Market rankings · North Carolina
Clothing and shoe stores in North Carolina
Every metro area, small-town market and county in North Carolina, ranked by the Groundwork market score for clothing and shoe stores, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 6,581
- 2,797 chain locations (43%)
- Official establishments
- 3,301
- −8.1% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $8.1B
- On clothing, shoes and related services
- Listings per 10k households
- 15.4
- 5% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $1.2M
- 3% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #31 of 51
- Market score 47 · Lower middle
A site report maps the clothing and shoe stores 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
There are 6,581 clothing and shoe stores on map listings in North Carolina as of September 2026. 2,797 of them (43%) are chain locations, against 44% across the U.S. That is 15.4 per 10,000 households, 5% below the U.S. rate of 16.2.
Household spending on clothing, shoes and related services in North Carolina comes to about $8.1B a year: $1,894 per household, 8% below the U.S. average. That works out to $1.2M per store, 3% below the U.S. figure of $1.3M. The spending figure covers all clothing, shoes and related services, not only clothing and shoe stores.
Official counts show 3,301 businesses with payroll classed as clothing and shoe stores in North Carolina in 2023, down 8.1% from 2019. That is one for every 1,297 households, against one for every 1,273 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count fell 12.2% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 64 SBA-backed loans worth $24.1M have gone to businesses classed as clothing and shoe stores in North Carolina.
Among the 50 states and DC, North Carolina ranks #31 for clothing and shoe stores, with a Groundwork market score of 47 (lower middle). Of the 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area scores highest (80). Of the 23 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Anderson Creek area scores highest (89).
Every market in North Carolina for clothing and shoe stores
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 80 | 295 | 11.9 | $1.8M | +7.5% | #22 of 387 |
| 2Raleigh-Cary, NC | 73 | 885 | 15.4 | $1.4M | +12.6% | #48 of 387 |
| 3Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 59 | 1,734 | 16.1 | $1.3M | +10.1% | #142 of 387 |
| 4Winston-Salem, NC | 56 | 377 | 13.4 | $1.3M | +5.3% | #167 of 387 |
| 5Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 54 | 71 | 16.1 | $1.2M | +10.3% | #183 of 387 |
| 6Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 53 | 192 | 12.8 | $1.3M | +3.2% | #187 of 387 |
| 7Jacksonville, NC | 52 | 104 | 13.8 | $1.3M | +6.0% | #195 of 387 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 45 | 1,102 | 15.6 | $1.3M | +0.9% | #233 of 387 |
| 8Wilmington, NC | 44 | 364 | 18.3 | $1M | +15.9% | #238 of 387 |
| 9Greensboro-High Point, NC | 43 | 507 | 16.0 | $1.1M | +4.1% | #246 of 387 |
| 10Goldsboro, NC | 42 | 69 | 14.5 | $1.2M | +3.8% | #254 of 387 |
