Market rankings · North Carolina
Auto repair and car care businesses in North Carolina
Markets across North Carolina ranked by the Groundwork market score for auto repair and car care businesses, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 15,696
- 4,107 chain locations (26%)
- Official establishments
- 6,104
- +3.5% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $4B
- On vehicle maintenance and repairs
- Listings per 10k households
- 36.7
- 3% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $256K
- 5% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #23 of 51
- Market score 53 · Upper middle
A site report maps the auto repair and car care businesses on map listings around any address in North Carolina by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
As of September 2026, map listings count 15,696 auto repair and car care businesses in North Carolina. 4,107 of them (26%) are chain locations, against 24% across the U.S. That is 36.7 per 10,000 households, 3% above the U.S. rate of 35.7.
Households in North Carolina spend about $4B a year on vehicle maintenance and repairs, or $939 per household, 2% below the U.S. average. That works out to $256K per business, 5% below the U.S. figure of $269K.
The official count of businesses with payroll classed as automotive repair and maintenance, and tire dealers in North Carolina was 6,104 in 2023, up 3.5% from 2019. That is one for every 702 households, against one for every 681 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 4.1% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 182 SBA-backed loans worth $147M have gone to businesses classed as automotive repair and maintenance, and tire dealers in North Carolina.
Among the 50 states and DC, North Carolina ranks #23 for auto repair and car care businesses, with a Groundwork market score of 53 (upper middle). Of the 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Pinehurst-Southern Pines metro area scores highest (81). Of the 23 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Brevard area scores highest (79).
Every market in North Carolina for auto repair and car care businesses
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in North Carolina, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 81 | 121 | 27.5 | $351K | +10.3% | #8 of 387 |
| 2Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 80 | 619 | 24.9 | $359K | +7.5% | #12 of 387 |
| 3Raleigh-Cary, NC | 70 | 1,809 | 31.5 | $308K | +12.6% | #54 of 387 |
| 4Rocky Mount, NC | 66 | 183 | 31.3 | $299K | +2.8% | #80 of 387 |
| 5Wilmington, NC | 60 | 692 | 34.7 | $265K | +15.9% | #125 of 387 |
| 6Jacksonville, NC | 55 | 287 | 38.1 | $238K | +6.0% | #168 of 387 |
| 7Greenville, NC | 54 | 243 | 32.6 | $252K | +5.4% | #173 of 387 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 53 | 2,182 | 30.8 | $296K | +0.9% | #178 of 387 |
| 8Winston-Salem, NC | 53 | 1,032 | 36.6 | $262K | +5.3% | #184 of 387 |
| 9Burlington, NC | 53 | 284 | 40.5 | $232K | +8.5% | #187 of 387 |
| 10Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 51 | 4,137 | 38.4 | $248K | +10.1% | #201 of 387 |
| 11Greensboro-High Point, NC | 49 | 1,161 | 36.6 | $249K | +4.1% | #212 of 387 |
