Market rankings · North Carolina
Grocery and convenience stores in North Carolina
Markets across North Carolina ranked by the Groundwork market score for grocery and convenience stores, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 8,652
- 3,857 chain locations (45%)
- Official establishments
- 2,916
- +8.2% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $25.8B
- On groceries
- Listings per 10k households
- 20.2
- 8% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $3M
- 12% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #29 of 51
- Market score 49 · Lower middle
A site report maps the grocery and 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
As of September 2026, map listings count 8,652 grocery and convenience stores in North Carolina. 3,857 of them (45%) are chain locations, against 42% across the U.S. That is 20.2 per 10,000 households, 8% above the U.S. rate of 18.7.
Households in North Carolina spend about $25.8B a year on groceries, or $6,016 per household, 5% below the U.S. average. That is about $3M of household spending for each store on map listings, 12% below the U.S. figure of $3.4M.
In 2023, official counts showed 2,916 businesses with payroll in North Carolina classed as grocery and convenience stores, up 8.2% from 2019. That is one for every 1,469 households, against one for every 1,293 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 7.2% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 52 SBA-backed loans worth $34.7M have gone to businesses classed as grocery and convenience stores in North Carolina.
Among the 50 states and DC, North Carolina ranks #29 for grocery and convenience stores, with a Groundwork market score of 49 (lower middle). Of the 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Raleigh-Cary metro area scores highest (80). 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 grocery and 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 | 80 | 907 | 15.8 | $4.2M | +12.6% | #20 of 387 |
| 2Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 71 | 420 | 16.9 | $3.8M | +7.5% | #55 of 387 |
| 3Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 67 | 1,903 | 17.7 | $3.6M | +10.1% | #78 of 387 |
| 4Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 64 | 82 | 18.6 | $3.3M | +10.3% | #104 of 387 |
| 5Wilmington, NC | 55 | 438 | 22.0 | $2.8M | +15.9% | #172 of 387 |
| 6Jacksonville, NC | 52 | 143 | 19.0 | $3M | +6.0% | #189 of 387 |
| 7Winston-Salem, NC | 48 | 492 | 17.5 | $3.3M | +5.3% | #211 of 387 |
| 8Burlington, NC | 45 | 138 | 19.7 | $2.9M | +8.5% | #235 of 387 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 43 | 1,317 | 18.6 | $3.4M | +0.9% | #244 of 387 |
| 9Asheville, NC | 40 | 347 | 21.5 | $2.8M | +3.6% | #264 of 387 |
| 10Greensboro-High Point, NC | 38 | 619 | 19.5 | $3M | +4.1% | #280 of 387 |
| 11Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 38 | 304 | 20.3 | $2.8M | +3.2% | #283 of 387 |
