Market rankings · North Carolina
Pet stores in North Carolina
Markets across North Carolina ranked by the Groundwork market score for pet stores, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 836
- 388 chain locations (46%)
- Official establishments
- 337
- +9.8% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $3.9B
- On pets
- Listings per 10k households
- 2.0
- In line with the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $4.6M
- 2% above the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #18 of 51
- Market score 58 · Upper middle
A site report maps the pet 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
Map listings as of September 2026 show 836 pet stores in North Carolina. Chain locations make up 46% of them, against 38% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 2.0, in line with the U.S. rate of 2.0.
At $899 per household (in line with the U.S. average), households in North Carolina spend about $3.9B a year on pets. That is about $4.6M of household spending for each store on map listings, 2% above the U.S. figure of $4.5M. That spending covers all pets, which pet stores share with other businesses in the trade.
In 2023, official counts showed 337 businesses with payroll in North Carolina classed as pet and pet supplies stores, up 9.8% from 2019. That is one for every 12,707 households, against one for every 13,024 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count fell 1.6% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 22 SBA-backed loans worth $13.7M have gone to businesses classed as pet and pet supplies stores in North Carolina.
Among the 50 states and DC, North Carolina ranks #18 for pet stores, with a Groundwork market score of 58 (upper middle). Of the 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area scores highest (82). Of the 15 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Anderson Creek area scores highest (90).
Every market in North Carolina for pet 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 82 | 40 | 1.6 | $6.2M | +7.5% | #10 of 382 |
| 2Greenville, NC | 74 | 9 | 1.2 | $6.5M | +5.4% | #25 of 382 |
| 3Raleigh-Cary, NC | 70 | 125 | 2.2 | $5M | +12.6% | #55 of 382 |
| 4Goldsboro, NC | 69 | 5 | 1.1 | $7.4M | +3.8% | #56 of 382 |
| 5Greensboro-High Point, NC | 69 | 51 | 1.6 | $5.2M | +4.1% | #61 of 382 |
| 6Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 66 | 217 | 2.0 | $4.9M | +10.1% | #78 of 382 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 65 | 115 | 1.6 | $5.9M | +0.9% | #82 of 382 |
| 7Rocky Mount, NC | 64 | 7 | 1.2 | $6.5M | +2.8% | #91 of 382 |
| 8Burlington, NC | 63 | 12 | 1.7 | $4.8M | +8.5% | #101 of 382 |
| 9Winston-Salem, NC | 62 | 51 | 1.8 | $4.6M | +5.3% | #109 of 382 |
| 10Jacksonville, NC | 52 | 14 | 1.9 | $4.4M | +6.0% | #173 of 382 |
| 11Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 51 | 28 | 1.9 | $4.3M | +3.2% | #179 of 382 |
| 12Fayetteville, NC | 50 | 27 | 1.8 | $4.4M | +1.6% | #189 of 382 |
| 13Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 48 | 11 | 2.5 | $3.8M | +10.3% | #205 of 382 |
| 14Wilmington, NC | 42 | 55 | 2.8 | $3.3M | +15.9% | #257 of 382 |
| 15Asheville, NC | 30 | 48 | 3.0 | $3M | +3.6% | #331 of 382 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Anderson Creek, NC | 90 | 10 | 2.0 | $4.3M | +12.3% | #5 of 220 |
| 2Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 80 | 5 | 1.3 | $6M | +3.4% | #12 of 220 |
| 3Albemarle, NC | 80 | 5 | 2.0 | $4M | +9.8% | #15 of 220 |
| 4New Bern, NC | 77 | 10 | 1.9 | $4.2M | +3.6% | #18 of 220 |
| 5Kill Devil Hills, NC | 69 | 6 | 3.6 | $2.8M | +3.3% | #37 of 220 |
| 6Sanford, NC | 67 | 6 | 2.4 | $3.4M | +10.8% | #44 of 220 |
| 7Waynesville, NC | 58 | 6 | 2.2 | $3.6M | +1.9% | #67 of 220 |
| 8Morehead City, NC | 58 | 10 | 3.1 | $2.9M | +4.1% | #73 of 220 |
| 9Mount Airy, NC | 55 | 7 | 2.3 | $3.2M | +1.3% | #86 of 220 |
| 10Lumberton, NC | 53 | 9 | 2.1 | $3.1M | +3.4% | #97 of 220 |
| 11North Wilkesboro, NC | 46 | 6 | 2.2 | $3.1M | +0.6% | #118 of 220 |
| 12Boone, NC | 46 | 6 | 2.8 | $2.8M | +0.6% | #120 of 220 |
| 13Forest City, NC | 44 | 7 | 2.6 | $2.8M | +2.1% | #135 of 220 |
| 14Elizabeth City, NC | 43 | 5 | 3.2 | $2.6M | +4.5% | #144 of 220 |
| 15Henderson, NC | 23 | 7 | 4.3 | $1.7M | +0.2% | #199 of 220 |
| Wilson, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.3 | $25M | +1.7% | |
| Roanoke Rapids, NC | Not scored | 2 | 0.7 | $9.9M | −4.3% | |
| Kinston, NC | Not scored | 4 | 1.7 | $4M | +1.4% | |
| Marion, NC | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $4.7M | +1.5% | |
| Washington, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | 0.0% | |
| Rockingham, NC | Not scored | 3 | 1.8 | $3.8M | −1.6% | |
| Brevard, NC | Not scored | 4 | 2.7 | $3M | +2.9% | |