| 12Fayetteville, NC | 40 | 587 | 39.4 | $218K | +1.6% | #276 of 387 |
| 13Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 37 | 637 | 42.6 | $232K | +3.2% | #292 of 387 |
| 14Goldsboro, NC | 36 | 211 | 44.4 | $212K | +3.8% | #301 of 387 |
| 15Asheville, NC | 35 | 649 | 40.2 | $229K | +3.6% | #305 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Brevard, NC | 79 | 39 | 26.7 | $350K | +2.9% | #26 of 538 |
| 2Anderson Creek, NC | 72 | 180 | 36.1 | $281K | +12.3% | #69 of 538 |
| 3Morehead City, NC | 67 | 104 | 32.5 | $288K | +4.1% | #108 of 538 |
| 4Kill Devil Hills, NC | 64 | 63 | 37.4 | $277K | +3.3% | #137 of 538 |
| 5Marion, NC | 62 | 72 | 38.6 | $246K | +1.5% | #165 of 538 |
| 6Lumberton, NC | 59 | 160 | 37.1 | $241K | +3.4% | #190 of 538 |
| 7Waynesville, NC | 57 | 99 | 36.5 | $262K | +1.9% | #205 of 538 |
| 8Boone, NC | 56 | 72 | 34.0 | $270K | +0.6% | #208 of 538 |
| 9Laurinburg, NC | 55 | 40 | 31.8 | $264K | −0.3% | #219 of 538 |
| 10New Bern, NC | 53 | 193 | 36.8 | $243K | +3.6% | #238 of 538 |
| 11North Wilkesboro, NC | 53 | 107 | 39.5 | $242K | +0.6% | #239 of 538 |
| 12Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 51 | 165 | 42.5 | $229K | +3.4% | #264 of 538 |
| 13Henderson, NC | 50 | 56 | 34.7 | $263K | +0.2% | #270 of 538 |
| 14Sanford, NC | 49 | 128 | 50.9 | $197K | +10.8% | #285 of 538 |
| 15Albemarle, NC | 49 | 132 | 52.3 | $196K | +9.8% | #286 of 538 |
| 16Roanoke Rapids, NC | 47 | 103 | 36.5 | $249K | −4.3% | #301 of 538 |
| 17Forest City, NC | 45 | 141 | 52.9 | $180K | +2.1% | #329 of 538 |
| 18Mount Airy, NC | 41 | 149 | 49.9 | $203K | +1.3% | #368 of 538 |
| 19Elizabeth City, NC | 39 | 86 | 54.5 | $175K | +4.5% | #391 of 538 |
| 20Wilson, NC | 38 | 133 | 40.2 | $223K | +1.7% | #395 of 538 |
| 21Washington, NC | 28 | 92 | 47.5 | $193K | 0.0% | #462 of 538 |
| 22Kinston, NC | 23 | 109 | 46.7 | $179K | +1.4% | #497 of 538 |
| 23Rockingham, NC | 13 | 87 | 51.1 | $161K | −1.6% | #526 of 538 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Camden County, NC | 89 | 8 | 19.9 | $553K | +8.8% | #23 of 2,401 |
| 2Hoke County, NC | 85 | 39 | 20.3 | $481K | +9.0% | #50 of 2,401 |
| 3Brunswick County, NC | 83 | 176 | 25.5 | $377K | +26.5% | #88 of 2,401 |
| 4Madison County, NC | 82 | 23 | 27.6 | $367K | +5.9% | #93 of 2,401 |
| 5Orange County, NC | 79 | 100 | 17.4 | $538K | +6.1% | #136 of 2,401 |
| 6Perquimans County, NC | 79 | 11 | 19.6 | $484K | +3.6% | #139 of 2,401 |
| 7Chatham County, NC | 78 | 93 | 28.2 | $378K | +11.0% | #164 of 2,401 |
| 8Caswell County, NC | 77 | 24 | 27.2 | $391K | +0.4% | #182 of 2,401 |
| 9Pender County, NC | 76 | 74 | 29.3 | $352K | +19.0% | #204 of 2,401 |
| 10Polk County, NC | 76 | 26 | 29.0 | $336K | +6.0% | #208 of 2,401 |
| 11Moore County, NC | 74 | 121 | 27.5 | $351K | +10.3% | #251 of 2,401 |
| 12Jackson County, NC | 73 | 51 | 27.7 | $331K | +6.9% | #280 of 2,401 |
| 13Franklin County, NC | 72 | 96 | 33.6 | $305K | +18.8% | #318 of 2,401 |
| 14Davie County, NC | 72 | 64 | 37.1 | $291K | +6.9% | #321 of 2,401 |
| 15Avery County, NC | 71 | 16 | 23.6 | $396K | +1.1% | #332 of 2,401 |
| 16Warren County, NC | 71 | 19 | 23.3 | $390K | +1.6% | #333 of 2,401 |