| 12Greenville, NC | 37 | 148 | 19.9 | $2.8M | +5.4% | #287 of 387 |
| 13Fayetteville, NC | 28 | 319 | 21.4 | $2.6M | +1.6% | #332 of 387 |
| 14Goldsboro, NC | 20 | 127 | 26.7 | $2.1M | +3.8% | #363 of 387 |
| 15Rocky Mount, NC | 20 | 170 | 29.1 | $1.9M | +2.8% | #364 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Anderson Creek, NC | 76 | 94 | 18.9 | $3.1M | +12.3% | #36 of 538 |
| 2Brevard, NC | 70 | 25 | 17.1 | $3.4M | +2.9% | #78 of 538 |
| 3Elizabeth City, NC | 68 | 33 | 20.9 | $2.7M | +4.5% | #103 of 538 |
| 4Marion, NC | 63 | 34 | 18.2 | $3M | +1.5% | #148 of 538 |
| 5New Bern, NC | 59 | 99 | 18.9 | $3M | +3.6% | #186 of 538 |
| 6Waynesville, NC | 58 | 61 | 22.5 | $2.5M | +1.9% | #203 of 538 |
| 7Albemarle, NC | 57 | 62 | 24.6 | $2.3M | +9.8% | #220 of 538 |
| 8Morehead City, NC | 54 | 89 | 27.8 | $2.2M | +4.1% | #253 of 538 |
| 9Mount Airy, NC | 46 | 76 | 25.4 | $2.1M | +1.3% | #323 of 538 |
| 10Forest City, NC | 43 | 62 | 23.3 | $2.3M | +2.1% | #355 of 538 |
| 11Sanford, NC | 42 | 80 | 31.8 | $1.8M | +10.8% | #367 of 538 |
| 12Boone, NC | 40 | 48 | 22.6 | $2.4M | +0.6% | #378 of 538 |
| 13Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 37 | 103 | 26.5 | $2.1M | +3.4% | #405 of 538 |
| 14Kill Devil Hills, NC | 36 | 96 | 57.0 | $1.1M | +3.3% | #415 of 538 |
| 15North Wilkesboro, NC | 31 | 70 | 25.8 | $2.1M | +0.6% | #448 of 538 |
| 16Washington, NC | 30 | 56 | 28.9 | $1.9M | 0.0% | #453 of 538 |
| 17Wilson, NC | 28 | 91 | 27.5 | $2M | +1.7% | #465 of 538 |
| 18Kinston, NC | 23 | 61 | 26.1 | $2M | +1.4% | #482 of 538 |
| 19Laurinburg, NC | 22 | 32 | 25.4 | $2.1M | −0.3% | #486 of 538 |
| 20Lumberton, NC | 20 | 154 | 35.7 | $1.4M | +3.4% | #496 of 538 |
| 21Rockingham, NC | 15 | 43 | 25.3 | $2M | −1.6% | #514 of 538 |
| 22Henderson, NC | 14 | 60 | 37.2 | $1.4M | +0.2% | #520 of 538 |
| 23Roanoke Rapids, NC | 13 | 75 | 26.6 | $2M | −4.3% | #521 of 538 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Camden County, NC | 87 | 6 | 15.0 | $4.2M | +8.8% | #81 of 2,402 |
| 2Orange County, NC | 83 | 90 | 15.7 | $4.2M | +6.1% | #132 of 2,402 |
| 3Wake County, NC | 82 | 703 | 15.3 | $4.4M | +11.2% | #145 of 2,402 |
| 4Cabarrus County, NC | 82 | 135 | 16.0 | $4M | +9.9% | #149 of 2,402 |
| 5Union County, NC | 82 | 145 | 17.2 | $3.9M | +11.7% | #151 of 2,402 |
| 6Johnston County, NC | 81 | 147 | 17.2 | $3.6M | +17.9% | #172 of 2,402 |
| 7Lincoln County, NC | 80 | 67 | 18.2 | $3.4M | +13.2% | #191 of 2,402 |
| 8Durham County, NC | 79 | 226 | 15.9 | $4M | +7.7% | #205 of 2,402 |
| 9Davie County, NC | 78 | 30 | 17.4 | $3.5M | +6.9% | #230 of 2,402 |
| 10Hoke County, NC | 77 | 27 | 14.0 | $4.1M | +9.0% | #243 of 2,402 |
| 11Mecklenburg County, NC | 77 | 795 | 17.0 | $3.8M | +10.5% | #250 of 2,402 |
| 12Chatham County, NC | 77 | 62 | 18.8 | $3.5M | +11.0% | #253 of 2,402 |
| 13Iredell County, NC | 77 | 143 | 18.7 | $3.3M | +12.9% | #255 of 2,402 |
