Market rankings · North Carolina
Martial arts and dance studios in North Carolina
Markets across North Carolina ranked by the Groundwork market score for martial arts and dance studios, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 2,028
- 147 chain locations (7%)
- Official establishments
- 1,141
- +9.1% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $3.2B
- On memberships, classes and admissions
- Listings per 10k households
- 4.7
- 4% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $1.6M
- 22% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #41 of 51
- Market score 38 · Lower middle
A site report maps the martial arts and dance studios 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 2,028 martial arts and dance studios in North Carolina. 147 of them (7%) are chain locations, against 7% across the U.S. That is 4.7 per 10,000 households, 4% below the U.S. rate of 4.9.
At $743 per household (24% below the U.S. average), households in North Carolina spend about $3.2B a year on memberships, classes and admissions. That works out to $1.6M per studio, 22% below the U.S. figure of $2M. That spending covers all memberships, classes and admissions, which martial arts and dance studios share with other businesses in the trade.
Official counts show 1,141 businesses with payroll classed as sports, recreation and fine arts instruction in North Carolina in 2023, up 9.1% from 2019. That is one for every 3,753 households, against one for every 3,473 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 11.1% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 42 SBA-backed loans worth $19.8M have gone to businesses classed as sports, recreation and fine arts instruction in North Carolina.
Among the 50 states and DC, North Carolina ranks #41 for martial arts and dance studios, with a Groundwork market score of 38 (lower middle). Of the 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Greenville metro area scores highest (53). Of the 21 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Anderson Creek area scores highest (73).
Every market in North Carolina for martial arts and dance studios
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Greenville, NC | 53 | 21 | 2.8 | $2.1M | +5.4% | #155 of 387 |
| 2Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 50 | 111 | 4.5 | $2M | +7.5% | #182 of 387 |
| 3Winston-Salem, NC | 50 | 110 | 3.9 | $1.7M | +5.3% | #189 of 387 |
| 4Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 45 | 22 | 5.0 | $1.6M | +10.3% | #248 of 387 |
| 5Raleigh-Cary, NC | 45 | 355 | 6.2 | $1.6M | +12.6% | #249 of 387 |
| 6Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 44 | 59 | 3.9 | $1.5M | +3.2% | #256 of 387 |
| 7Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 42 | 591 | 5.5 | $1.6M | +10.1% | #268 of 387 |
| 8Wilmington, NC | 42 | 97 | 4.9 | $1.5M | +15.9% | #269 of 387 |
| 9Burlington, NC | 42 | 32 | 4.6 | $1.4M | +8.5% | #272 of 387 |
| 10Rocky Mount, NC | 41 | 17 | 2.9 | $2M | +2.8% | #274 of 387 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 39 | 329 | 4.7 | $1.7M | +0.9% | #294 of 387 |
| 11Greensboro-High Point, NC | 34 | 143 | 4.5 | $1.5M | +4.1% | #335 of 387 |
| 12Jacksonville, NC | 30 | 39 | 5.2 | $1.2M | +6.0% | #351 of 387 |
| 13Fayetteville, NC | 28 | 76 | 5.1 | $1.2M | +1.6% | #367 of 387 |
| 14Asheville, NC | 27 | 92 | 5.7 | $1.3M | +3.6% | #371 of 387 |
| 15Goldsboro, NC | 26 | 19 | 4.0 | $1.5M | +3.8% | #373 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Anderson Creek, NC | 73 | 14 | 2.8 | $2.3M | +12.3% | #36 of 378 |
| 2Forest City, NC | 55 | 6 | 2.3 | $2.3M | +2.1% | #148 of 378 |
| 3Lumberton, NC | 53 | 9 | 2.1 | $2.1M | +3.4% | #162 of 378 |
| 4Albemarle, NC | 52 | 9 | 3.6 | $1.7M | +9.8% | #179 of 378 |