| 17Granville County, NC | 71 | 65 | 28.9 | $369K | +2.1% | #336 of 2,401 |
| 18Transylvania County, NC | 71 | 39 | 26.7 | $350K | +2.9% | #337 of 2,401 |
| 19Pamlico County, NC | 70 | 15 | 27.5 | $341K | +3.7% | #362 of 2,401 |
| 20Stokes County, NC | 70 | 61 | 31.2 | $338K | +3.5% | #363 of 2,401 |
| 21Bertie County, NC | 68 | 14 | 19.6 | $487K | −3.6% | #411 of 2,401 |
| 22Edgecombe County, NC | 68 | 45 | 22.9 | $390K | +0.7% | #419 of 2,401 |
| 23Bladen County, NC | 68 | 33 | 27.9 | $354K | +1.3% | #423 of 2,401 |
| 24Durham County, NC | 68 | 366 | 25.8 | $319K | +7.7% | #432 of 2,401 |
| 25Wake County, NC | 67 | 1,363 | 29.6 | $320K | +11.2% | #465 of 2,401 |
Show all 100 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Burke County, NC | 66 | 109 | 30.0 | $329K | +1.6% | #501 of 2,401 |
| 27Gates County, NC | 65 | 12 | 28.6 | $371K | −2.1% | #523 of 2,401 |
| 28Currituck County, NC | 65 | 51 | 43.1 | $286K | +16.7% | #547 of 2,401 |
| 29Johnston County, NC | 65 | 350 | 40.9 | $260K | +17.9% | #555 of 2,401 |
| 30Northampton County, NC | 64 | 20 | 25.5 | $376K | −5.4% | #565 of 2,401 |
| 31Harnett County, NC | 63 | 180 | 36.1 | $281K | +12.3% | #634 of 2,401 |
| 32Duplin County, NC | 62 | 80 | 38.5 | $250K | +6.0% | #682 of 2,401 |
| 33Anson County, NC | 59 | 26 | 30.4 | $318K | −2.1% | #780 of 2,401 |
| 34Ashe County, NC | 58 | 44 | 36.1 | $266K | +3.5% | #855 of 2,401 |
| 35Chowan County, NC | 57 | 20 | 32.6 | $261K | +2.8% | #893 of 2,401 |
| 36Mecklenburg County, NC | 57 | 1,569 | 33.6 | $258K | +10.5% | #896 of 2,401 |
| 37Clay County, NC | 57 | 26 | 51.2 | $194K | +9.9% | #906 of 2,401 |
| 38Carteret County, NC | 56 | 104 | 32.5 | $288K | +4.1% | #930 of 2,401 |
| 39Person County, NC | 55 | 60 | 37.4 | $282K | +3.7% | #977 of 2,401 |
| 40Dare County, NC | 55 | 63 | 37.4 | $277K | +3.3% | #983 of 2,401 |
| 41Nash County, NC | 55 | 138 | 35.6 | $270K | +3.9% | #990 of 2,401 |
| 42Randolph County, NC | 55 | 218 | 37.8 | $269K | +3.5% | #992 of 2,401 |
| 43Davidson County, NC | 55 | 280 | 40.1 | $261K | +6.6% | #998 of 2,401 |
| 44Washington County, NC | 54 | 12 | 25.3 | $325K | −3.1% | #1,017 of 2,401 |
| 45Lincoln County, NC | 54 | 155 | 42.1 | $259K | +13.2% | #1,047 of 2,401 |
| 46Pitt County, NC | 53 | 243 | 32.6 | $252K | +5.4% | #1,099 of 2,401 |
| 47Union County, NC | 53 | 392 | 46.5 | $247K | +11.7% | #1,105 of 2,401 |
| 48McDowell County, NC | 53 | 72 | 38.6 | $246K | +1.5% | #1,106 of 2,401 |
| 49Onslow County, NC | 53 | 287 | 38.1 | $238K | +6.0% | #1,109 of 2,401 |
| 50Alamance County, NC | 53 | 284 | 40.5 | $232K | +8.5% | #1,112 of 2,401 |
| 51Greene County, NC | 51 | 20 | 28.9 | $324K | +1.3% | #1,162 of 2,401 |
| 52Gaston County, NC | 51 | 354 | 37.8 | $247K | +7.8% | #1,198 of 2,401 |
| 53Yadkin County, NC | 51 | 76 | 50.6 | $221K | +2.9% | #1,209 of 2,401 |
| 54Montgomery County, NC | 50 | 44 | 41.3 | $259K | +2.7% | #1,236 of 2,401 |
| 55Robeson County, NC | 50 | 160 | 37.1 | $241K | +3.4% | #1,251 of 2,401 |
| 56Forsyth County, NC | 49 | 551 | 34.5 | $257K | +5.0% | #1,271 of 2,401 |
| 57Yancey County, NC | 49 | 34 | 41.8 | $242K | +3.2% | #1,277 of 2,401 |
| 58Guilford County, NC | 48 | 777 | 35.4 | $250K | +4.4% | #1,307 of 2,401 |
