Market rankings · North Carolina
Convenience stores in North Carolina
Markets across North Carolina ranked by the Groundwork market score for convenience stores, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 3,984
- 2,112 chain locations (53%)
- Official establishments
- 909
- +20.6% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $25.8B
- On groceries
- Listings per 10k households
- 9.3
- 16% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $6.5M
- 18% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #29 of 51
- Market score 50 · Upper middle
A site report maps the convenience 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
Map listings as of September 2026 show 3,984 convenience stores in North Carolina. 2,112 of them (53%) are chain locations, against 60% across the U.S. That is 9.3 per 10,000 households, 16% above the U.S. rate of 8.0.
Household spending on groceries in North Carolina comes to about $25.8B a year: $6,016 per household, 5% below the U.S. average. That is about $6.5M of household spending for each store on map listings, 18% below the U.S. figure of $7.9M. That spending covers all groceries, which convenience stores share with other businesses in the trade.
In 2023, official counts showed 909 businesses with payroll in North Carolina classed as convenience stores, up 20.6% from 2019. That is one for every 4,711 households, against one for every 3,493 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 22.0% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 10 SBA-backed loans worth $6.1M have gone to businesses classed as convenience stores in North Carolina.
Among the 50 states and DC, North Carolina ranks #29 for convenience stores, with a Groundwork market score of 50 (upper middle). Of the 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Raleigh-Cary metro area scores highest (84). Of the 23 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Waynesville area scores highest (74).
Every market in North Carolina for convenience 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Raleigh-Cary, NC | 84 | 376 | 6.5 | $10.2M | +12.6% | #8 of 387 |
| 2Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 68 | 882 | 8.2 | $7.7M | +10.1% | #73 of 387 |
| 3Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 67 | 209 | 8.4 | $7.6M | +7.5% | #77 of 387 |
| 4Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 65 | 42 | 9.5 | $6.5M | +10.3% | #98 of 387 |
| 5Asheville, NC | 62 | 118 | 7.3 | $8.2M | +3.6% | #117 of 387 |
| 6Wilmington, NC | 61 | 201 | 10.1 | $6.1M | +15.9% | #124 of 387 |
| 7Winston-Salem, NC | 58 | 215 | 7.6 | $7.6M | +5.3% | #151 of 387 |
| 8Jacksonville, NC | 52 | 65 | 8.6 | $6.7M | +6.0% | #189 of 387 |
| 9Burlington, NC | 51 | 64 | 9.1 | $6.3M | +8.5% | #198 of 387 |
| 10Greensboro-High Point, NC | 44 | 278 | 8.8 | $6.6M | +4.1% | #238 of 387 |
| 11Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 38 | 152 | 10.2 | $5.6M | +3.2% | #279 of 387 |
