Market rankings · North Carolina
Fast food and sandwich shops in North Carolina
Every metro area, small-town market and county in North Carolina, ranked by the Groundwork market score for fast food and sandwich shops, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 5,755
- 4,875 chain locations (85%)
- Official establishments
- 8,502
- All limited-service restaurants · +4.7% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $16.2B
- On food away from home
- Listings per 10k households
- 13.4
- In line with the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $2.8M
- 8% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #29 of 51
- Market score 47 · Lower middle
A site report maps the fast food and sandwich shops 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
North Carolina has 5,755 fast food and sandwich shops on map listings as of September 2026. Chain locations make up 85% of them, against 79% across the U.S. That comes to 13.4 for every 10,000 households, in line with the U.S. rate of 13.3.
Household spending on food away from home in North Carolina comes to about $16.2B a year: $3,776 per household, 7% below the U.S. average. That is about $2.8M of household spending for each shop on map listings, 8% below the U.S. figure of $3.1M. The spending figure covers all food away from home, not only fast food and sandwich shops.
Official counts show 8,502 businesses with payroll classed as limited-service restaurants in North Carolina in 2023, up 4.7% from 2019. That is one for every 504 households, against one for every 478 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 6.1% over the same years. That count covers all limited-service restaurants (pizza places included), not only fast food and sandwich shops. Since fiscal 2022, 241 SBA-backed loans worth $162.9M have gone to businesses classed as limited-service restaurants in North Carolina.
Among the 50 states and DC, North Carolina ranks #29 for fast food and sandwich shops, with a Groundwork market score of 47 (lower 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 Anderson Creek area scores highest (76).
Every market in North Carolina for fast food and sandwich shops
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 | 44 | 10.0 | $4M | +10.3% | #22 of 387 |
| 2Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 79 | 295 | 11.9 | $3.5M | +7.5% | #31 of 387 |
| 3Raleigh-Cary, NC | 78 | 720 | 12.5 | $3.6M | +12.6% | #34 of 387 |
| 4Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 70 | 1,416 | 13.2 | $3.1M | +10.1% | #71 of 387 |
| 5Winston-Salem, NC | 59 | 355 | 12.6 | $2.8M | +5.3% | #140 of 387 |
| 6Wilmington, NC | 53 | 312 | 15.7 | $2.5M | +15.9% | #182 of 387 |
| 7Burlington, NC | 49 | 88 | 12.6 | $2.8M | +8.5% | #203 of 387 |
| 8Asheville, NC | 48 | 209 | 13.0 | $2.9M | +3.6% | #208 of 387 |
| 9Rocky Mount, NC | 47 | 72 | 12.3 | $2.7M | +2.8% | #218 of 387 |
| 10Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 44 | 189 | 12.6 | $2.7M | +3.2% | #234 of 387 |
