Market rankings · North Carolina
Gyms in North Carolina
Every metro area, small-town market and county in North Carolina, ranked by the Groundwork market score for gyms, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 2,992
- 784 chain locations (26%)
- Official establishments
- 1,415
- All fitness and recreational sports centers · +4.4% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $3.2B
- On memberships, classes and admissions
- Listings per 10k households
- 7.0
- 8% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $1.1M
- 18% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #38 of 51
- Market score 40 · Lower middle
A site report maps the gyms 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 2,992 gyms on map listings in North Carolina as of September 2026. Of those, 784 are chain locations, or 26%, against 28% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 7.0, 8% below the U.S. rate of 7.6.
Households in North Carolina spend about $3.2B a year on memberships, classes and admissions, or $743 per household, 24% below the U.S. average. Spread across 2,992 gyms, that is $1.1M per gym, 18% below the U.S. figure of $1.3M. The spending figure covers all memberships, classes and admissions, not only gyms.
In 2023, official counts showed 1,415 businesses with payroll in North Carolina classed as fitness and recreational sports centers, up 4.4% from 2019. That is one for every 3,026 households, against one for every 3,109 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 5.8% over the same years. That count covers all fitness and recreational sports centers (yoga, Pilates and fitness studios included), not only gyms. Since fiscal 2022, 173 SBA-backed loans worth $104.9M have gone to businesses classed as fitness and recreational sports centers in North Carolina.
Among the 50 states and DC, North Carolina ranks #38 for gyms, with a Groundwork market score of 40 (lower middle). Of the 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area scores highest (55). Of the 22 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Anderson Creek area scores highest (77).
Every market in North Carolina for gyms
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 | 55 | 185 | 7.5 | $1.2M | +7.5% | #144 of 387 |
| 2Raleigh-Cary, NC | 54 | 479 | 8.3 | $1.2M | +12.6% | #150 of 387 |
| 3Rocky Mount, NC | 51 | 28 | 4.8 | $1.2M | +2.8% | #181 of 387 |
| 4Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 49 | 81 | 5.4 | $1.1M | +3.2% | #203 of 387 |
| 5Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 48 | 40 | 9.1 | $895K | +10.3% | #220 of 387 |
| 6Jacksonville, NC | 46 | 47 | 6.2 | $992K | +6.0% | #241 of 387 |
| 7Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 45 | 849 | 7.9 | $1.1M | +10.1% | #246 of 387 |
| 8Burlington, NC | 44 | 47 | 6.7 | $940K | +8.5% | #258 of 387 |
| 9Greensboro-High Point, NC | 42 | 192 | 6.1 | $1.1M | +4.1% | #265 of 387 |
| 10Winston-Salem, NC | 41 | 172 | 6.1 | $1.1M | +5.3% | #271 of 387 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 40 | 506 | 7.2 | $1.1M | +0.9% | #278 of 387 |
| 11Wilmington, NC | 40 | 183 | 9.2 | $821K | +15.9% | #289 of 387 |
| 12Goldsboro, NC | 37 | 30 | 6.3 | $920K | +3.8% | #311 of 387 |
| 13Asheville, NC | 33 | 130 | 8.1 | $898K | +3.6% | #333 of 387 |
| 14Greenville, NC | 32 | 45 | 6.0 | $989K | +5.4% | #340 of 387 |
| 15Fayetteville, NC | 28 | 120 | 8.1 | $739K | +1.6% | #362 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Anderson Creek, NC | 77 | 26 | 5.2 | $1.3M | +12.3% | #23 of 506 |
| 2Waynesville, NC | 67 | 10 | 3.7 | $1.6M | +1.9% | #65 of 506 |
| 3Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 67 | 14 | 3.6 | $1.6M | +3.4% | #67 of 506 |
