Market rankings · North Carolina
Dry cleaners in North Carolina
Every metro area, small-town market and county in North Carolina, ranked by the Groundwork market score for dry cleaners, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 502
- 129 chain locations (26%)
- Official establishments
- 457
- −20.2% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $8.1B
- On clothing, shoes and related services
- Listings per 10k households
- 1.2
- 8% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $16.2M
- 3% above the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #32 of 51
- Market score 45 · Lower middle
A site report maps the dry cleaners 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 502 dry cleaners on map listings in North Carolina as of September 2026. 129 of them (26%) are chain locations, against 23% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 1.2, 8% below the U.S. rate of 1.3.
Households in North Carolina spend about $8.1B a year on clothing, shoes and related services, or $1,894 per household, 8% below the U.S. average. That works out to $16.2M per shop, 3% above the U.S. figure of $15.7M. The spending figure covers all clothing, shoes and related services, not only dry cleaners.
The official count of businesses with payroll classed as dry cleaning and laundry services in North Carolina was 457 in 2023, down 20.2% from 2019. That is one for every 9,371 households, against one for every 8,177 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count fell 18.7% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 8 SBA-backed loans worth $9.8M have gone to businesses classed as dry cleaning and laundry services in North Carolina.
Among the 50 states and DC, North Carolina ranks #32 for dry cleaners, with a Groundwork market score of 45 (lower middle). Of the 14 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Asheville metro area scores highest (75). Among 24 scored counties, Brunswick County scores highest (80).
Every market in North Carolina for dry cleaners
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Asheville, NC | 75 | 10 | 0.6 | $30.2M | +3.6% | #17 of 272 |
| 2Wilmington, NC | 69 | 13 | 0.7 | $29.4M | +15.9% | #32 of 272 |
| 3Greenville, NC | 57 | 5 | 0.7 | $25.3M | +5.4% | #100 of 272 |
| 4Raleigh-Cary, NC | 54 | 86 | 1.5 | $14.9M | +12.6% | #129 of 272 |
| 5Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 53 | 36 | 1.5 | $14.4M | +7.5% | #135 of 272 |
| 6Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 51 | 11 | 0.7 | $23.2M | +3.2% | #143 of 272 |
| 7Winston-Salem, NC | 50 | 26 | 0.9 | $19.4M | +5.3% | #151 of 272 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 42 | 82 | 1.2 | $17.2M | +0.9% | #177 of 272 |
| 8Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 42 | 181 | 1.7 | $12.2M | +10.1% | #179 of 272 |
| 9Greensboro-High Point, NC | 39 | 33 | 1.0 | $17.1M | +4.1% | #192 of 272 |
| 10Burlington, NC | 36 | 8 | 1.1 | $15.4M | +8.5% | #207 of 272 |
| 11Rocky Mount, NC | 36 | 8 | 1.4 | $12.3M | +2.8% | #209 of 272 |
| 12Goldsboro, NC | 32 | 7 | 1.5 | $11.4M | +3.8% | #227 of 272 |
| 13Fayetteville, NC | 15 | 24 | 1.6 | $10.6M | +1.6% | #267 of 272 |
| Jacksonville, NC | Not scored | 2 | 0.3 | $65.5M | +6.0% | |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | Not scored | 3 | 0.7 | $29.1M | +10.3% |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson Creek, NC | Not scored | 7 | 1.4 | $12.8M | +12.3% | |
| New Bern, NC | Not scored | 8 | 1.5 | $11.2M | +3.6% | |
| Lumberton, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.2 | $63.7M | +3.4% | |
| Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | Not scored | 4 | 1.0 | $16.1M | +3.4% | |
| Wilson, NC | Not scored | 5 | 1.5 | $10.9M | +1.7% | |
| Mount Airy, NC | Not scored | 5 | 1.7 | $9.7M | +1.3% | |
| Morehead City, NC | Not scored | 4 | 1.3 | $15M | +4.1% | |
| North Wilkesboro, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $41.7M | +0.6% | |
| Sanford, NC | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $21.6M | +10.8% | |
| Forest City, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +2.1% | |
| Albemarle, NC | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | $14.3M | +9.8% | |
| Roanoke Rapids, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −4.3% | |
| Waynesville, NC | Not scored | 2 | 0.7 | $23.2M | +1.9% | |
| Boone, NC | Not scored | 4 | 1.9 | $9M | +0.6% | |
| Kinston, NC | Not scored | 4 | 1.7 | $8.9M | +1.4% | |
| Marion, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +1.5% | |
| Washington, NC | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $16.3M | 0.0% | |
| Rockingham, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −1.6% | |
| Henderson, NC | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | $12.9M | +0.2% | |
| Elizabeth City, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +4.5% | |
| Kill Devil Hills, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $35.1M | +3.3% | |
| Brevard, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +2.9% | |