| 11Greensboro-High Point, NC | 43 | 434 | 13.7 | $2.6M | +4.1% | #241 of 387 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 42 | 1,005 | 14.2 | $2.8M | +0.9% | #244 of 387 |
| 12Goldsboro, NC | 36 | 64 | 13.5 | $2.5M | +3.8% | #282 of 387 |
| 13Greenville, NC | 32 | 102 | 13.7 | $2.4M | +5.4% | #301 of 387 |
| 14Jacksonville, NC | 29 | 118 | 15.7 | $2.2M | +6.0% | #321 of 387 |
| 15Fayetteville, NC | 15 | 272 | 18.3 | $1.8M | +1.6% | #374 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Anderson Creek, NC | 76 | 50 | 10.0 | $3.6M | +12.3% | #50 of 537 |
| 2Brevard, NC | 63 | 17 | 11.7 | $3M | +2.9% | #150 of 537 |
| 3Forest City, NC | 57 | 29 | 10.9 | $2.8M | +2.1% | #214 of 537 |
| 4Washington, NC | 55 | 19 | 9.8 | $3.4M | 0.0% | #226 of 537 |
| 5New Bern, NC | 52 | 70 | 13.3 | $2.6M | +3.6% | #259 of 537 |
| 6Albemarle, NC | 52 | 35 | 13.9 | $2.4M | +9.8% | #263 of 537 |
| 7North Wilkesboro, NC | 51 | 30 | 11.1 | $2.7M | +0.6% | #273 of 537 |
| 8Morehead City, NC | 50 | 55 | 17.2 | $2.2M | +4.1% | #279 of 537 |
| 9Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 46 | 53 | 13.6 | $2.4M | +3.4% | #313 of 537 |
| 10Waynesville, NC | 45 | 39 | 14.4 | $2.4M | +1.9% | #321 of 537 |
| 11Sanford, NC | 44 | 39 | 15.5 | $2.2M | +10.8% | #336 of 537 |
| 12Boone, NC | 43 | 32 | 15.1 | $2.2M | +0.6% | #345 of 537 |
| 13Marion, NC | 42 | 26 | 13.9 | $2.3M | +1.5% | #351 of 537 |
| 14Kill Devil Hills, NC | 37 | 42 | 24.9 | $1.7M | +3.3% | #397 of 537 |
| 15Roanoke Rapids, NC | 35 | 34 | 12.0 | $2.5M | −4.3% | #406 of 537 |
| 16Elizabeth City, NC | 35 | 29 | 18.4 | $1.9M | +4.5% | #412 of 537 |
| 17Wilson, NC | 34 | 51 | 15.4 | $2.1M | +1.7% | #417 of 537 |
| 18Mount Airy, NC | 33 | 55 | 18.4 | $1.7M | +1.3% | #432 of 537 |
| 19Lumberton, NC | 32 | 65 | 15.1 | $1.9M | +3.4% | #436 of 537 |
| 20Kinston, NC | 29 | 33 | 14.1 | $2.1M | +1.4% | #453 of 537 |
| 21Rockingham, NC | 28 | 22 | 12.9 | $2.2M | −1.6% | #460 of 537 |
| 22Henderson, NC | 28 | 24 | 14.9 | $2.1M | +0.2% | #462 of 537 |
| 23Laurinburg, NC | 18 | 19 | 15.1 | $2M | −0.3% | #504 of 537 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Chatham County, NC | 90 | 28 | 8.5 | $5.3M | +11.0% | #14 of 2,222 |
| 2Franklin County, NC | 86 | 23 | 8.1 | $4.5M | +18.8% | #43 of 2,222 |
| 3Hoke County, NC | 84 | 13 | 6.8 | $5.1M | +9.0% | #70 of 2,222 |
| 4Polk County, NC | 83 | 6 | 6.7 | $5.5M | +6.0% | #85 of 2,222 |
| 5Union County, NC | 83 | 103 | 12.2 | $3.8M | +11.7% | #90 of 2,222 |
| 6Orange County, NC | 80 | 57 | 9.9 | $4.4M | +6.1% | #123 of 2,222 |
| 7Lincoln County, NC | 78 | 36 | 9.8 | $4.1M | +13.2% | #168 of 2,222 |
| 8Madison County, NC | 76 | 5 | 6.0 | $5.6M | +5.9% | #199 of 2,222 |
| 9Moore County, NC | 75 | 44 | 10.0 | $4M | +10.3% | #227 of 2,222 |
| 10Henderson County, NC | 74 | 48 | 9.4 | $3.9M | +5.0% | #251 of 2,222 |
| 11Johnston County, NC | 73 | 104 | 12.2 | $3.3M | +17.9% | #291 of 2,222 |
| 12Clay County, NC | 72 | 5 | 9.8 | $3.4M | +9.9% | #314 of 2,222 |
| 13Davidson County, NC | 71 | 60 | 8.6 | $4M | +6.6% | #328 of 2,222 |
| 14Wake County, NC | 71 | 593 | 12.9 | $3.6M | +11.2% | #335 of 2,222 |