| 12Greenville, NC | 37 | 73 | 9.8 | $5.7M | +5.4% | #284 of 387 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 34 | 717 | 10.1 | $6.2M | +0.9% | #298 of 387 |
| 13Rocky Mount, NC | 26 | 91 | 15.6 | $3.6M | +2.8% | #343 of 387 |
| 14Fayetteville, NC | 25 | 188 | 12.6 | $4.5M | +1.6% | #348 of 387 |
| 15Goldsboro, NC | 20 | 64 | 13.5 | $4.2M | +3.8% | #368 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Waynesville, NC | 74 | 18 | 6.6 | $8.5M | +1.9% | #56 of 529 |
| 2Anderson Creek, NC | 73 | 41 | 8.2 | $7.1M | +12.3% | #64 of 529 |
| 3Brevard, NC | 71 | 12 | 8.2 | $7.1M | +2.9% | #82 of 529 |
| 4New Bern, NC | 70 | 43 | 8.2 | $6.9M | +3.6% | #86 of 529 |
| 5Morehead City, NC | 66 | 37 | 11.6 | $5.2M | +4.1% | #126 of 529 |
| 6Albemarle, NC | 62 | 26 | 10.3 | $5.5M | +9.8% | #161 of 529 |
| 7Boone, NC | 61 | 19 | 9.0 | $6.2M | +0.6% | #167 of 529 |
| 8Marion, NC | 60 | 18 | 9.7 | $5.7M | +1.5% | #182 of 529 |
| 9Elizabeth City, NC | 60 | 17 | 10.8 | $5.3M | +4.5% | #183 of 529 |
| 10Mount Airy, NC | 56 | 33 | 11.0 | $4.9M | +1.3% | #229 of 529 |
| 11Sanford, NC | 50 | 48 | 19.1 | $3M | +10.8% | #289 of 529 |
| 12Kill Devil Hills, NC | 49 | 40 | 23.8 | $2.7M | +3.3% | #299 of 529 |
| 13North Wilkesboro, NC | 46 | 25 | 9.2 | $5.8M | +0.6% | #320 of 529 |
| 14Forest City, NC | 37 | 32 | 12.0 | $4.5M | +2.1% | #397 of 529 |
| 15Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 34 | 58 | 14.9 | $3.7M | +3.4% | #419 of 529 |
| 16Washington, NC | 29 | 27 | 13.9 | $4M | 0.0% | #448 of 529 |
| 17Wilson, NC | 28 | 49 | 14.8 | $3.7M | +1.7% | #453 of 529 |
| 18Kinston, NC | 27 | 27 | 11.6 | $4.5M | +1.4% | #457 of 529 |
| 19Lumberton, NC | 24 | 83 | 19.2 | $2.6M | +3.4% | #467 of 529 |
| 20Laurinburg, NC | 19 | 19 | 15.1 | $3.5M | −0.3% | #489 of 529 |
| 21Roanoke Rapids, NC | 17 | 39 | 13.8 | $3.8M | −4.3% | #497 of 529 |
| 22Henderson, NC | 15 | 35 | 21.7 | $2.5M | +0.2% | #506 of 529 |
| 23Rockingham, NC | 12 | 25 | 14.7 | $3.5M | −1.6% | #515 of 529 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Wake County, NC | 90 | 277 | 6.0 | $11.3M | +11.2% | #34 of 2,261 |
| 2Orange County, NC | 90 | 35 | 6.1 | $10.7M | +6.1% | #36 of 2,261 |
| 3Union County, NC | 90 | 58 | 6.9 | $9.8M | +11.7% | #37 of 2,261 |
| 4Cabarrus County, NC | 87 | 60 | 7.1 | $9M | +9.9% | #73 of 2,261 |
| 5Mecklenburg County, NC | 85 | 332 | 7.1 | $9.1M | +10.5% | #91 of 2,261 |
| 6Johnston County, NC | 85 | 72 | 8.4 | $7.4M | +17.9% | #94 of 2,261 |
| 7Lincoln County, NC | 84 | 29 | 7.9 | $7.9M | +13.2% | #110 of 2,261 |
| 8Iredell County, NC | 82 | 62 | 8.1 | $7.7M | +12.9% | #132 of 2,261 |
| 9Chatham County, NC | 81 | 30 | 9.1 | $7.3M | +11.0% | #155 of 2,261 |
| 10Henderson County, NC | 80 | 33 | 6.5 | $9.1M | +5.0% | #171 of 2,261 |
| 11Moore County, NC | 78 | 42 | 9.5 | $6.5M | +10.3% | #236 of 2,261 |
| 12Forsyth County, NC | 77 | 107 | 6.7 | $8.8M | +5.0% | #253 of 2,261 |
| 13Durham County, NC | 77 | 116 | 8.2 | $7.7M | +7.7% | #260 of 2,261 |
| 14Brunswick County, NC | 76 | 69 | 10.0 | $6.1M | +26.5% | #284 of 2,261 |