| Laurinburg, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $19.5M | −0.3% |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Brunswick County, NC | 80 | 5 | 0.7 | $25.9M | +26.5% | #16 of 507 |
| 2Buncombe County, NC | 69 | 7 | 0.7 | $27.9M | +2.9% | #74 of 507 |
| 3Iredell County, NC | 69 | 7 | 0.9 | $21.7M | +12.9% | #76 of 507 |
| 4Cabarrus County, NC | 64 | 10 | 1.2 | $17.6M | +9.9% | #123 of 507 |
| 5Pitt County, NC | 62 | 5 | 0.7 | $25.3M | +5.4% | #135 of 507 |
| 6New Hanover County, NC | 60 | 8 | 0.8 | $25.5M | +8.6% | #158 of 507 |
| 7Union County, NC | 60 | 11 | 1.3 | $17.3M | +11.7% | #169 of 507 |
| 8Gaston County, NC | 58 | 12 | 1.3 | $14M | +7.8% | #184 of 507 |
| 9Durham County, NC | 57 | 17 | 1.2 | $17.1M | +7.7% | #194 of 507 |
| 10Wake County, NC | 55 | 80 | 1.7 | $13.3M | +11.2% | #220 of 507 |
| 11Randolph County, NC | 53 | 5 | 0.9 | $19.2M | +3.5% | #229 of 507 |
| 12Harnett County, NC | 44 | 7 | 1.4 | $12.8M | +12.3% | #313 of 507 |
| 13Orange County, NC | 43 | 13 | 2.3 | $9.7M | +6.1% | #328 of 507 |
| 14Alamance County, NC | 42 | 8 | 1.1 | $15.4M | +8.5% | #330 of 507 |
| 15Guilford County, NC | 41 | 26 | 1.2 | $15.5M | +4.4% | #343 of 507 |
| 16Catawba County, NC | 41 | 9 | 1.4 | $13.1M | +5.8% | #348 of 507 |
| 17Wayne County, NC | 38 | 7 | 1.5 | $11.4M | +3.8% | #372 of 507 |
| 18Mecklenburg County, NC | 38 | 113 | 2.4 | $8.8M | +10.5% | #376 of 507 |
| 19Forsyth County, NC | 37 | 21 | 1.3 | $13.9M | +5.0% | #379 of 507 |
| 20Nash County, NC | 35 | 5 | 1.3 | $13.4M | +3.9% | #394 of 507 |
| 21Craven County, NC | 35 | 7 | 1.6 | $10.6M | +3.5% | #398 of 507 |
| 22Surry County, NC | 19 | 5 | 1.7 | $9.7M | +1.3% | #482 of 507 |
| 23Wilson County, NC | 16 | 5 | 1.5 | $10.9M | +1.7% | #488 of 507 |
| 24Cumberland County, NC | 14 | 23 | 1.8 | $9.6M | +0.4% | #494 of 507 |
| Johnston County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 0.5 | $41.6M | +17.9% |
Show all 100 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onslow County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 0.3 | $65.5M | +6.0% | |
| Davidson County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 0.6 | $30.4M | +6.6% | |
| Rowan County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 0.3 | $51.6M | +5.6% | |
| Henderson County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 0.6 | $30.9M | +5.0% | |
| Robeson County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.2 | $63.7M | +3.4% | |
| Moore County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 0.7 | $29.1M | +10.3% | |
| Cleveland County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 1.0 | $16.1M | +3.4% | |
| Lincoln County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.3 | $73.4M | +13.2% | |
| Rockingham County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 0.5 | $32.3M | +3.3% | |
| Burke County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.3 | $60.3M | +1.6% | |
| Caldwell County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.3 | $53.8M | +0.7% | |
| Chatham County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 1.2 | $18.5M | +11.0% | |
| Franklin County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 0.7 | $25.9M | +18.8% | |
| Carteret County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 1.3 | $15M | +4.1% | |
| Wilkes County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $41.7M | +0.6% | |
| Lee County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $21.6M | +10.8% | |
| Pender County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +19.0% | |
| Rutherford County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +2.1% | |
| Stanly County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | $14.3M | +9.8% | |
| Haywood County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 0.7 | $23.2M | +1.9% | |
| Granville County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +2.1% | |
| Sampson County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 1.4 | $11.4M | +4.1% | |
| Watauga County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 1.9 | $9M | +0.6% | |
| Lenoir County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 1.7 | $8.9M | +1.4% | |
| Hoke County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $33.7M | +9.0% | |
| Columbus County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $15.6M | 0.0% | |
| Duplin County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $16.5M | +6.0% | |
| Edgecombe County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 1.5 | $10.5M | +0.7% | |
| Halifax County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −3.9% | |
| Stokes County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +3.5% | |
| McDowell County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +1.5% | |
| Beaufort County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $16.3M | 0.0% | |
| Davie County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $33.1M | +6.9% | |
| Jackson County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $15.3M | +6.9% | |
| Richmond County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −1.6% | |
| Vance County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | $12.9M | +0.2% | |