| 15Davie County, NC | 71 | 23 | 13.3 | $2.9M | +6.9% | #343 of 2,222 |
| 16Caswell County, NC | 69 | 5 | 5.7 | $5.6M | +0.4% | #381 of 2,222 |
| 17Harnett County, NC | 69 | 50 | 10.0 | $3.6M | +12.3% | #405 of 2,222 |
| 18Stokes County, NC | 68 | 18 | 9.2 | $3.5M | +3.5% | #438 of 2,222 |
| 19Rowan County, NC | 68 | 62 | 10.5 | $3.3M | +5.6% | #441 of 2,222 |
| 20Iredell County, NC | 68 | 93 | 12.2 | $3.3M | +12.9% | #444 of 2,222 |
| 21Alexander County, NC | 66 | 11 | 7.8 | $4.2M | +1.5% | #500 of 2,222 |
| 22Greene County, NC | 64 | 5 | 7.2 | $4.1M | +1.3% | #568 of 2,222 |
| 23Cabarrus County, NC | 63 | 115 | 13.7 | $3.1M | +9.9% | #623 of 2,222 |
| 24Durham County, NC | 63 | 192 | 13.5 | $3M | +7.7% | #625 of 2,222 |
| 25Brunswick County, NC | 63 | 95 | 13.7 | $2.8M | +26.5% | #634 of 2,222 |
Show all 100 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Ashe County, NC | 62 | 11 | 9.0 | $3.6M | +3.5% | #647 of 2,222 |
| 27Montgomery County, NC | 62 | 10 | 9.4 | $3.5M | +2.7% | #648 of 2,222 |
| 28Mecklenburg County, NC | 62 | 677 | 14.5 | $2.9M | +10.5% | #664 of 2,222 |
| 29Northampton County, NC | 61 | 5 | 6.4 | $4.9M | −5.4% | #671 of 2,222 |
| 30Person County, NC | 61 | 18 | 11.2 | $3.1M | +3.7% | #704 of 2,222 |
| 31Granville County, NC | 61 | 28 | 12.5 | $3M | +2.1% | #711 of 2,222 |
| 32Yadkin County, NC | 61 | 19 | 12.7 | $2.7M | +2.9% | #719 of 2,222 |
| 33Pender County, NC | 59 | 40 | 15.8 | $2.5M | +19.0% | #802 of 2,222 |
| 34Mitchell County, NC | 58 | 5 | 7.6 | $4.2M | +1.1% | #804 of 2,222 |
| 35Warren County, NC | 57 | 8 | 9.8 | $3.1M | +1.6% | #860 of 2,222 |
| 36Currituck County, NC | 56 | 21 | 17.7 | $2.4M | +16.7% | #930 of 2,222 |
| 37Gaston County, NC | 55 | 114 | 12.2 | $2.9M | +7.8% | #948 of 2,222 |
| 38Transylvania County, NC | 54 | 17 | 11.7 | $3M | +2.9% | #984 of 2,222 |
| 39Randolph County, NC | 54 | 65 | 11.3 | $2.9M | +3.5% | #991 of 2,222 |
| 40Pamlico County, NC | 53 | 6 | 11.0 | $3M | +3.7% | #1,018 of 2,222 |
| 41Rockingham County, NC | 53 | 45 | 11.4 | $2.8M | +3.3% | #1,027 of 2,222 |
| 42Edgecombe County, NC | 52 | 20 | 10.2 | $3.1M | +0.7% | #1,065 of 2,222 |
| 43Alamance County, NC | 52 | 88 | 12.6 | $2.8M | +8.5% | #1,071 of 2,222 |
| 44Yancey County, NC | 52 | 12 | 14.8 | $2.3M | +3.2% | #1,087 of 2,222 |
| 45Rutherford County, NC | 49 | 29 | 10.9 | $2.8M | +2.1% | #1,175 of 2,222 |
| 46Macon County, NC | 49 | 26 | 14.1 | $2.4M | +5.8% | #1,198 of 2,222 |
| 47Beaufort County, NC | 48 | 19 | 9.8 | $3.4M | 0.0% | #1,204 of 2,222 |
| 48Sampson County, NC | 48 | 24 | 11.1 | $2.8M | +4.1% | #1,219 of 2,222 |
| 49New Hanover County, NC | 48 | 177 | 16.9 | $2.3M | +8.6% | #1,241 of 2,222 |
| 50Forsyth County, NC | 47 | 235 | 14.7 | $2.5M | +5.0% | #1,281 of 2,222 |
| 51Caldwell County, NC | 46 | 33 | 10.0 | $3.2M | +0.7% | #1,294 of 2,222 |
| 52Stanly County, NC | 46 | 35 | 13.9 | $2.4M | +9.8% | #1,315 of 2,222 |
| 53Nash County, NC | 45 | 52 | 13.4 | $2.6M | +3.9% | #1,346 of 2,222 |
| 54Burke County, NC | 44 | 42 | 11.6 | $2.8M | +1.6% | #1,368 of 2,222 |
| 55Guilford County, NC | 44 | 324 | 14.7 | $2.5M | +4.4% | #1,379 of 2,222 |