| 11Rocky Mount, NC | 36 | 89 | 15.2 | $1.1M | +2.8% | #288 of 387 |
| 12Asheville, NC | 33 | 307 | 19.0 | $983K | +3.6% | #302 of 387 |
| 13Greenville, NC | 32 | 125 | 16.8 | $1M | +5.4% | #307 of 387 |
| 14Fayetteville, NC | 29 | 227 | 15.2 | $1.1M | +1.6% | #318 of 387 |
| 15Burlington, NC | 27 | 163 | 23.3 | $754K | +8.5% | #333 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Anderson Creek, NC | 89 | 31 | 6.2 | $2.9M | +12.3% | #8 of 536 |
| 2Brevard, NC | 73 | 10 | 6.9 | $2.6M | +2.9% | #69 of 536 |
| 3Marion, NC | 68 | 16 | 8.6 | $1.9M | +1.5% | #114 of 536 |
| 4New Bern, NC | 68 | 58 | 11.1 | $1.5M | +3.6% | #116 of 536 |
| 5North Wilkesboro, NC | 65 | 19 | 7.0 | $2.2M | +0.6% | #136 of 536 |
| 6Albemarle, NC | 64 | 29 | 11.5 | $1.5M | +9.8% | #150 of 536 |
| 7Forest City, NC | 61 | 32 | 12.0 | $1.3M | +2.1% | #174 of 536 |
| 8Waynesville, NC | 59 | 32 | 11.8 | $1.4M | +1.9% | #194 of 536 |
| 9Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 53 | 50 | 12.9 | $1.3M | +3.4% | #245 of 536 |
| 10Wilson, NC | 49 | 43 | 13.0 | $1.3M | +1.7% | #284 of 536 |
| 11Sanford, NC | 48 | 44 | 17.5 | $981K | +10.8% | #297 of 536 |
| 12Morehead City, NC | 47 | 64 | 20.0 | $940K | +4.1% | #303 of 536 |
| 13Roanoke Rapids, NC | 43 | 27 | 9.6 | $1.6M | −4.3% | #328 of 536 |
| 14Washington, NC | 43 | 26 | 13.4 | $1.3M | 0.0% | #330 of 536 |
| 15Elizabeth City, NC | 43 | 27 | 17.1 | $1M | +4.5% | #333 of 536 |
| 16Lumberton, NC | 41 | 68 | 15.8 | $937K | +3.4% | #350 of 536 |
| 17Kinston, NC | 39 | 33 | 14.1 | $1.1M | +1.4% | #366 of 536 |
| 18Mount Airy, NC | 38 | 53 | 17.7 | $917K | +1.3% | #377 of 536 |
| 19Laurinburg, NC | 37 | 14 | 11.1 | $1.4M | −0.3% | #382 of 536 |
| 20Kill Devil Hills, NC | 35 | 88 | 52.3 | $399K | +3.3% | #410 of 536 |
| 21Henderson, NC | 32 | 27 | 16.7 | $954K | +0.2% | #423 of 536 |
| 22Rockingham, NC | 21 | 28 | 16.4 | $913K | −1.6% | #503 of 536 |
| 23Boone, NC | 21 | 62 | 29.2 | $583K | +0.6% | #505 of 536 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Chatham County, NC | 94 | 20 | 6.1 | $3.7M | +11.0% | #8 of 2,087 |
| 2Franklin County, NC | 84 | 15 | 5.3 | $3.5M | +18.8% | #84 of 2,087 |
| 3Harnett County, NC | 84 | 31 | 6.2 | $2.9M | +12.3% | #89 of 2,087 |
| 4Orange County, NC | 84 | 45 | 7.8 | $2.8M | +6.1% | #92 of 2,087 |
| 5Union County, NC | 84 | 77 | 9.1 | $2.5M | +11.7% | #95 of 2,087 |
| 6Lincoln County, NC | 84 | 32 | 8.7 | $2.3M | +13.2% | #98 of 2,087 |
| 7Hoke County, NC | 80 | 9 | 4.7 | $3.7M | +9.0% | #152 of 2,087 |
| 8Granville County, NC | 76 | 17 | 7.6 | $2.4M | +2.1% | #215 of 2,087 |
| 9Pender County, NC | 76 | 24 | 9.5 | $2M | +19.0% | #221 of 2,087 |
| 10Davie County, NC | 76 | 19 | 11.0 | $1.7M | +6.9% | #224 of 2,087 |
| 11Polk County, NC | 75 | 7 | 7.8 | $2.4M | +6.0% | #237 of 2,087 |
| 12Iredell County, NC | 74 | 79 | 10.3 | $1.9M | +12.9% | #268 of 2,087 |
| 13Davidson County, NC | 71 | 60 | 8.6 | $2M | +6.6% | #352 of 2,087 |
| 14Stokes County, NC | 70 | 7 | 3.6 | $4.6M | +3.5% | #358 of 2,087 |
| 15Alexander County, NC | 70 | 7 | 5.0 | $3.4M | +1.5% | #360 of 2,087 |