| Laurinburg, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $8.7M | −0.3% |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Union County, NC | 84 | 17 | 2.0 | $5.5M | +11.7% | #28 of 974 |
| 2Durham County, NC | 83 | 14 | 1.0 | $10M | +7.7% | #31 of 974 |
| 3Johnston County, NC | 82 | 17 | 2.0 | $4.7M | +17.9% | #43 of 974 |
| 4Pitt County, NC | 75 | 9 | 1.2 | $6.5M | +5.4% | #95 of 974 |
| 5Orange County, NC | 75 | 13 | 2.3 | $4.7M | +6.1% | #107 of 974 |
| 6Wake County, NC | 74 | 105 | 2.3 | $5M | +11.2% | #115 of 974 |
| 7Chatham County, NC | 73 | 9 | 2.7 | $4M | +11.0% | #132 of 974 |
| 8Cabarrus County, NC | 72 | 11 | 1.3 | $7.7M | +9.9% | #134 of 974 |
| 9Harnett County, NC | 71 | 10 | 2.0 | $4.3M | +12.3% | #159 of 974 |
| 10Guilford County, NC | 70 | 37 | 1.7 | $5.2M | +4.4% | #169 of 974 |
| 11Mecklenburg County, NC | 70 | 96 | 2.1 | $5M | +10.5% | #170 of 974 |
| 12Wayne County, NC | 69 | 5 | 1.1 | $7.4M | +3.8% | #179 of 974 |
| 13Alamance County, NC | 69 | 12 | 1.7 | $4.8M | +8.5% | #183 of 974 |
| 14Randolph County, NC | 68 | 6 | 1.0 | $7.4M | +3.5% | #191 of 974 |
| 15Pender County, NC | 68 | 6 | 2.4 | $3.9M | +19.0% | #202 of 974 |
| 16Rowan County, NC | 65 | 10 | 1.7 | $4.8M | +5.6% | #235 of 974 |
| 17Gaston County, NC | 65 | 18 | 1.9 | $4.4M | +7.8% | #237 of 974 |
| 18Cleveland County, NC | 64 | 5 | 1.3 | $6M | +3.4% | #244 of 974 |
| 19Nash County, NC | 64 | 6 | 1.5 | $5.2M | +3.9% | #249 of 974 |
| 20Davidson County, NC | 64 | 12 | 1.7 | $4.7M | +6.6% | #253 of 974 |
| 21Onslow County, NC | 61 | 14 | 1.9 | $4.4M | +6.0% | #300 of 974 |
| 22Lincoln County, NC | 60 | 11 | 3.0 | $3.2M | +13.2% | #327 of 974 |
| 23Brunswick County, NC | 58 | 19 | 2.7 | $3.3M | +26.5% | #362 of 974 |
| 24Stanly County, NC | 57 | 5 | 2.0 | $4M | +9.8% | #370 of 974 |
| 25Catawba County, NC | 56 | 11 | 1.7 | $5.1M | +5.8% | #378 of 974 |
Show all 100 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Cumberland County, NC | 56 | 22 | 1.7 | $4.6M | +0.4% | #381 of 974 |
| 27Moore County, NC | 56 | 11 | 2.5 | $3.8M | +10.3% | #392 of 974 |
| 28Forsyth County, NC | 55 | 31 | 1.9 | $4.4M | +5.0% | #398 of 974 |
| 29Iredell County, NC | 51 | 23 | 3.0 | $3.2M | +12.9% | #471 of 974 |
| 30Burke County, NC | 50 | 6 | 1.7 | $4.7M | +1.6% | #480 of 974 |
| 31Hoke County, NC | 49 | 5 | 2.6 | $3.1M | +9.0% | #507 of 974 |
| 32Dare County, NC | 49 | 6 | 3.6 | $2.8M | +3.3% | #511 of 974 |
| 33Craven County, NC | 47 | 8 | 1.9 | $4.3M | +3.5% | #533 of 974 |
| 34New Hanover County, NC | 46 | 30 | 2.9 | $3.2M | +8.6% | #559 of 974 |
| 35Henderson County, NC | 44 | 12 | 2.3 | $3.6M | +5.0% | #589 of 974 |
| 36Lee County, NC | 44 | 6 | 2.4 | $3.4M | +10.8% | #594 of 974 |
| 37Rockingham County, NC | 43 | 8 | 2.0 | $3.7M | +3.3% | #603 of 974 |
| 38Macon County, NC | 41 | 5 | 2.7 | $2.9M | +5.8% | #640 of 974 |
| 39Carteret County, NC | 36 | 10 | 3.1 | $2.9M | +4.1% | #695 of 974 |
| 40Polk County, NC | 36 | 5 | 5.6 | $1.6M | +6.0% | #704 of 974 |
| 41Haywood County, NC | 33 | 6 | 2.2 | $3.6M | +1.9% | #734 of 974 |
| 42Robeson County, NC | 33 | 9 | 2.1 | $3.1M | +3.4% | #737 of 974 |
| 43Buncombe County, NC | 33 | 35 | 3.4 | $2.7M | +2.9% | #743 of 974 |
| 44Surry County, NC | 31 | 7 | 2.3 | $3.2M | +1.3% | #765 of 974 |
| 45Jackson County, NC | 30 | 5 | 2.7 | $2.8M | +6.9% | #777 of 974 |
| 46Sampson County, NC | 30 | 6 | 2.8 | $2.6M | +4.1% | #779 of 974 |
| 47Pasquotank County, NC | 27 | 5 | 3.2 | $2.6M | +4.5% | #824 of 974 |
| 48Wilkes County, NC | 26 | 6 | 2.2 | $3.1M | +0.6% | #834 of 974 |
| 49Watauga County, NC | 26 | 6 | 2.8 | $2.8M | +0.6% | #840 of 974 |
| 50Rutherford County, NC | 26 | 7 | 2.6 | $2.8M | +2.1% | #841 of 974 |
| 51Caldwell County, NC | 25 | 9 | 2.7 | $2.8M | +0.7% | #851 of 974 |
| 52Vance County, NC | 13 | 7 | 4.3 | $1.7M | +0.2% | #944 of 974 |
| Wilson County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.3 | $25M | +1.7% | |
| Franklin County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | $8.2M | +18.8% | |
| Granville County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 1.8 | $4.9M | +2.1% | |
| Lenoir County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 1.7 | $4M | +1.4% | |
| Columbus County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | 0.0% | |
| Duplin County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $15.1M | +6.0% | |
| Edgecombe County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $14.4M | +0.7% | |
| Halifax County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $7M | −3.9% | |
| Stokes County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 1.5 | $4.9M | +3.5% | |
| McDowell County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $4.7M | +1.5% | |
| Beaufort County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | 0.0% | |