| 4Wilson, NC | 65 | 10 | 3.0 | $1.9M | +1.7% | #86 of 506 |
| 5New Bern, NC | 58 | 32 | 6.1 | $990K | +3.6% | #177 of 506 |
| 6Forest City, NC | 57 | 13 | 4.9 | $1.1M | +2.1% | #184 of 506 |
| 7Mount Airy, NC | 54 | 16 | 5.4 | $1M | +1.3% | #223 of 506 |
| 8Lumberton, NC | 52 | 17 | 3.9 | $1.1M | +3.4% | #235 of 506 |
| 9Marion, NC | 51 | 8 | 4.3 | $1.3M | +1.5% | #242 of 506 |
| 10Morehead City, NC | 50 | 28 | 8.8 | $833K | +4.1% | #257 of 506 |
| 11Elizabeth City, NC | 45 | 11 | 7.0 | $876K | +4.5% | #314 of 506 |
| 12Laurinburg, NC | 44 | 5 | 4.0 | $1.2M | −0.3% | #317 of 506 |
| 13Brevard, NC | 44 | 9 | 6.2 | $1.1M | +2.9% | #320 of 506 |
| 14Kill Devil Hills, NC | 44 | 23 | 13.7 | $645K | +3.3% | #329 of 506 |
| 15Rockingham, NC | 43 | 7 | 4.1 | $1.1M | −1.6% | #332 of 506 |
| 16Albemarle, NC | 43 | 15 | 5.9 | $1M | +9.8% | #334 of 506 |
| 17Sanford, NC | 42 | 18 | 7.2 | $843K | +10.8% | #346 of 506 |
| 18Roanoke Rapids, NC | 41 | 10 | 3.5 | $1.4M | −4.3% | #350 of 506 |
| 19North Wilkesboro, NC | 40 | 16 | 5.9 | $805K | +0.6% | #363 of 506 |
| 20Boone, NC | 38 | 15 | 7.1 | $854K | +0.6% | #386 of 506 |
| 21Washington, NC | 37 | 12 | 6.2 | $939K | 0.0% | #394 of 506 |
| 22Kinston, NC | 28 | 24 | 10.3 | $461K | +1.4% | #458 of 506 |
| Henderson, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $8.2M | +0.2% |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Chatham County, NC | 91 | 17 | 5.2 | $2M | +11.0% | #8 of 1,792 |
| 2Currituck County, NC | 85 | 7 | 5.9 | $1.5M | +16.7% | #36 of 1,792 |
| 3Franklin County, NC | 79 | 8 | 2.8 | $2.4M | +18.8% | #74 of 1,792 |
| 4Duplin County, NC | 73 | 6 | 2.9 | $1.8M | +6.0% | #163 of 1,792 |
| 5Davie County, NC | 72 | 6 | 3.5 | $2.2M | +6.9% | #177 of 1,792 |
| 6Brunswick County, NC | 72 | 39 | 5.6 | $1.3M | +26.5% | #193 of 1,792 |
| 7Harnett County, NC | 71 | 26 | 5.2 | $1.3M | +12.3% | #217 of 1,792 |
| 8Stokes County, NC | 70 | 6 | 3.1 | $1.8M | +3.5% | #223 of 1,792 |
| 9Rowan County, NC | 68 | 20 | 3.4 | $1.9M | +5.6% | #263 of 1,792 |
| 10Union County, NC | 67 | 59 | 7.0 | $1.5M | +11.7% | #290 of 1,792 |
| 11Randolph County, NC | 65 | 17 | 2.9 | $1.9M | +3.5% | #345 of 1,792 |
| 12Cleveland County, NC | 64 | 14 | 3.6 | $1.6M | +3.4% | #390 of 1,792 |
| 13Hoke County, NC | 64 | 9 | 4.7 | $1.4M | +9.0% | #398 of 1,792 |
| 14Wilson County, NC | 63 | 10 | 3.0 | $1.9M | +1.7% | #413 of 1,792 |
| 15Lincoln County, NC | 63 | 22 | 6.0 | $1.4M | +13.2% | #427 of 1,792 |
| 16Johnston County, NC | 63 | 56 | 6.5 | $1.2M | +17.9% | #436 of 1,792 |
| 17Henderson County, NC | 62 | 32 | 6.3 | $1.1M | +5.0% | #473 of 1,792 |
| 18Burke County, NC | 60 | 15 | 4.1 | $1.4M | +1.6% | #526 of 1,792 |
| 19Haywood County, NC | 59 | 10 | 3.7 | $1.6M | +1.9% | #549 of 1,792 |
| 20Cabarrus County, NC | 59 | 57 | 6.8 | $1.3M | +9.9% | #563 of 1,792 |
| 21Davidson County, NC | 58 | 33 | 4.7 | $1.3M | +6.6% | #609 of 1,792 |
| 22Wake County, NC | 57 | 415 | 9.0 | $1.2M | +11.2% | #656 of 1,792 |
| 23Caldwell County, NC | 56 | 12 | 3.6 | $1.5M | +0.7% | #679 of 1,792 |
| 24Durham County, NC | 56 | 108 | 7.6 | $1.1M | +7.7% | #697 of 1,792 |
| 25Gaston County, NC | 56 | 58 | 6.2 | $1.1M | +7.8% | #699 of 1,792 |
Show all 100 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Polk County, NC | 55 | 5 | 5.6 | $1.3M | +6.0% | #725 of 1,792 |
| 27Person County, NC | 53 | 6 | 3.7 | $1.7M | +3.7% | #783 of 1,792 |
| 28Columbus County, NC | 53 | 7 | 3.5 | $1.4M | 0.0% | #788 of 1,792 |
| 29Moore County, NC | 53 | 40 | 9.1 | $895K | +10.3% | #823 of 1,792 |
| 30Rockingham County, NC | 52 | 19 | 4.8 | $1.1M | +3.3% | #842 of 1,792 |
| 31Rutherford County, NC | 51 | 13 | 4.9 | $1.1M | +2.1% | #886 of 1,792 |
| 32Orange County, NC | 51 | 54 | 9.4 | $1.1M | +6.1% | #887 of 1,792 |