| 16Currituck County, NC | 70 | 11 | 9.3 | $2.3M | +16.7% | #376 of 2,087 |
| 17Henderson County, NC | 70 | 48 | 9.4 | $1.9M | +5.0% | #383 of 2,087 |
| 18Yancey County, NC | 68 | 5 | 6.2 | $2.8M | +3.2% | #424 of 2,087 |
| 19Transylvania County, NC | 67 | 10 | 6.9 | $2.6M | +2.9% | #454 of 2,087 |
| 20Wake County, NC | 64 | 732 | 15.9 | $1.5M | +11.2% | #553 of 2,087 |
| 21Montgomery County, NC | 63 | 7 | 6.6 | $2.5M | +2.7% | #564 of 2,087 |
| 22Brunswick County, NC | 63 | 81 | 11.7 | $1.6M | +26.5% | #586 of 2,087 |
| 23Avery County, NC | 62 | 5 | 7.4 | $2.4M | +1.1% | #599 of 2,087 |
| 24Yadkin County, NC | 62 | 13 | 8.7 | $2M | +2.9% | #604 of 2,087 |
| 25McDowell County, NC | 62 | 16 | 8.6 | $1.9M | +1.5% | #609 of 2,087 |
Show all 100 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Person County, NC | 62 | 16 | 10.0 | $1.8M | +3.7% | #613 of 2,087 |
| 27Wilkes County, NC | 61 | 19 | 7.0 | $2.2M | +0.6% | #636 of 2,087 |
| 28Caldwell County, NC | 60 | 24 | 7.3 | $2.2M | +0.7% | #670 of 2,087 |
| 29Duplin County, NC | 60 | 21 | 10.1 | $1.6M | +6.0% | #685 of 2,087 |
| 30Burke County, NC | 59 | 32 | 8.8 | $1.9M | +1.6% | #702 of 2,087 |
| 31Stanly County, NC | 58 | 29 | 11.5 | $1.5M | +9.8% | #751 of 2,087 |
| 32Gaston County, NC | 58 | 123 | 13.1 | $1.4M | +7.8% | #757 of 2,087 |
| 33Randolph County, NC | 57 | 59 | 10.2 | $1.6M | +3.5% | #781 of 2,087 |
| 34Cabarrus County, NC | 57 | 109 | 12.9 | $1.6M | +9.9% | #783 of 2,087 |
| 35Durham County, NC | 57 | 214 | 15.1 | $1.4M | +7.7% | #798 of 2,087 |
| 36Rowan County, NC | 56 | 76 | 12.9 | $1.4M | +5.6% | #834 of 2,087 |
| 37Johnston County, NC | 56 | 138 | 16.1 | $1.2M | +17.9% | #840 of 2,087 |
| 38Rockingham County, NC | 55 | 40 | 10.1 | $1.6M | +3.3% | #855 of 2,087 |
| 39Edgecombe County, NC | 55 | 20 | 10.2 | $1.6M | +0.7% | #859 of 2,087 |
| 40Craven County, NC | 54 | 56 | 13.1 | $1.3M | +3.5% | #902 of 2,087 |
| 41Rutherford County, NC | 53 | 32 | 12.0 | $1.3M | +2.1% | #946 of 2,087 |
| 42Moore County, NC | 53 | 71 | 16.1 | $1.2M | +10.3% | #952 of 2,087 |
| 43Mitchell County, NC | 52 | 6 | 9.1 | $1.8M | +1.1% | #963 of 2,087 |
| 44Haywood County, NC | 51 | 32 | 11.8 | $1.4M | +1.9% | #1,015 of 2,087 |
| 45Alleghany County, NC | 50 | 5 | 9.7 | $1.6M | +5.4% | #1,043 of 2,087 |
| 46Cherokee County, NC | 49 | 20 | 15.1 | $1M | +6.8% | #1,109 of 2,087 |
| 47Onslow County, NC | 48 | 104 | 13.8 | $1.3M | +6.0% | #1,133 of 2,087 |
| 48Martin County, NC | 46 | 9 | 9.5 | $1.6M | −1.6% | #1,181 of 2,087 |
| 49Cleveland County, NC | 46 | 50 | 12.9 | $1.3M | +3.4% | #1,194 of 2,087 |
| 50Mecklenburg County, NC | 45 | 1,079 | 23.1 | $917K | +10.5% | #1,233 of 2,087 |
| 51Anson County, NC | 44 | 5 | 5.8 | $2.6M | −2.1% | #1,234 of 2,087 |
| 52Sampson County, NC | 44 | 28 | 13.0 | $1.2M | +4.1% | #1,260 of 2,087 |
| 53Lee County, NC | 43 | 44 | 17.5 | $981K | +10.8% | #1,311 of 2,087 |
| 54Wayne County, NC | 42 | 69 | 14.5 | $1.2M | +3.8% | #1,336 of 2,087 |
| 55Wilson County, NC | 41 | 43 | 13.0 | $1.3M | +1.7% | #1,360 of 2,087 |
