Market rankings · North Carolina
Pizza places in North Carolina
Every metro area, small-town market and county in North Carolina, ranked by the Groundwork market score for pizza places, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 3,190
- 2,149 chain locations (67%)
- 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
- 7.4
- 7% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $5.1M
- In line with the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #22 of 51
- Market score 53 · Upper middle
A site report maps the pizza places 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 3,190 pizza places on map listings in North Carolina as of September 2026. Chain locations make up 67% of them, against 58% across the U.S. That is 7.4 per 10,000 households, 7% below the U.S. rate of 8.0.
At $3,776 per household (7% below the U.S. average), households in North Carolina spend about $16.2B a year on food away from home. That is about $5.1M of household spending for each pizza place on map listings, in line with the U.S. figure of $5.1M. The spending figure covers all food away from home, not only pizza places.
The official count of businesses with payroll classed as limited-service restaurants in North Carolina was 8,502 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 (fast food and sandwich shops included), not only pizza places. 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 #22 for pizza places, with a Groundwork market score of 53 (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 23 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Anderson Creek area scores highest (71).
Every market in North Carolina for pizza places
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 | 155 | 6.2 | $6.7M | +7.5% | #11 of 387 |
| 2Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 73 | 739 | 6.9 | $6M | +10.1% | #45 of 387 |
| 3Raleigh-Cary, NC | 73 | 459 | 8.0 | $5.6M | +12.6% | #46 of 387 |
| 4Winston-Salem, NC | 69 | 159 | 5.6 | $6.3M | +5.3% | #66 of 387 |
| 5Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 63 | 38 | 8.6 | $4.6M | +10.3% | #104 of 387 |
| 6Wilmington, NC | 62 | 148 | 7.4 | $5.2M | +15.9% | #105 of 387 |
| 7Rocky Mount, NC | 50 | 39 | 6.7 | $5M | +2.8% | #192 of 387 |
| 8Burlington, NC | 49 | 50 | 7.1 | $4.9M | +8.5% | #204 of 387 |
| 9Greensboro-High Point, NC | 48 | 226 | 7.1 | $5M | +4.1% | #213 of 387 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 47 | 522 | 7.4 | $5.4M | +0.9% | #218 of 387 |
| 10Goldsboro, NC | 46 | 30 | 6.3 | $5.2M | +3.8% | #225 of 387 |
| 11Greenville, NC | 44 | 46 | 6.2 | $5.4M | +5.4% | #236 of 387 |
| 12Asheville, NC | 42 | 131 | 8.1 | $4.6M | +3.6% | #254 of 387 |
| 13Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 41 | 113 | 7.6 | $4.5M | +3.2% | #260 of 387 |
| 14Fayetteville, NC | 31 | 101 | 6.8 | $5M | +1.6% | #328 of 387 |
| 15Jacksonville, NC | 31 | 66 | 8.8 | $4M | +6.0% | #330 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Anderson Creek, NC | 71 | 36 | 7.2 | $5M | +12.3% | #67 of 520 |
| 2Sanford, NC | 62 | 15 | 6.0 | $5.7M | +10.8% | #137 of 520 |
| 3Waynesville, NC | 56 | 18 | 6.6 | $5.1M | +1.9% | #188 of 520 |
| 4Boone, NC | 56 | 15 | 7.1 | $4.7M | +0.6% | #189 of 520 |
| 5Morehead City, NC | 56 | 31 | 9.7 | $3.9M | +4.1% | #196 of 520 |
| 6North Wilkesboro, NC | 52 | 18 | 6.6 | $4.5M | +0.6% | #232 of 520 |