| 14Moore County, NC | 74 | 82 | 18.6 | $3.3M | +10.3% | #332 of 2,402 |
| 15Brunswick County, NC | 74 | 144 | 20.8 | $2.9M | +26.5% | #340 of 2,402 |
| 16Franklin County, NC | 71 | 57 | 20.0 | $3M | +18.8% | #424 of 2,402 |
| 17Clay County, NC | 69 | 8 | 15.7 | $3.6M | +9.9% | #468 of 2,402 |
| 18Harnett County, NC | 69 | 94 | 18.9 | $3.1M | +12.3% | #481 of 2,402 |
| 19Polk County, NC | 69 | 18 | 20.1 | $2.9M | +6.0% | #483 of 2,402 |
| 20Henderson County, NC | 67 | 99 | 19.4 | $3M | +5.0% | #538 of 2,402 |
| 21Gaston County, NC | 66 | 170 | 18.2 | $3.2M | +7.8% | #567 of 2,402 |
| 22Onslow County, NC | 66 | 143 | 19.0 | $3M | +6.0% | #568 of 2,402 |
| 23Rowan County, NC | 65 | 106 | 18.0 | $3.2M | +5.6% | #599 of 2,402 |
| 24Jackson County, NC | 65 | 33 | 17.9 | $3.1M | +6.9% | #601 of 2,402 |
| 25Alexander County, NC | 64 | 25 | 17.7 | $3.2M | +1.5% | #641 of 2,402 |
Show all 100 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Catawba County, NC | 63 | 125 | 18.9 | $3.1M | +5.8% | #676 of 2,402 |
| 27New Hanover County, NC | 63 | 226 | 21.6 | $2.8M | +8.6% | #685 of 2,402 |
| 28Pender County, NC | 62 | 68 | 26.9 | $2.3M | +19.0% | #741 of 2,402 |
| 29Forsyth County, NC | 61 | 275 | 17.2 | $3.4M | +5.0% | #758 of 2,402 |
| 30Transylvania County, NC | 61 | 25 | 17.1 | $3.4M | +2.9% | #759 of 2,402 |
| 31Alamance County, NC | 61 | 138 | 19.7 | $2.9M | +8.5% | #769 of 2,402 |
| 32Davidson County, NC | 60 | 120 | 17.2 | $3.3M | +6.6% | #798 of 2,402 |
| 33Chowan County, NC | 60 | 11 | 17.9 | $3.1M | +2.8% | #803 of 2,402 |
| 34Pasquotank County, NC | 60 | 33 | 20.9 | $2.7M | +4.5% | #809 of 2,402 |
| 35Stokes County, NC | 58 | 34 | 17.4 | $3.2M | +3.5% | #867 of 2,402 |
| 36Guilford County, NC | 57 | 414 | 18.8 | $3.1M | +4.4% | #902 of 2,402 |
| 37Yadkin County, NC | 56 | 33 | 22.0 | $2.6M | +2.9% | #951 of 2,402 |
| 38McDowell County, NC | 55 | 34 | 18.2 | $3M | +1.5% | #982 of 2,402 |
| 39Perquimans County, NC | 55 | 11 | 19.6 | $3M | +3.6% | #984 of 2,402 |
| 40Currituck County, NC | 55 | 32 | 27.0 | $2.4M | +16.7% | #996 of 2,402 |
| 41Craven County, NC | 54 | 78 | 18.2 | $3.1M | +3.5% | #1,022 of 2,402 |
| 42Randolph County, NC | 54 | 114 | 19.8 | $2.8M | +3.5% | #1,031 of 2,402 |
| 43Pitt County, NC | 53 | 148 | 19.9 | $2.8M | +5.4% | #1,077 of 2,402 |
| 44Stanly County, NC | 53 | 62 | 24.6 | $2.3M | +9.8% | #1,093 of 2,402 |
| 45Madison County, NC | 52 | 15 | 18.0 | $3.1M | +5.9% | #1,113 of 2,402 |
| 46Gates County, NC | 51 | 6 | 14.3 | $3.9M | −2.1% | #1,149 of 2,402 |
| 47Buncombe County, NC | 51 | 233 | 22.9 | $2.7M | +2.9% | #1,170 of 2,402 |
| 48Granville County, NC | 51 | 52 | 23.1 | $2.6M | +2.1% | #1,174 of 2,402 |
| 49Haywood County, NC | 51 | 61 | 22.5 | $2.5M | +1.9% | #1,176 of 2,402 |
| 50Macon County, NC | 51 | 44 | 23.9 | $2.4M | +5.8% | #1,181 of 2,402 |
| 51Mitchell County, NC | 49 | 14 | 21.3 | $2.6M | +1.1% | #1,253 of 2,402 |
| 52Cherokee County, NC | 49 | 29 | 21.9 | $2.5M | +6.8% | #1,258 of 2,402 |