| 5Mount Airy, NC | 49 | 8 | 2.7 | $2M | +1.3% | #198 of 378 |
| 6Brevard, NC | 49 | 5 | 3.4 | $1.9M | +2.9% | #200 of 378 |
| 7Kill Devil Hills, NC | 49 | 9 | 5.3 | $1.6M | +3.3% | #204 of 378 |
| 8Morehead City, NC | 45 | 17 | 5.3 | $1.4M | +4.1% | #231 of 378 |
| 9Wilson, NC | 45 | 14 | 4.2 | $1.3M | +1.7% | #232 of 378 |
| 10Sanford, NC | 43 | 15 | 6.0 | $1M | +10.8% | #245 of 378 |
| 11Washington, NC | 41 | 6 | 3.1 | $1.9M | 0.0% | #252 of 378 |
| 12Elizabeth City, NC | 40 | 7 | 4.4 | $1.4M | +4.5% | #260 of 378 |
| 13Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 39 | 15 | 3.9 | $1.5M | +3.4% | #266 of 378 |
| 14New Bern, NC | 37 | 30 | 5.7 | $1.1M | +3.6% | #289 of 378 |
| 15Kinston, NC | 32 | 16 | 6.9 | $692K | +1.4% | #314 of 378 |
| 16Roanoke Rapids, NC | 31 | 7 | 2.5 | $2M | −4.3% | #315 of 378 |
| 17Henderson, NC | 31 | 5 | 3.1 | $1.6M | +0.2% | #318 of 378 |
| 18Marion, NC | 31 | 7 | 3.8 | $1.4M | +1.5% | #320 of 378 |
| 19North Wilkesboro, NC | 30 | 8 | 3.0 | $1.6M | +0.6% | #322 of 378 |
| 20Waynesville, NC | 28 | 14 | 5.2 | $1.2M | +1.9% | #336 of 378 |
| 21Boone, NC | 23 | 13 | 6.1 | $986K | +0.6% | #355 of 378 |
| Rockingham, NC | Not scored | 4 | 2.3 | $1.9M | −1.6% | |
| Laurinburg, NC | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $1.6M | −0.3% |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Brunswick County, NC | 75 | 23 | 3.3 | $2.2M | +26.5% | #86 of 1,334 |
| 2Davidson County, NC | 74 | 17 | 2.4 | $2.6M | +6.6% | #99 of 1,334 |
| 3Davie County, NC | 73 | 5 | 2.9 | $2.6M | +6.9% | #117 of 1,334 |
| 4Harnett County, NC | 71 | 14 | 2.8 | $2.3M | +12.3% | #153 of 1,334 |
| 5Chatham County, NC | 63 | 16 | 4.8 | $2.1M | +11.0% | #309 of 1,334 |
| 6Johnston County, NC | 63 | 32 | 3.7 | $2.1M | +17.9% | #310 of 1,334 |
| 7Burke County, NC | 61 | 9 | 2.5 | $2.3M | +1.6% | #355 of 1,334 |
| 8Pender County, NC | 60 | 10 | 4.0 | $1.9M | +19.0% | #384 of 1,334 |
| 9Orange County, NC | 58 | 25 | 4.4 | $2.3M | +6.1% | #433 of 1,334 |
| 10Pitt County, NC | 57 | 21 | 2.8 | $2.1M | +5.4% | #465 of 1,334 |
| 11Granville County, NC | 55 | 7 | 3.1 | $2.2M | +2.1% | #517 of 1,334 |
| 12Rowan County, NC | 55 | 22 | 3.7 | $1.7M | +5.6% | #528 of 1,334 |
| 13Iredell County, NC | 52 | 35 | 4.6 | $1.8M | +12.9% | #616 of 1,334 |
| 14Durham County, NC | 51 | 63 | 4.4 | $1.9M | +7.7% | #638 of 1,334 |
| 15Moore County, NC | 51 | 22 | 5.0 | $1.6M | +10.3% | #652 of 1,334 |
| 16Cabarrus County, NC | 51 | 51 | 6.1 | $1.5M | +9.9% | #656 of 1,334 |
| 17Macon County, NC | 50 | 6 | 3.3 | $1.9M | +5.8% | #663 of 1,334 |
| 18Lincoln County, NC | 50 | 23 | 6.2 | $1.3M | +13.2% | #688 of 1,334 |
| 19Rutherford County, NC | 49 | 6 | 2.3 | $2.3M | +2.1% | #691 of 1,334 |
| 20Franklin County, NC | 49 | 12 | 4.2 | $1.6M | +18.8% | #716 of 1,334 |
| 21Union County, NC | 49 | 58 | 6.9 | $1.5M | +11.7% | #724 of 1,334 |
| 22Robeson County, NC | 48 | 9 | 2.1 | $2.1M | +3.4% | #729 of 1,334 |
| 23Mecklenburg County, NC | 48 | 263 | 5.6 | $1.6M | +10.5% | #740 of 1,334 |
| 24Wake County, NC | 48 | 311 | 6.8 | $1.6M | +11.2% | #742 of 1,334 |
| 25Rockingham County, NC | 48 | 14 | 3.5 | $1.5M | +3.3% | #744 of 1,334 |
Show all 100 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Catawba County, NC | 48 | 35 | 5.3 | $1.2M | +5.8% | #747 of 1,334 |
| 27Alamance County, NC | 47 | 32 | 4.6 | $1.4M | +8.5% | #769 of 1,334 |
| 28Transylvania County, NC | 45 | 5 | 3.4 | $1.9M | +2.9% | #816 of 1,334 |
| 29Stanly County, NC | 45 | 9 | 3.6 | $1.7M | +9.8% | #824 of 1,334 |
| 30Forsyth County, NC | 44 | 74 | 4.6 | $1.5M | +5.0% | #850 of 1,334 |
| 31Duplin County, NC | 43 | 6 | 2.9 | $1.8M | +6.0% | #862 of 1,334 |
| 32Dare County, NC | 43 | 9 | 5.3 | $1.6M | +3.3% | #868 of 1,334 |