| 56Duplin County, NC | 44 | 27 | 13.0 | $2.4M | +6.0% | #1,382 of 2,222 |
| 57Cherokee County, NC | 44 | 21 | 15.9 | $2M | +6.8% | #1,389 of 2,222 |
| 58Wilkes County, NC | 43 | 30 | 11.1 | $2.7M | +0.6% | #1,400 of 2,222 |
| 59Catawba County, NC | 43 | 103 | 15.6 | $2.3M | +5.8% | #1,410 of 2,222 |
| 60Carteret County, NC | 43 | 55 | 17.2 | $2.2M | +4.1% | #1,417 of 2,222 |
| 61Swain County, NC | 41 | 6 | 10.0 | $3.3M | −0.6% | #1,459 of 2,222 |
| 62Buncombe County, NC | 41 | 156 | 15.3 | $2.5M | +2.9% | #1,466 of 2,222 |
| 63Wayne County, NC | 40 | 64 | 13.5 | $2.5M | +3.8% | #1,495 of 2,222 |
| 64Pitt County, NC | 39 | 102 | 13.7 | $2.4M | +5.4% | #1,532 of 2,222 |
| 65Craven County, NC | 39 | 61 | 14.2 | $2.4M | +3.5% | #1,535 of 2,222 |
| 66Cleveland County, NC | 39 | 53 | 13.6 | $2.4M | +3.4% | #1,536 of 2,222 |
| 67Avery County, NC | 39 | 10 | 14.7 | $2.4M | +1.1% | #1,538 of 2,222 |
| 68Lee County, NC | 39 | 39 | 15.5 | $2.2M | +10.8% | #1,544 of 2,222 |
| 69Haywood County, NC | 37 | 39 | 14.4 | $2.4M | +1.9% | #1,608 of 2,222 |
| 70Onslow County, NC | 37 | 118 | 15.7 | $2.2M | +6.0% | #1,617 of 2,222 |
| 71Watauga County, NC | 37 | 32 | 15.1 | $2.2M | +0.6% | #1,618 of 2,222 |
| 72McDowell County, NC | 36 | 26 | 13.9 | $2.3M | +1.5% | #1,639 of 2,222 |
| 73Jackson County, NC | 34 | 37 | 20.1 | $1.6M | +6.9% | #1,730 of 2,222 |
| 74Chowan County, NC | 33 | 11 | 17.9 | $1.9M | +2.8% | #1,758 of 2,222 |
| 75Dare County, NC | 33 | 42 | 24.9 | $1.7M | +3.3% | #1,761 of 2,222 |
| 76Wilson County, NC | 30 | 51 | 15.4 | $2.1M | +1.7% | #1,846 of 2,222 |
| 77Pasquotank County, NC | 30 | 29 | 18.4 | $1.9M | +4.5% | #1,853 of 2,222 |
| 78Surry County, NC | 29 | 55 | 18.4 | $1.7M | +1.3% | #1,879 of 2,222 |
| 79Robeson County, NC | 28 | 65 | 15.1 | $1.9M | +3.4% | #1,906 of 2,222 |
| 80Martin County, NC | 26 | 13 | 13.7 | $2.2M | −1.6% | #1,945 of 2,222 |
| 81Lenoir County, NC | 26 | 33 | 14.1 | $2.1M | +1.4% | #1,951 of 2,222 |
| 82Richmond County, NC | 25 | 22 | 12.9 | $2.2M | −1.6% | #1,962 of 2,222 |
| 83Vance County, NC | 25 | 24 | 14.9 | $2.1M | +0.2% | #1,967 of 2,222 |
| 84Cumberland County, NC | 18 | 259 | 20.0 | $1.7M | +0.4% | #2,092 of 2,222 |
| 85Bladen County, NC | 18 | 21 | 17.8 | $1.7M | +1.3% | #2,093 of 2,222 |
| 86Halifax County, NC | 16 | 29 | 14.2 | $2.1M | −3.9% | #2,113 of 2,222 |
| 87Scotland County, NC | 15 | 19 | 15.1 | $2M | −0.3% | #2,129 of 2,222 |
| 88Washington County, NC | 13 | 8 | 16.9 | $1.7M | −3.1% | #2,167 of 2,222 |
| 89Columbus County, NC | 11 | 41 | 20.5 | $1.5M | 0.0% | #2,183 of 2,222 |
| 90Anson County, NC | 10 | 16 | 18.7 | $1.5M | −2.1% | #2,191 of 2,222 |
| 91Hertford County, NC | 8 | 14 | 16.9 | $1.8M | −11.2% | #2,199 of 2,222 |
| Bertie County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 5.6 | $5.6M | −3.6% | |
| Perquimans County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 7.1 | $4.9M | +3.6% | |
| Alleghany County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $7.6M | +5.4% | |
| Camden County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 5.0 | $8.1M | +8.8% | |