| 56Bladen County, NC | 40 | 16 | 13.5 | $1.1M | +1.3% | #1,398 of 2,087 |
| 57Forsyth County, NC | 40 | 278 | 17.4 | $1M | +5.0% | #1,405 of 2,087 |
| 58Guilford County, NC | 40 | 408 | 18.6 | $991K | +4.4% | #1,408 of 2,087 |
| 59Carteret County, NC | 40 | 64 | 20.0 | $940K | +4.1% | #1,413 of 2,087 |
| 60Jackson County, NC | 39 | 32 | 17.4 | $954K | +6.9% | #1,448 of 2,087 |
| 61Catawba County, NC | 39 | 129 | 19.5 | $916K | +5.8% | #1,451 of 2,087 |
| 62Swain County, NC | 38 | 6 | 10.0 | $1.7M | −0.6% | #1,462 of 2,087 |
| 63Ashe County, NC | 38 | 19 | 15.6 | $1.1M | +3.5% | #1,476 of 2,087 |
| 64New Hanover County, NC | 38 | 259 | 24.7 | $787K | +8.6% | #1,487 of 2,087 |
| 65Beaufort County, NC | 36 | 26 | 13.4 | $1.3M | 0.0% | #1,531 of 2,087 |
| 66Pitt County, NC | 36 | 125 | 16.8 | $1M | +5.4% | #1,542 of 2,087 |
| 67Columbus County, NC | 36 | 33 | 16.5 | $948K | 0.0% | #1,545 of 2,087 |
| 68Robeson County, NC | 36 | 68 | 15.8 | $937K | +3.4% | #1,546 of 2,087 |
| 69Pasquotank County, NC | 35 | 27 | 17.1 | $1M | +4.5% | #1,574 of 2,087 |
| 70Nash County, NC | 34 | 69 | 17.8 | $972K | +3.9% | #1,600 of 2,087 |
| 71Lenoir County, NC | 33 | 33 | 14.1 | $1.1M | +1.4% | #1,623 of 2,087 |
| 72Chowan County, NC | 33 | 12 | 19.6 | $883K | +2.8% | #1,631 of 2,087 |
| 73Scotland County, NC | 32 | 14 | 11.1 | $1.4M | −0.3% | #1,641 of 2,087 |
| 74Surry County, NC | 32 | 53 | 17.7 | $917K | +1.3% | #1,654 of 2,087 |
| 75Alamance County, NC | 32 | 163 | 23.3 | $754K | +8.5% | #1,659 of 2,087 |
| 76Buncombe County, NC | 31 | 255 | 25.0 | $765K | +2.9% | #1,688 of 2,087 |
| 77Dare County, NC | 30 | 88 | 52.3 | $399K | +3.3% | #1,734 of 2,087 |
| 78Vance County, NC | 28 | 27 | 16.7 | $954K | +0.2% | #1,771 of 2,087 |
| 79Halifax County, NC | 27 | 27 | 13.2 | $1.2M | −3.9% | #1,786 of 2,087 |
| 80Cumberland County, NC | 27 | 218 | 16.8 | $1M | +0.4% | #1,790 of 2,087 |
| 81Macon County, NC | 26 | 49 | 26.6 | $648K | +5.8% | #1,827 of 2,087 |
| 82Hertford County, NC | 22 | 10 | 12.1 | $1.3M | −11.2% | #1,899 of 2,087 |
| 83Washington County, NC | 20 | 6 | 12.6 | $1.2M | −3.1% | #1,937 of 2,087 |
| 84Richmond County, NC | 19 | 28 | 16.4 | $913K | −1.6% | #1,955 of 2,087 |
| 85Watauga County, NC | 16 | 62 | 29.2 | $583K | +0.6% | #2,014 of 2,087 |
| Caswell County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 4.5 | $3.5M | +0.4% | |
| Madison County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 4.8 | $3.5M | +5.9% | |
| Greene County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $10.5M | +1.3% | |
| Warren County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 3.7 | $4.3M | +1.6% | |
| Bertie County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 2.8 | $5.9M | −3.6% | |
| Northampton County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −5.4% | |
| Perquimans County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 3.6 | $4.9M | +3.6% | |
| Pamlico County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $9.2M | +3.7% | |
| Clay County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $2.9M | +9.9% | |