| 33Henderson County, NC | 43 | 29 | 5.7 | $1.2M | +5.0% | #875 of 1,334 |
| 34Lee County, NC | 43 | 15 | 6.0 | $1M | +10.8% | #876 of 1,334 |
| 35Surry County, NC | 42 | 8 | 2.7 | $2M | +1.3% | #883 of 1,334 |
| 36Carteret County, NC | 42 | 17 | 5.3 | $1.4M | +4.1% | #900 of 1,334 |
| 37Gaston County, NC | 42 | 57 | 6.1 | $1.1M | +7.8% | #902 of 1,334 |
| 38Caldwell County, NC | 41 | 12 | 3.6 | $1.5M | +0.7% | #918 of 1,334 |
| 39Wilson County, NC | 41 | 14 | 4.2 | $1.3M | +1.7% | #926 of 1,334 |
| 40Randolph County, NC | 41 | 26 | 4.5 | $1.2M | +3.5% | #928 of 1,334 |
| 41Nash County, NC | 40 | 14 | 3.6 | $1.7M | +3.9% | #937 of 1,334 |
| 42Guilford County, NC | 39 | 103 | 4.7 | $1.5M | +4.4% | #971 of 1,334 |
| 43Cleveland County, NC | 37 | 15 | 3.9 | $1.5M | +3.4% | #1,004 of 1,334 |
| 44New Hanover County, NC | 37 | 64 | 6.1 | $1.3M | +8.6% | #1,008 of 1,334 |
| 45Beaufort County, NC | 35 | 6 | 3.1 | $1.9M | 0.0% | #1,030 of 1,334 |
| 46Person County, NC | 35 | 7 | 4.4 | $1.5M | +3.7% | #1,037 of 1,334 |
| 47Onslow County, NC | 35 | 39 | 5.2 | $1.2M | +6.0% | #1,049 of 1,334 |
| 48Sampson County, NC | 33 | 7 | 3.2 | $1.6M | +4.1% | #1,076 of 1,334 |
| 49Stokes County, NC | 32 | 7 | 3.6 | $1.5M | +3.5% | #1,097 of 1,334 |
| 50Wayne County, NC | 32 | 19 | 4.0 | $1.5M | +3.8% | #1,101 of 1,334 |
| 51Pasquotank County, NC | 32 | 7 | 4.4 | $1.4M | +4.5% | #1,105 of 1,334 |
| 52Jackson County, NC | 32 | 8 | 4.3 | $1.3M | +6.9% | #1,109 of 1,334 |
| 53Buncombe County, NC | 31 | 59 | 5.8 | $1.3M | +2.9% | #1,128 of 1,334 |
| 54Craven County, NC | 30 | 28 | 6.5 | $939K | +3.5% | #1,148 of 1,334 |
| 55Lenoir County, NC | 30 | 16 | 6.9 | $692K | +1.4% | #1,149 of 1,334 |
| 56Columbus County, NC | 29 | 9 | 4.5 | $1.1M | 0.0% | #1,163 of 1,334 |
| 57Yadkin County, NC | 28 | 7 | 4.7 | $1.3M | +2.9% | #1,172 of 1,334 |
| 58Cumberland County, NC | 28 | 73 | 5.6 | $1M | +0.4% | #1,177 of 1,334 |
| 59Vance County, NC | 25 | 5 | 3.1 | $1.6M | +0.2% | #1,199 of 1,334 |
| 60Wilkes County, NC | 25 | 8 | 3.0 | $1.6M | +0.6% | #1,200 of 1,334 |
| 61McDowell County, NC | 24 | 7 | 3.8 | $1.4M | +1.5% | #1,213 of 1,334 |
| 62Haywood County, NC | 21 | 14 | 5.2 | $1.2M | +1.9% | #1,242 of 1,334 |
| 63Watauga County, NC | 21 | 13 | 6.1 | $986K | +0.6% | #1,246 of 1,334 |
| 64Halifax County, NC | 11 | 7 | 3.4 | $1.4M | −3.9% | #1,306 of 1,334 |
| Hoke County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $4.1M | +9.0% | |
| Edgecombe County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 1.5 | $3.4M | +0.7% | |
| Richmond County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 2.3 | $1.9M | −1.6% | |
| Alexander County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $2.7M | +1.5% | |
| Scotland County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $1.6M | −0.3% | |
| Currituck County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $3.6M | +16.7% | |
| Bladen County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $1.9M | +1.3% | |
| Cherokee County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $3.3M | +6.8% | |
| Ashe County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $2.2M | +3.5% | |
| Montgomery County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 1.9 | $3M | +2.7% | |
| Caswell County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $1.6M | +0.4% | |
| Anson County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $3.9M | −2.1% | |
| Madison County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 4.8 | $1.2M | +5.9% | |
| Martin County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $4.6M | −1.6% | |
| Greene County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 4.3 | $1M | +1.3% | |
| Hertford County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $2.1M | −11.2% | |