| 53Yancey County, NC | 49 | 19 | 23.4 | $2.4M | +3.2% | #1,259 of 2,402 |
| 54Carteret County, NC | 49 | 89 | 27.8 | $2.2M | +4.1% | #1,265 of 2,402 |
| 55Caldwell County, NC | 45 | 70 | 21.3 | $2.6M | +0.7% | #1,395 of 2,402 |
| 56Person County, NC | 43 | 42 | 26.1 | $2.2M | +3.7% | #1,490 of 2,402 |
| 57Ashe County, NC | 42 | 31 | 25.4 | $2.2M | +3.5% | #1,527 of 2,402 |
| 58Surry County, NC | 42 | 76 | 25.4 | $2.1M | +1.3% | #1,528 of 2,402 |
| 59Nash County, NC | 42 | 114 | 29.4 | $1.9M | +3.9% | #1,536 of 2,402 |
| 60Burke County, NC | 41 | 84 | 23.1 | $2.4M | +1.6% | #1,553 of 2,402 |
| 61Rockingham County, NC | 41 | 91 | 23.0 | $2.4M | +3.3% | #1,554 of 2,402 |
| 62Cumberland County, NC | 40 | 292 | 22.5 | $2.5M | +0.4% | #1,591 of 2,402 |
| 63Warren County, NC | 40 | 18 | 22.1 | $2.4M | +1.6% | #1,595 of 2,402 |
| 64Lee County, NC | 40 | 80 | 31.8 | $1.8M | +10.8% | #1,618 of 2,402 |
| 65Pamlico County, NC | 39 | 13 | 23.8 | $2.4M | +3.7% | #1,636 of 2,402 |
| 66Rutherford County, NC | 39 | 62 | 23.3 | $2.3M | +2.1% | #1,638 of 2,402 |
| 67Sampson County, NC | 38 | 64 | 29.6 | $1.8M | +4.1% | #1,685 of 2,402 |
| 68Watauga County, NC | 35 | 48 | 22.6 | $2.4M | +0.6% | #1,782 of 2,402 |
| 69Wayne County, NC | 35 | 127 | 26.7 | $2.1M | +3.8% | #1,792 of 2,402 |
| 70Bertie County, NC | 34 | 13 | 18.2 | $3M | −3.6% | #1,806 of 2,402 |
| 71Cleveland County, NC | 34 | 103 | 26.5 | $2.1M | +3.4% | #1,821 of 2,402 |
| 72Alleghany County, NC | 33 | 14 | 27.0 | $1.9M | +5.4% | #1,868 of 2,402 |
| 73Dare County, NC | 32 | 96 | 57.0 | $1.1M | +3.3% | #1,914 of 2,402 |
| 74Avery County, NC | 31 | 23 | 33.9 | $1.7M | +1.1% | #1,935 of 2,402 |
| 75Wilkes County, NC | 30 | 70 | 25.8 | $2.1M | +0.6% | #1,951 of 2,402 |
| 76Caswell County, NC | 30 | 25 | 28.3 | $1.9M | +0.4% | #1,956 of 2,402 |
| 77Duplin County, NC | 30 | 70 | 33.7 | $1.6M | +6.0% | #1,966 of 2,402 |
| 78Beaufort County, NC | 29 | 56 | 28.9 | $1.9M | 0.0% | #1,984 of 2,402 |
| 79Montgomery County, NC | 27 | 33 | 31.0 | $1.8M | +2.7% | #2,047 of 2,402 |
| 80Northampton County, NC | 26 | 20 | 25.5 | $2.1M | −5.4% | #2,066 of 2,402 |
| 81Wilson County, NC | 25 | 91 | 27.5 | $2M | +1.7% | #2,100 of 2,402 |
| 82Swain County, NC | 24 | 17 | 28.3 | $2M | −0.6% | #2,126 of 2,402 |
| 83Anson County, NC | 23 | 26 | 30.4 | $1.7M | −2.1% | #2,155 of 2,402 |
| 84Scotland County, NC | 21 | 32 | 25.4 | $2.1M | −0.3% | #2,192 of 2,402 |
| 85Lenoir County, NC | 21 | 61 | 26.1 | $2M | +1.4% | #2,195 of 2,402 |
| 86Edgecombe County, NC | 21 | 56 | 28.5 | $1.9M | +0.7% | #2,198 of 2,402 |
| 87Washington County, NC | 21 | 14 | 29.5 | $1.7M | −3.1% | #2,202 of 2,402 |
| 88Greene County, NC | 21 | 22 | 31.8 | $1.7M | +1.3% | #2,204 of 2,402 |
| 89Hertford County, NC | 20 | 26 | 31.4 | $1.7M | −11.2% | #2,217 of 2,402 |
| 90Columbus County, NC | 19 | 58 | 28.9 | $1.8M | 0.0% | #2,231 of 2,402 |
| 91Robeson County, NC | 18 | 154 | 35.7 | $1.4M | +3.4% | #2,253 of 2,402 |