| Gates County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 4.8 | $6.8M | −2.1% | |
| Jones County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 7.3 | $4.4M | +4.6% | |
| Graham County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 11.4 | $2.8M | +1.9% | |
| Hyde County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 15.5 | $1.9M | +1.0% | |
| Tyrrell County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 6.5 | $4.3M | +9.3% |
Markets with fewer than 5 fast food and sandwich shops on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many fast food and sandwich shops are in North Carolina?
Map listings as of September 2026 show 5,755 fast food and sandwich shops in North Carolina. 4,875 of them (85%) are chain locations. The listings count fast food, sandwich shops, delis and bagel shops. Official counts show 8,502 businesses with payroll classed as limited-service restaurants in 2023, up 4.7% from 2019. The official count takes in all limited-service restaurants, not only fast food and sandwich shops: pizza places are counted too. Another 1,306 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.
How much do households in North Carolina spend on food away from home?
About $16.2B a year, or $3,776 per household. That is 7% below the U.S. average (an index of 93, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 5,755 fast food and sandwich shops on map listings, it comes to $2.8M per shop. That spending covers all food away from home, which fast food and sandwich shops 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 fast food and sandwich shops?
North Carolina has 13.4 fast food and sandwich shops per 10,000 households, in line with the U.S. rate of 13.3. Spending per shop is $2.8M, 8% below the U.S. figure of $3.1M. At the U.S. ratio of fast food and sandwich shops to household spending, North Carolina would have about 5,301, against 5,755 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 504 households, against one for every 478 across the U.S. The official count rose 4.7% from 2019 to 2023, against +6.1% for the U.S.
Which market in North Carolina has the highest market score for fast food and sandwich shops?
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 Anderson Creek area scores highest, at 76 (high). Among 91 scored counties in North Carolina, Chatham 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 47 for fast food and sandwich shops (lower 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 fast food and sandwich shops 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.
Fast food and sandwich shops in other states
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Top markets for fast food and sandwich shops across the U.S. · All business types in North Carolina
Related business types in North Carolina
- Restaurants and cafes41,739 listings
- Sit-down restaurants22,819 listings
- Pizza3,190 listings
- Coffee shops and cafes3,980 listings
- Bakeries and dessert shops3,724 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.