| Polk County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $2.1M | +6.0% | |
| Yancey County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 2.5 | $2.5M | +3.2% | |
| Warren County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $4.2M | +1.6% | |
| Avery County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $4.3M | +1.1% | |
| Bertie County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $3.9M | −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 | 1 | 1.7 | $3.5M | −0.6% | |
| Chowan County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $3.9M | +2.8% | |
| Perquimans County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 3.6 | $1.7M | +3.6% | |
| Pamlico County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $3.2M | +3.7% | |
| Clay County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $3M | +9.9% | |
| Alleghany County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.9 | $2.5M | +5.4% | |
| Camden County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 2.5 | $3.2M | +8.8% | |
| Washington County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −3.1% | |
| Gates County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $2.2M | −2.1% | |
| Jones County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $2.3M | +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 martial arts and dance studios on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many martial arts and dance studios are in North Carolina?
North Carolina has 2,028 martial arts and dance studios on map listings as of September 2026. 147 of them (7%) are chain locations. The listings count martial arts and dance studios. Official counts show 1,141 businesses with payroll classed as sports, recreation and fine arts instruction in 2023, up 9.1% from 2019.
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 2,028 martial arts and dance studios on map listings, it comes to $1.6M per studio. The spending figure covers all memberships, classes and admissions, not only martial arts and dance studios. 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 martial arts and dance studios?
North Carolina has 4.7 martial arts and dance studios per 10,000 households, 4% below the U.S. rate of 4.9. Spending per studio is $1.6M, 22% below the U.S. figure of $2M. At the national ratio of martial arts and dance studios to household spending, North Carolina would have about 1,576, against 2,028 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 3,753 households, against one for every 3,473 across the U.S. The official count rose 9.1% from 2019 to 2023, against +11.1% for the U.S.
Which market in North Carolina has the highest market score for martial arts and dance studios?
Among 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Greenville metro area scores highest, at 53 (upper middle). Among 21 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Anderson Creek area scores highest, at 73 (upper middle). Among 64 scored counties in North Carolina, Brunswick County scores highest, at 75 (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 38 for martial arts and dance studios (lower middle), #41 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 martial arts and dance studios 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.
Martial arts and dance studios in other states
All 51 states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top markets for martial arts and dance studios across the U.S. · All business types in North Carolina
Related business types in North Carolina
- Gyms, studios and classes5,994 listings
- Gyms2,992 listings
- Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios974 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.