| Pasquotank County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +4.5% | |
| Person County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | $14.2M | +3.7% | |
| Macon County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +5.8% | |
| Dare County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $35.1M | +3.3% | |
| Yadkin County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +2.9% | |
| Alexander County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +1.5% | |
| Transylvania County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +2.9% | |
| Scotland County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $19.5M | −0.3% | |
| Currituck County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $25.1M | +16.7% | |
| Bladen County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +1.3% | |
| Cherokee County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +6.8% | |
| Ashe County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $20M | +3.5% | |
| Montgomery County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +2.7% | |
| Caswell County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +0.4% | |
| Anson County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $12.8M | −2.1% | |
| Madison County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +5.9% | |
| Martin County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $14.6M | −1.6% | |
| Greene County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +1.3% | |
| Hertford County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $12.9M | −11.2% | |
| Polk County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +6.0% | |
| Yancey County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +3.2% | |
| Warren County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +1.6% | |
| Avery County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +1.1% | |
| Bertie County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −3.6% | |
| Northampton County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −5.4% | |
| Mitchell County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $10.8M | +1.1% | |
| Swain County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −0.6% | |
| Chowan County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $10.6M | +2.8% | |
| Perquimans County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +3.6% | |
| Pamlico County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $9.2M | +3.7% | |
| Clay County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $8.6M | +9.9% | |
| Alleghany County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +5.4% | |
| Camden County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +8.8% | |
| Washington County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 2.1 | $7.2M | −3.1% | |
| Gates County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −2.1% | |
| Jones County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +4.6% | |
| Graham County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +1.9% | |
| Hyde County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +1.0% | |
| Tyrrell County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +9.3% |
Markets with fewer than 5 dry cleaners on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many dry cleaners are in North Carolina?
As of September 2026, map listings count 502 dry cleaners in North Carolina. 129 of them (26%) are chain locations. The listings count dry cleaners. Official counts show 457 businesses with payroll classed as dry cleaning and laundry services in 2023, down 20.2% from 2019.
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 502 dry cleaners on map listings, it comes to $16.2M per shop. That spending covers all clothing, shoes and related services, which dry cleaners 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 dry cleaners?
North Carolina has 1.2 dry cleaners per 10,000 households, 8% below the U.S. rate of 1.3. Spending per shop is $16.2M, 3% above the U.S. figure of $15.7M. At the U.S. ratio of dry cleaners to household spending, North Carolina would have about 518, against 502 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 9,371 households, against one for every 8,177 across the U.S. The official count fell 20.2% from 2019 to 2023, against −18.7% for the U.S.
Which market in North Carolina has the highest market score for dry cleaners?
Among 14 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Asheville metro area scores highest, at 75 (high). Among 24 scored counties in North Carolina, Brunswick County scores highest, at 80 (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 45 for dry cleaners (lower middle), #32 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 dry cleaners 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.
Dry cleaners in other states
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Top markets for dry cleaners across the U.S. · All business types in North Carolina
Related business types in North Carolina
- Clothing, shoes and laundry8,977 listings
- Clothing and shoe stores6,581 listings
- Laundromats482 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.