $283,777 $53,256
22 Plymouth 3,315 24.2% $98,385 $24,385
23 Cherokee 1,604 1.6% $191,321 $43,655
24 Fairmont 2,519 8.7% $83,590 $31,731
25 Scotland Neck 1,861 10.7% $67,949 $17,271
26 Sparta 1,795 4.5% $233,019 $38,045
27 Rowland 1,003 11.5% $90,620 $28,750
28 Franklinville 1,245 4.2% $224,719 $38,712
29 East Spencer 1,216 8.0% $131,320 $37,917
30 Candor 1,168 0.4% $156,512 $45,351
31 Hertford 2,045 13.3% $257,347 $43,696
32 Millers Creek 1,475 7.1% $227,616 $41,434
33 Pembroke 2,832 4.8% $150,112 $23,107
34 River Road 3,507 7.2% $225,549 $46,434
35 Sylva 2,601 12.0% $309,265 $38,704
36 Cordova 1,320 33.2% $173,457 $51,046
37 Spring Hope 1,441 8.7% $197,632 $29,699
38 Badin 2,075 11.3% $167,445 $42,708
39 Belwood 1,103 3.5% $154,418 $46,355
40 Bayboro 1,209 2.6% $131,078 $28,393
41 Cricket 2,491 6.8% $186,003 $45,536
42 Troy 2,921 5.9% $191,679 $44,261
43 Liberty 2,666 10.2% $250,780 $48,672
44 Snow Hill 2,092 5.5% $164,257 $34,583
45 Gorman 1,473 2.2% $286,504 $1,000
46 Jonesville 2,634 2.1% $141,480 $26,044
47 Chadbourn 1,548 4.8% $165,481 $23,477
48 Murphy 1,549 7.7% $293,033 $34,283
49 Spindale 4,218 8.5% $128,978 $38,857
50 Enochville 3,446 7.5% $239,322 $57,328
51 Biscoe 2,595 1.1% $162,040 $44,814
52 Icard 1,984 15.8% $202,397 $45,620
53 Ahoskie 4,841 11.9% $110,039 $38,063
54 Ellerbe 1,156 19.8% $121,881 $45,654
55 Mount Olive 4,286 7.1% $114,050 $41,738
56 Chocowinity 1,059 19.0% $144,002 $35,098
57 South Rosemary 2,877 3.5% $114,547 $41,875
58 Mayodan 2,438 11.2% $148,549 $40,458
59 Grifton 2,676 15.7% $155,352 $34,609
60 Wilson’s Mills 2,581 10.9% $272,732 $59,309
61 Saxapahaw 1,200 8.3% $213,412 $50,909
62 La Grange 2,640 8.7% $164,111 $46,799
63 Star 1,208 3.2% $166,651 $35,750
64 Fruitland 2,447 1.2% $177,684 $40,500
65 Beulaville 1,439 3.0% $189,369 $34,115
66 West Jefferson 1,508 22.3% $327,267 $41,036
67 Marshville 2,565 13.1% $277,203 $50,000
68 Denton 1,307 6.8% $236,654 $44,539
69 Yadkinville 2,971 7.2% $227,489 $41,148
70 Toast 1,210 8.0% $128,184 $33,665
71 Polkton 2,937 1.5% $86,935 $47,277
72 Elkin 4,026 3.1% $214,480 $57,711
73 Burgaw 3,207 14.8% $258,596 $63,355
74 Franklin 4,184 3.7% $274,219 $38,947
75 Calabash 2,570 8.1% $327,276 $46,607
76 Jefferson 1,872 4.3% $326,995 $37,232
77 Green Level 3,111 3.1% $166,502 $42,695
78 Spencer 3,296 9.0% $192,651 $61,079
79 Spruce Pine 2,637 1.8% $238,753 $44,596
80 Princeville 1,630 11.4% $111,769 $50,938
81 Vander 1,481 10.2% $297,686 $45,875
82 North Wilkesboro 4,349 1.2% $200,372 $36,855
83 Salem 1,634 5.8% $191,594 $55,156
84 Coats 2,324 4.6% $230,306 $42,566
85 Kenly 2,527 8.7% $233,536 $51,250
86 Wentworth 2,664 5.2% $225,337 $71,806
87 Stoneville 1,052 6.8% $196,749 $50,661
88 Cajah’s Mountain 2,715 5.1% $215,867 $52,133
89 Elizabet 3,304 0.0% $208,230 $24,081
90 Louisburg 3,099 28.3% $298,160 $41,813
91 Edenton 4,512 6.2% $228,239 $46,979
92 Norlina 1,170 4.7% $148,335 $34,550
93 Ramseur 1,877 2.7% $213,936 $32,964
94 Haw River 2,894 4.4% $209,057 $57,404
95 Pilot Mountain 1,667 4.3% $252,091 $42,045
96 Madison 2,185 7.6% $198,186 $51,150
97 Bryson City 1,638 1.0% $310,770 $41,542
98 Bladenboro 2,485 6.2% $114,238 $54,797
99 Navassa 1,976 5.9% $248,380 $50,694
100 Hudson 3,780 6.2% $235,445 $49,761
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.

10 thoughts on “The 10 Worst Small Towns In North Carolina For 2024

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. This must be another Gay rights Activist writing these articles, who is supported by our Attorney General, Roy Cooper!

  4. 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.

    1. 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.

  5. 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!

  6. 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.

  7. In my view, I feel the article is directed, perhaps unconsciously, but it doesn’t feel unconscious frankly – is directed at predominately white people to warn them of towns that are predominately black. Yes, I do find it frankly offensive and under the banner of white privilege – and I wonder too how many of the towns listed as the “worst” have sizable minority populations.

    I don’t feel we can necessarily take a purely statistical approach and also say in a pejorative sense, that e.g. “Yanceyville” is one of the “worst” towns or the “pits” – and then have links to data that show it has a black majority in terms of residents.

    Maybe the fact there is higher unemployment has also something to do with the reinforcement of negativity in terms of the language chosen to use when describing the statistics? Potential businesses ostensibly review such info – and I find Bud Tapman to be essentially aiding and abetting social and economic racial injustice.

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