| 59Rockingham County, NC | 48 | 166 | 41.9 | $220K | +3.3% | #1,315 of 2,401 |
| 60Haywood County, NC | 47 | 99 | 36.5 | $262K | +1.9% | #1,333 of 2,401 |
| 61Watauga County, NC | 46 | 72 | 34.0 | $270K | +0.6% | #1,372 of 2,401 |
| 62Scotland County, NC | 46 | 40 | 31.8 | $264K | −0.3% | #1,378 of 2,401 |
| 63Martin County, NC | 46 | 35 | 36.8 | $241K | −1.6% | #1,394 of 2,401 |
| 64Alexander County, NC | 45 | 57 | 40.4 | $268K | +1.5% | #1,414 of 2,401 |
| 65Cabarrus County, NC | 45 | 374 | 44.4 | $228K | +9.9% | #1,436 of 2,401 |
| 66Lee County, NC | 45 | 128 | 50.9 | $197K | +10.8% | #1,447 of 2,401 |
| 67Henderson County, NC | 44 | 200 | 39.2 | $242K | +5.0% | #1,473 of 2,401 |
| 68Wilkes County, NC | 44 | 107 | 39.5 | $242K | +0.6% | #1,474 of 2,401 |
| 69Stanly County, NC | 44 | 132 | 52.3 | $196K | +9.8% | #1,489 of 2,401 |
| 70Macon County, NC | 42 | 69 | 37.5 | $249K | +5.8% | #1,553 of 2,401 |
| 71Cleveland County, NC | 42 | 165 | 42.5 | $229K | +3.4% | #1,566 of 2,401 |
| 72Alleghany County, NC | 42 | 22 | 42.5 | $227K | +5.4% | #1,567 of 2,401 |
| 73Iredell County, NC | 42 | 373 | 48.9 | $214K | +12.9% | #1,578 of 2,401 |
| 74Craven County, NC | 41 | 162 | 37.8 | $233K | +3.5% | #1,613 of 2,401 |
| 75Vance County, NC | 40 | 56 | 34.7 | $263K | +0.2% | #1,650 of 2,401 |
| 76Caldwell County, NC | 40 | 118 | 35.8 | $263K | +0.7% | #1,651 of 2,401 |
| 77Wayne County, NC | 40 | 211 | 44.4 | $212K | +3.8% | #1,680 of 2,401 |
| 78Sampson County, NC | 40 | 106 | 49.1 | $198K | +4.1% | #1,688 of 2,401 |
| 79Rutherford County, NC | 39 | 141 | 52.9 | $180K | +2.1% | #1,723 of 2,401 |
| 80Rowan County, NC | 37 | 304 | 51.6 | $190K | +5.6% | #1,790 of 2,401 |
| 81Columbus County, NC | 36 | 103 | 51.4 | $186K | 0.0% | #1,824 of 2,401 |
| 82New Hanover County, NC | 35 | 442 | 42.2 | $206K | +8.6% | #1,857 of 2,401 |
| 83Cherokee County, NC | 35 | 69 | 52.1 | $167K | +6.8% | #1,870 of 2,401 |
| 84Hertford County, NC | 34 | 32 | 38.6 | $244K | −11.2% | #1,877 of 2,401 |
| 85Swain County, NC | 34 | 27 | 44.9 | $204K | −0.6% | #1,893 of 2,401 |
| 86Surry County, NC | 34 | 149 | 49.9 | $203K | +1.3% | #1,894 of 2,401 |
| 87Catawba County, NC | 34 | 353 | 53.3 | $185K | +5.8% | #1,902 of 2,401 |
| 88Pasquotank County, NC | 34 | 86 | 54.5 | $175K | +4.5% | #1,904 of 2,401 |
| 89Buncombe County, NC | 33 | 426 | 41.8 | $215K | +2.9% | #1,920 of 2,401 |
| 90Cumberland County, NC | 33 | 548 | 42.2 | $199K | +0.4% | #1,929 of 2,401 |
| 91Wilson County, NC | 31 | 133 | 40.2 | $223K | +1.7% | #1,992 of 2,401 |
| 92Halifax County, NC | 28 | 83 | 40.7 | $218K | −3.9% | #2,081 of 2,401 |
| 93Beaufort County, NC | 23 | 92 | 47.5 | $193K | 0.0% | #2,213 of 2,401 |
| 94Mitchell County, NC | 23 | 32 | 48.6 | $192K | +1.1% | #2,214 of 2,401 |
| 95Lenoir County, NC | 19 | 109 | 46.7 | $179K | +1.4% | #2,288 of 2,401 |
| 96Richmond County, NC | 12 | 87 | 51.1 | $161K | −1.6% | #2,371 of 2,401 |
| Jones County, NC | Not scored | 16 | 38.8 | $259K | +4.6% | |
| Graham County, NC | Not scored | 7 | 19.9 | $423K | +1.9% | |
| Hyde County, NC | Not scored | 8 | 41.3 | $194K | +1.0% | |
| Tyrrell County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 25.9 | $314K | +9.3% |