| 15Franklin County, NC | 74 | 27 | 9.5 | $6.3M | +18.8% | #330 of 2,261 |
| 16Davie County, NC | 73 | 16 | 9.3 | $6.6M | +6.9% | #357 of 2,261 |
| 17Buncombe County, NC | 72 | 80 | 7.9 | $7.7M | +2.9% | #375 of 2,261 |
| 18New Hanover County, NC | 72 | 100 | 9.5 | $6.4M | +8.6% | #386 of 2,261 |
| 19Hoke County, NC | 71 | 16 | 8.3 | $6.9M | +9.0% | #414 of 2,261 |
| 20Madison County, NC | 70 | 5 | 6.0 | $9.3M | +5.9% | #425 of 2,261 |
| 21Harnett County, NC | 68 | 41 | 8.2 | $7.1M | +12.3% | #491 of 2,261 |
| 22Onslow County, NC | 68 | 65 | 8.6 | $6.7M | +6.0% | #496 of 2,261 |
| 23Alamance County, NC | 68 | 64 | 9.1 | $6.3M | +8.5% | #500 of 2,261 |
| 24Catawba County, NC | 68 | 62 | 9.4 | $6.2M | +5.8% | #502 of 2,261 |
| 25Haywood County, NC | 66 | 18 | 6.6 | $8.5M | +1.9% | #546 of 2,261 |
Show all 100 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Guilford County, NC | 65 | 187 | 8.5 | $6.9M | +4.4% | #594 of 2,261 |
| 27Craven County, NC | 64 | 34 | 7.9 | $7.2M | +3.5% | #625 of 2,261 |
| 28Pender County, NC | 64 | 32 | 12.7 | $4.9M | +19.0% | #633 of 2,261 |
| 29Currituck County, NC | 64 | 17 | 14.4 | $4.5M | +16.7% | #634 of 2,261 |
| 30Davidson County, NC | 63 | 62 | 8.9 | $6.5M | +6.6% | #659 of 2,261 |
| 31Gaston County, NC | 63 | 93 | 9.9 | $5.9M | +7.8% | #662 of 2,261 |
| 32Transylvania County, NC | 61 | 12 | 8.2 | $7.1M | +2.9% | #722 of 2,261 |
| 33Macon County, NC | 61 | 15 | 8.1 | $6.9M | +5.8% | #723 of 2,261 |
| 34Randolph County, NC | 61 | 49 | 8.5 | $6.6M | +3.5% | #726 of 2,261 |
| 35Carteret County, NC | 60 | 37 | 11.6 | $5.2M | +4.1% | #777 of 2,261 |
| 36Alexander County, NC | 57 | 10 | 7.1 | $8M | +1.5% | #854 of 2,261 |
| 37Stanly County, NC | 57 | 26 | 10.3 | $5.5M | +9.8% | #879 of 2,261 |
| 38Rowan County, NC | 57 | 63 | 10.7 | $5.4M | +5.6% | #880 of 2,261 |
| 39Clay County, NC | 56 | 5 | 9.8 | $5.7M | +9.9% | #906 of 2,261 |
| 40Yadkin County, NC | 55 | 13 | 8.7 | $6.6M | +2.9% | #934 of 2,261 |
| 41Watauga County, NC | 55 | 19 | 9.0 | $6.2M | +0.6% | #942 of 2,261 |
| 42Pitt County, NC | 55 | 73 | 9.8 | $5.7M | +5.4% | #948 of 2,261 |
| 43Stokes County, NC | 53 | 17 | 8.7 | $6.4M | +3.5% | #1,016 of 2,261 |
| 44McDowell County, NC | 53 | 18 | 9.7 | $5.7M | +1.5% | #1,030 of 2,261 |
| 45Jackson County, NC | 53 | 18 | 9.8 | $5.6M | +6.9% | #1,031 of 2,261 |
| 46Granville County, NC | 52 | 22 | 9.8 | $6.1M | +2.1% | #1,056 of 2,261 |
| 47Pasquotank County, NC | 52 | 17 | 10.8 | $5.3M | +4.5% | #1,064 of 2,261 |
| 48Yancey County, NC | 51 | 8 | 9.8 | $5.7M | +3.2% | #1,089 of 2,261 |
| 49Surry County, NC | 50 | 33 | 11.0 | $4.9M | +1.3% | #1,133 of 2,261 |
| 50Sampson County, NC | 50 | 26 | 12.0 | $4.5M | +4.1% | #1,141 of 2,261 |
| 51Chowan County, NC | 49 | 6 | 9.8 | $5.7M | +2.8% | #1,158 of 2,261 |
| 52Nash County, NC | 49 | 68 | 17.5 | $3.3M | +3.9% | #1,178 of 2,261 |
| 53Lee County, NC | 47 | 48 | 19.1 | $3M | +10.8% | #1,252 of 2,261 |
| 54Cherokee County, NC | 46 | 14 | 10.6 | $5.1M | +6.8% | #1,272 of 2,261 |