| 33Pender County, NC | 51 | 20 | 7.9 | $956K | +19.0% | #893 of 1,792 |
| 34Nash County, NC | 50 | 20 | 5.2 | $1.2M | +3.9% | #916 of 1,792 |
| 35Robeson County, NC | 49 | 17 | 3.9 | $1.1M | +3.4% | #957 of 1,792 |
| 36Onslow County, NC | 49 | 47 | 6.2 | $992K | +6.0% | #967 of 1,792 |
| 37Yadkin County, NC | 48 | 8 | 5.3 | $1.2M | +2.9% | #985 of 1,792 |
| 38Surry County, NC | 48 | 16 | 5.4 | $1M | +1.3% | #998 of 1,792 |
| 39Alamance County, NC | 48 | 47 | 6.7 | $940K | +8.5% | #1,003 of 1,792 |
| 40Carteret County, NC | 48 | 28 | 8.8 | $833K | +4.1% | #1,009 of 1,792 |
| 41McDowell County, NC | 47 | 8 | 4.3 | $1.3M | +1.5% | #1,019 of 1,792 |
| 42Mecklenburg County, NC | 47 | 448 | 9.6 | $954K | +10.5% | #1,034 of 1,792 |
| 43Craven County, NC | 47 | 28 | 6.5 | $939K | +3.5% | #1,036 of 1,792 |
| 44Macon County, NC | 47 | 13 | 7.1 | $878K | +5.8% | #1,040 of 1,792 |
| 45Granville County, NC | 47 | 18 | 8.0 | $871K | +2.1% | #1,041 of 1,792 |
| 46Jackson County, NC | 46 | 12 | 6.5 | $868K | +6.9% | #1,075 of 1,792 |
| 47Iredell County, NC | 45 | 63 | 8.3 | $989K | +12.9% | #1,102 of 1,792 |
| 48Guilford County, NC | 43 | 156 | 7.1 | $989K | +4.4% | #1,163 of 1,792 |
| 49Wayne County, NC | 43 | 30 | 6.3 | $920K | +3.8% | #1,168 of 1,792 |
| 50Pasquotank County, NC | 43 | 11 | 7.0 | $876K | +4.5% | #1,171 of 1,792 |
| 51Catawba County, NC | 43 | 52 | 7.9 | $838K | +5.8% | #1,177 of 1,792 |
| 52Edgecombe County, NC | 42 | 8 | 4.1 | $1.3M | +0.7% | #1,182 of 1,792 |
| 53Richmond County, NC | 42 | 7 | 4.1 | $1.1M | −1.6% | #1,185 of 1,792 |
| 54Lee County, NC | 40 | 18 | 7.2 | $843K | +10.8% | #1,248 of 1,792 |
| 55Dare County, NC | 40 | 23 | 13.7 | $645K | +3.3% | #1,254 of 1,792 |
| 56Stanly County, NC | 39 | 15 | 5.9 | $1M | +9.8% | #1,262 of 1,792 |
| 57Pitt County, NC | 39 | 45 | 6.0 | $989K | +5.4% | #1,264 of 1,792 |
| 58Scotland County, NC | 38 | 5 | 4.0 | $1.2M | −0.3% | #1,290 of 1,792 |
| 59Transylvania County, NC | 38 | 9 | 6.2 | $1.1M | +2.9% | #1,293 of 1,792 |
| 60Montgomery County, NC | 38 | 6 | 5.6 | $1M | +2.7% | #1,294 of 1,792 |
| 61Sampson County, NC | 38 | 11 | 5.1 | $995K | +4.1% | #1,295 of 1,792 |
| 62Forsyth County, NC | 38 | 119 | 7.4 | $920K | +5.0% | #1,296 of 1,792 |
| 63Wilkes County, NC | 37 | 16 | 5.9 | $805K | +0.6% | #1,336 of 1,792 |
| 64Watauga County, NC | 36 | 15 | 7.1 | $854K | +0.6% | #1,356 of 1,792 |
| 65Beaufort County, NC | 35 | 12 | 6.2 | $939K | 0.0% | #1,384 of 1,792 |
| 66New Hanover County, NC | 35 | 124 | 11.8 | $658K | +8.6% | #1,399 of 1,792 |
| 67Buncombe County, NC | 30 | 98 | 9.6 | $788K | +2.9% | #1,497 of 1,792 |
| 68Cherokee County, NC | 30 | 9 | 6.8 | $743K | +6.8% | #1,501 of 1,792 |
| 69Cumberland County, NC | 28 | 111 | 8.6 | $688K | +0.4% | #1,546 of 1,792 |
| 70Lenoir County, NC | 28 | 24 | 10.3 | $461K | +1.4% | #1,553 of 1,792 |
| 71Warren County, NC | 24 | 5 | 6.1 | $844K | +1.6% | #1,609 of 1,792 |
| 72Halifax County, NC | 19 | 10 | 4.9 | $982K | −3.9% | #1,672 of 1,792 |
| 73Hertford County, NC | 11 | 5 | 6.0 | $830K | −11.2% | #1,740 of 1,792 |
| Vance County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $8.2M | +0.2% | |
| Alexander County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $4M | +1.5% | |
| Bladen County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $2.9M | +1.3% | |
| Ashe County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $2.2M | +3.5% | |
| Caswell County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $4.7M | +0.4% | |
| Anson County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 2.3 | $1.9M | −2.1% | |
| Madison County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +5.9% | |
| Martin County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 3.2 | $1.5M | −1.6% | |