Markets with fewer than 5 auto repair and car care businesses on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many auto repair and car care businesses are in North Carolina?
North Carolina has 15,696 auto repair and car care businesses on map listings as of September 2026. 4,107 of them (26%) are chain locations. The listings count repair shops, body shops, tire shops, car washes, oil change and parts stores. Official counts show 6,104 businesses with payroll classed as automotive repair and maintenance, and tire dealers in 2023, up 3.5% from 2019. Official counts list 13,089 one-person businesses without payroll.
How much do households in North Carolina spend on vehicle maintenance and repairs?
About $4B a year, or $939 per household. That is 2% below the U.S. average (an index of 98, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 15,696 auto repair and car care businesses on map listings, it comes to $256K per business. It is estimated from the incomes of the 4,282,345 households in North Carolina and national spending patterns by income.
How does North Carolina compare with the U.S. for auto repair and car care businesses?
North Carolina has 36.7 auto repair and car care businesses per 10,000 households, 3% above the U.S. rate of 35.7. Spending per business is $256K, 5% below the U.S. figure of $269K. At the national ratio of auto repair and car care businesses to household spending, North Carolina would have about 14,977, against 15,696 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 702 households, against one for every 681 across the U.S. The official count rose 3.5% from 2019 to 2023, against +4.1% for the U.S.
Which market in North Carolina has the highest market score for auto repair and car care businesses?
Among 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Pinehurst-Southern Pines metro area scores highest, at 81 (high). Among 23 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Brevard area scores highest, at 79 (high). Among 96 scored counties in North Carolina, Camden County scores highest, at 89 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. North Carolina scores 53 for auto repair and car care businesses (upper middle), #23 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in North Carolina. It maps the auto repair and car care businesses on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
Auto repair and car care in other states
All 51 states
- Alabama
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- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
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- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top markets for auto repair and car care businesses across the U.S. · All business types in North Carolina
Related business types in North Carolina
- Auto repair shops9,304 listings
- Collision repair and body shops1,171 listings
- Car washes and detailing1,690 listings
- Tire shops2,010 listings
- Oil change and quick lube348 listings
- Gas stations5,244 listings
- Insurance agencies5,580 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in North Carolina?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.