| 55Pamlico County, NC | 46 | 6 | 11.0 | $5.1M | +3.7% | #1,273 of 2,261 |
| 56Dare County, NC | 45 | 40 | 23.8 | $2.7M | +3.3% | #1,320 of 2,261 |
| 57Alleghany County, NC | 44 | 5 | 9.7 | $5.4M | +5.4% | #1,331 of 2,261 |
| 58Caldwell County, NC | 43 | 39 | 11.8 | $4.7M | +0.7% | #1,378 of 2,261 |
| 59Duplin County, NC | 43 | 30 | 14.4 | $3.7M | +6.0% | #1,390 of 2,261 |
| 60Wilkes County, NC | 42 | 25 | 9.2 | $5.8M | +0.6% | #1,399 of 2,261 |
| 61Rockingham County, NC | 42 | 42 | 10.6 | $5.2M | +3.3% | #1,406 of 2,261 |
| 62Burke County, NC | 42 | 41 | 11.3 | $4.9M | +1.6% | #1,413 of 2,261 |
| 63Ashe County, NC | 42 | 14 | 11.5 | $4.8M | +3.5% | #1,416 of 2,261 |
| 64Cumberland County, NC | 38 | 172 | 13.3 | $4.3M | +0.4% | #1,558 of 2,261 |
| 65Mitchell County, NC | 37 | 7 | 10.6 | $5.2M | +1.1% | #1,586 of 2,261 |
| 66Wayne County, NC | 36 | 64 | 13.5 | $4.2M | +3.8% | #1,617 of 2,261 |
| 67Montgomery County, NC | 35 | 12 | 11.3 | $4.9M | +2.7% | #1,643 of 2,261 |
| 68Rutherford County, NC | 35 | 32 | 12.0 | $4.5M | +2.1% | #1,646 of 2,261 |
| 69Warren County, NC | 34 | 9 | 11.0 | $4.8M | +1.6% | #1,674 of 2,261 |
| 70Person County, NC | 34 | 28 | 17.4 | $3.3M | +3.7% | #1,690 of 2,261 |
| 71Avery County, NC | 33 | 10 | 14.7 | $3.9M | +1.1% | #1,722 of 2,261 |
| 72Cleveland County, NC | 31 | 58 | 14.9 | $3.7M | +3.4% | #1,781 of 2,261 |
| 73Edgecombe County, NC | 30 | 23 | 11.7 | $4.6M | +0.7% | #1,797 of 2,261 |
| 74Bertie County, NC | 28 | 7 | 9.8 | $5.5M | −3.6% | #1,845 of 2,261 |
| 75Beaufort County, NC | 28 | 27 | 13.9 | $4M | 0.0% | #1,857 of 2,261 |
| 76Columbus County, NC | 28 | 28 | 14.0 | $3.8M | 0.0% | #1,858 of 2,261 |
| 77Greene County, NC | 26 | 9 | 13.0 | $4M | +1.3% | #1,905 of 2,261 |
| 78Caswell County, NC | 26 | 15 | 17.0 | $3.2M | +0.4% | #1,918 of 2,261 |
| 79Lenoir County, NC | 25 | 27 | 11.6 | $4.5M | +1.4% | #1,925 of 2,261 |
| 80Wilson County, NC | 25 | 49 | 14.8 | $3.7M | +1.7% | #1,932 of 2,261 |
| 81Swain County, NC | 23 | 9 | 15.0 | $3.7M | −0.6% | #1,973 of 2,261 |
| 82Robeson County, NC | 21 | 83 | 19.2 | $2.6M | +3.4% | #2,022 of 2,261 |
| 83Scotland County, NC | 19 | 19 | 15.1 | $3.5M | −0.3% | #2,046 of 2,261 |
| 84Bladen County, NC | 18 | 18 | 15.2 | $3.4M | +1.3% | #2,065 of 2,261 |
| 85Halifax County, NC | 17 | 27 | 13.2 | $3.9M | −3.9% | #2,077 of 2,261 |
| 86Anson County, NC | 16 | 15 | 17.5 | $2.9M | −2.1% | #2,108 of 2,261 |
| 87Hertford County, NC | 13 | 11 | 13.3 | $4M | −11.2% | #2,148 of 2,261 |
| 88Martin County, NC | 13 | 17 | 17.9 | $2.9M | −1.6% | #2,157 of 2,261 |
| 89Vance County, NC | 13 | 35 | 21.7 | $2.5M | +0.2% | #2,162 of 2,261 |
| 90Richmond County, NC | 12 | 25 | 14.7 | $3.5M | −1.6% | #2,165 of 2,261 |
| 91Northampton County, NC | 12 | 12 | 15.3 | $3.5M | −5.4% | #2,166 of 2,261 |
| 92Washington County, NC | 8 | 8 | 16.9 | $3.1M | −3.1% | #2,214 of 2,261 |
| Polk County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $17.6M | +6.0% | |
| Perquimans County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 7.1 | $8.1M | +3.6% | |