| Davie County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 1.7 | $5.3M | +6.9% | |
| Richmond County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 1.8 | $3.8M | −1.6% | |
| Person County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 2.5 | $3.3M | +3.7% | |
| Yadkin County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | $6.1M | +2.9% | |
| Alexander County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $5.5M | +1.5% | |
| Transylvania County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 2.7 | $3M | +2.9% | |
| Scotland County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $8.7M | −0.3% | |
| Currituck County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 3.4 | $3.1M | +16.7% | |
| Bladen County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +1.3% | |
| Cherokee County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $9.5M | +6.8% | |
| Ashe County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $3.1M | +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 | 2 | 2.3 | $2.9M | −2.1% | |
| Madison County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $6.6M | +5.9% | |
| Martin County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $6.6M | −1.6% | |
| Greene County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $4.7M | +1.3% | |
| Hertford County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −11.2% | |
| Yancey County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 2.5 | $3.3M | +3.2% | |
| Warren County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +1.6% | |
| Avery County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $5.6M | +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 | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +1.1% | |
| Swain County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −0.6% | |
| Chowan County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +2.8% | |
| Perquimans County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +3.6% | |
| Pamlico County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $4.3M | +3.7% | |
| Clay County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $4M | +9.9% | |
| Alleghany County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 1.9 | $3.6M | +5.4% | |
| Camden County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +8.8% | |
| Washington County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −3.1% | |
| Gates County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $3.1M | −2.1% | |
| Jones County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $3.1M | +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 pet stores on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many pet stores are in North Carolina?
There are 836 pet stores on map listings in North Carolina as of September 2026. 388 of them (46%) are chain locations. The listings count pet stores. Official counts show 337 businesses with payroll classed as pet and pet supplies stores in 2023, up 9.8% from 2019.
How much do households in North Carolina spend on pets?
About $3.9B a year, or $899 per household. That is in line with the U.S. average (an index of 99, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 836 pet stores on map listings, it comes to $4.6M per store. The spending figure covers all pets, not only pet stores. 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 pet stores?
North Carolina has 2.0 pet stores per 10,000 households, in line with the U.S. rate of 2.0. Spending per store is $4.6M, 2% above the U.S. figure of $4.5M. At the national ratio of pet stores to household spending, North Carolina would have about 851, against 836 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 12,707 households, against one for every 13,024 across the U.S. The official count rose 9.8% from 2019 to 2023, against −1.6% for the U.S.
Which market in North Carolina has the highest market score for pet stores?
Among 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area scores highest, at 82 (high). Among 15 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Anderson Creek area scores highest, at 90 (very high). Among 52 scored counties in North Carolina, Union County scores highest, at 84 (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 58 for pet stores (upper middle), #18 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 pet 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.
Pet stores in other states
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Top markets for pet stores across the U.S. · All business types in North Carolina
Related business types in North Carolina
- Pet businesses4,712 listings
- Veterinarians1,506 listings
- Pet grooming and boarding1,637 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.