| Camden County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +8.8% | |
| Gates County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $6.8M | −2.1% | |
| Jones County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $6.7M | +4.6% | |
| Graham County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 8.5 | $1.9M | +1.9% | |
| Hyde County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 5.2 | $2.9M | +1.0% | |
| Tyrrell County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 6.5 | $2.3M | +9.3% |
Markets with fewer than 5 clothing and shoe stores on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many clothing and shoe stores are in North Carolina?
As of September 2026, map listings count 6,581 clothing and shoe stores in North Carolina. 2,797 of them (43%) are chain locations. The listings count clothing, shoe and accessory stores and boutiques. Official counts show 3,301 businesses with payroll classed as clothing and shoe stores in 2023, down 8.1% from 2019. Official counts also show 6,992 one-person businesses without payroll.
How much do households in North Carolina spend on clothing, shoes and related services?
About $8.1B a year, or $1,894 per household. That is 8% below the U.S. average (an index of 92, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 6,581 clothing and shoe stores on map listings, it comes to $1.2M per store. That spending covers all clothing, shoes and related services, which clothing and shoe stores share with other businesses in the trade. 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 clothing and shoe stores?
North Carolina has 15.4 clothing and shoe stores per 10,000 households, 5% below the U.S. rate of 16.2. Spending per store is $1.2M, 3% below the U.S. figure of $1.3M. At the U.S. ratio of clothing and shoe stores to household spending, North Carolina would have about 6,384, against 6,581 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,297 households, against one for every 1,273 across the U.S. The official count fell 8.1% from 2019 to 2023, against −12.2% for the U.S.
Which market in North Carolina has the highest market score for clothing and shoe stores?
Among 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area scores highest, at 80 (high). Among 23 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Anderson Creek area scores highest, at 89 (high). Among 85 scored counties in North Carolina, Chatham County scores highest, at 94 (very 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 47 for clothing and shoe stores (lower middle), #31 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 clothing and shoe stores 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.
Clothing and shoe stores in other states
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Top markets for clothing and shoe stores across the U.S. · All business types in North Carolina
Related business types in North Carolina
- Clothing, shoes and laundry8,977 listings
- Laundromats482 listings
- Dry cleaners502 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.