| Camden County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 7.5 | $8.4M | +8.8% | |
| Gates County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 7.2 | $7.8M | −2.1% | |
| Jones County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 7.3 | $7.5M | +4.6% | |
| Graham County, NC | Not scored | 6 | 17.0 | $3.2M | +1.9% | |
| Hyde County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 15.5 | $3.4M | +1.0% | |
| Tyrrell County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 19.4 | $2.6M | +9.3% |
Markets with fewer than 5 convenience stores on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many convenience stores are in North Carolina?
There are 3,984 convenience stores on map listings in North Carolina as of September 2026. 2,112 of them (53%) are chain locations. The listings count convenience stores without fuel. Official counts show 909 businesses with payroll classed as convenience stores in 2023, up 20.6% from 2019.
How much do households in North Carolina spend on groceries?
About $25.8B a year, or $6,016 per household. That is 5% below the U.S. average (an index of 95, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 3,984 convenience stores on map listings, it comes to $6.5M per store. The spending figure covers all groceries, not only convenience stores. 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 convenience stores?
North Carolina has 9.3 convenience stores per 10,000 households, 16% above the U.S. rate of 8.0. Spending per store is $6.5M, 18% below the U.S. figure of $7.9M. At the national ratio of convenience stores to household spending, North Carolina would have about 3,270, against 3,984 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 4,711 households, against one for every 3,493 across the U.S. The official count rose 20.6% from 2019 to 2023, against +22.0% for the U.S.
Which market in North Carolina has the highest market score for convenience stores?
Among 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Raleigh-Cary metro area scores highest, at 84 (high). Among 23 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Waynesville area scores highest, at 74 (upper middle). Among 92 scored counties in North Carolina, Wake County scores highest, at 90 (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 50 for convenience stores (upper middle), #29 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 convenience 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.
Convenience stores in other states
All 51 states
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- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
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- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top markets for convenience stores across the U.S. · All business types in North Carolina
Related business types in North Carolina
- Grocery and convenience stores8,652 listings
- Grocery stores3,176 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.