| Greene County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $1.5M | +1.3% | |
| Yancey County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 4.9 | $1.3M | +3.2% | |
| Avery County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $1.4M | +1.1% | |
| Bertie County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 2.8 | $2M | −3.6% | |
| Northampton County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −5.4% | |
| Mitchell County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $1.8M | +1.1% | |
| Swain County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 6.7 | $868K | −0.6% | |
| Chowan County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 6.5 | $963K | +2.8% | |
| Perquimans County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 3.6 | $1.7M | +3.6% | |
| Pamlico County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 7.3 | $789K | +3.7% | |
| Clay County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $1.5M | +9.9% | |
| Alleghany County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $1.2M | +5.4% | |
| Camden County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 5.0 | $1.6M | +8.8% | |
| Washington County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 2.1 | $2.2M | −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 | 1 | 2.8 | $1.9M | +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 gyms on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many gyms are in North Carolina?
As of September 2026, map listings count 2,992 gyms in North Carolina. 784 of them (26%) are chain locations. The listings count gyms and fitness centers. Official counts show 1,415 businesses with payroll classed as fitness and recreational sports centers in 2023, up 4.4% from 2019. The official count takes in all fitness and recreational sports centers, not only gyms: yoga, Pilates and fitness studios are counted too.
How much do households in North Carolina spend on memberships, classes and admissions?
About $3.2B a year, or $743 per household. That is 24% below the U.S. average (an index of 76, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 2,992 gyms on map listings, it comes to $1.1M per gym. That spending covers all memberships, classes and admissions, which gyms 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 gyms?
North Carolina has 7.0 gyms per 10,000 households, 8% below the U.S. rate of 7.6. Spending per gym is $1.1M, 18% below the U.S. figure of $1.3M. At the U.S. ratio of gyms to household spending, North Carolina would have about 2,444, against 2,992 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 3,026 households, against one for every 3,109 across the U.S. The official count rose 4.4% from 2019 to 2023, against +5.8% for the U.S.
Which market in North Carolina has the highest market score for gyms?
Among 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area scores highest, at 55 (upper middle). Among 22 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Anderson Creek area scores highest, at 77 (high). Among 73 scored counties in North Carolina, Chatham County scores highest, at 91 (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 40 for gyms (lower middle), #38 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 gyms 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.
Gyms in other states
All 51 states
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Top markets for gyms across the U.S. · All business types in North Carolina
Related business types in North Carolina
- Gyms, studios and classes5,994 listings
- Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios974 listings
- Martial arts and dance studios2,028 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.