| 92Bladen County, NC | 17 | 35 | 29.6 | $1.8M | +1.3% | #2,267 of 2,402 |
| 93Richmond County, NC | 14 | 43 | 25.3 | $2M | −1.6% | #2,304 of 2,402 |
| 94Martin County, NC | 14 | 31 | 32.6 | $1.6M | −1.6% | #2,308 of 2,402 |
| 95Vance County, NC | 13 | 60 | 37.2 | $1.4M | +0.2% | #2,326 of 2,402 |
| 96Halifax County, NC | 12 | 55 | 27.0 | $1.9M | −3.9% | #2,330 of 2,402 |
| Jones County, NC | Not scored | 8 | 19.4 | $2.8M | +4.6% | |
| Graham County, NC | Not scored | 7 | 19.9 | $2.7M | +1.9% | |
| Hyde County, NC | Not scored | 18 | 92.8 | $563K | +1.0% | |
| Tyrrell County, NC | Not scored | 5 | 32.3 | $1.6M | +9.3% |
Markets with fewer than 5 grocery and convenience stores on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many grocery and convenience stores are in North Carolina?
North Carolina has 8,652 grocery and convenience stores on map listings as of September 2026. 3,857 of them (45%) are chain locations. The listings count grocery, convenience and specialty food stores. Official counts show 2,916 businesses with payroll classed as grocery and convenience stores in 2023, up 8.2% from 2019. Official counts list 2,223 one-person businesses without payroll.
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 8,652 grocery and convenience stores on map listings, it comes to $3M per store. 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 grocery and convenience stores?
North Carolina has 20.2 grocery and convenience stores per 10,000 households, 8% above the U.S. rate of 18.7. Spending per store is $3M, 12% below the U.S. figure of $3.4M. At the national ratio of grocery and convenience stores to household spending, North Carolina would have about 7,603, against 8,652 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,469 households, against one for every 1,293 across the U.S. The official count rose 8.2% from 2019 to 2023, against +7.2% for the U.S.
Which market in North Carolina has the highest market score for grocery and convenience stores?
Among 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Raleigh-Cary 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 76 (high). Among 96 scored counties in North Carolina, Camden County scores highest, at 87 (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 49 for grocery and convenience stores (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 grocery and 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.
Grocery and convenience stores in other states
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Top markets for grocery and convenience stores across the U.S. · All business types in North Carolina
Related business types in North Carolina
- Grocery stores3,176 listings
- Convenience stores3,984 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in North Carolina?
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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.