| 7New Bern, NC | 52 | 44 | 8.4 | $4.1M | +3.6% | #233 of 520 |
| 8Albemarle, NC | 52 | 22 | 8.7 | $3.9M | +9.8% | #234 of 520 |
| 9Marion, NC | 51 | 13 | 7.0 | $4.6M | +1.5% | #241 of 520 |
| 10Brevard, NC | 50 | 15 | 10.3 | $3.4M | +2.9% | #257 of 520 |
| 11Washington, NC | 49 | 14 | 7.2 | $4.6M | 0.0% | #262 of 520 |
| 12Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 49 | 31 | 8.0 | $4.1M | +3.4% | #265 of 520 |
| 13Wilson, NC | 48 | 23 | 7.0 | $4.6M | +1.7% | #272 of 520 |
| 14Forest City, NC | 45 | 25 | 9.4 | $3.3M | +2.1% | #307 of 520 |
| 15Elizabeth City, NC | 44 | 15 | 9.5 | $3.6M | +4.5% | #317 of 520 |
| 16Mount Airy, NC | 43 | 27 | 9.0 | $3.5M | +1.3% | #322 of 520 |
| 17Kill Devil Hills, NC | 36 | 38 | 22.6 | $1.9M | +3.3% | #407 of 520 |
| 18Kinston, NC | 35 | 19 | 8.1 | $3.6M | +1.4% | #409 of 520 |
| 19Laurinburg, NC | 34 | 8 | 6.4 | $4.6M | −0.3% | #415 of 520 |
| 20Roanoke Rapids, NC | 34 | 22 | 7.8 | $3.8M | −4.3% | #416 of 520 |
| 21Lumberton, NC | 28 | 54 | 12.5 | $2.2M | +3.4% | #471 of 520 |
| 22Henderson, NC | 25 | 18 | 11.1 | $2.8M | +0.2% | #486 of 520 |
| 23Rockingham, NC | 23 | 17 | 10.0 | $2.9M | −1.6% | #496 of 520 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Union County, NC | 85 | 60 | 7.1 | $6.4M | +11.7% | #43 of 2,090 |
| 2Davie County, NC | 83 | 10 | 5.8 | $6.6M | +6.9% | #52 of 2,090 |
| 3Orange County, NC | 82 | 33 | 5.8 | $7.6M | +6.1% | #55 of 2,090 |
| 4Chatham County, NC | 81 | 28 | 8.5 | $5.3M | +11.0% | #76 of 2,090 |
| 5Hoke County, NC | 79 | 11 | 5.7 | $6.1M | +9.0% | #109 of 2,090 |
| 6Yadkin County, NC | 76 | 7 | 4.7 | $7.3M | +2.9% | #151 of 2,090 |
| 7Durham County, NC | 75 | 79 | 5.6 | $7.4M | +7.7% | #165 of 2,090 |
| 8Henderson County, NC | 75 | 29 | 5.7 | $6.4M | +5.0% | #171 of 2,090 |
| 9Pender County, NC | 75 | 16 | 6.3 | $6.2M | +19.0% | #172 of 2,090 |
| 10Stokes County, NC | 73 | 9 | 4.6 | $7M | +3.5% | #214 of 2,090 |
| 11Cabarrus County, NC | 73 | 51 | 6.1 | $7M | +9.9% | #215 of 2,090 |
| 12Rowan County, NC | 73 | 33 | 5.6 | $6.2M | +5.6% | #222 of 2,090 |
| 13Franklin County, NC | 73 | 23 | 8.1 | $4.5M | +18.8% | #231 of 2,090 |
| 14Wake County, NC | 72 | 367 | 8.0 | $5.8M | +11.2% | #253 of 2,090 |
| 15Johnston County, NC | 72 | 69 | 8.1 | $4.9M | +17.9% | #257 of 2,090 |
| 16Mecklenburg County, NC | 71 | 328 | 7.0 | $6.1M | +10.5% | #276 of 2,090 |
| 17Brunswick County, NC | 71 | 49 | 7.1 | $5.3M | +26.5% | #282 of 2,090 |
| 18Iredell County, NC | 68 | 59 | 7.7 | $5.2M | +12.9% | #374 of 2,090 |
| 19Madison County, NC | 67 | 5 | 6.0 | $5.6M | +5.9% | #407 of 2,090 |
| 20Lincoln County, NC | 67 | 33 | 9.0 | $4.4M | +13.2% | #425 of 2,090 |
| 21Moore County, NC | 66 | 38 | 8.6 | $4.6M | +10.3% | #460 of 2,090 |
| 22Forsyth County, NC | 65 | 86 | 5.4 | $6.7M | +5.0% | #469 of 2,090 |
| 23Harnett County, NC | 65 | 36 | 7.2 | $5M | +12.3% | #483 of 2,090 |
| 24Polk County, NC | 65 | 8 | 8.9 | $4.1M | +6.0% | #492 of 2,090 |
| 25Edgecombe County, NC | 64 | 8 | 4.1 | $7.6M | +0.7% | #498 of 2,090 |
Show all 100 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Davidson County, NC | 64 | 47 | 6.7 | $5.1M | +6.6% | #511 of 2,090 |
| 27Duplin County, NC | 63 | 10 | 4.8 | $6.5M | +6.0% | #536 of 2,090 |
| 28Randolph County, NC | 63 | 32 | 5.5 | $5.9M | +3.5% | #540 of 2,090 |
| 29Gaston County, NC | 60 | 63 | 6.7 | $5.3M | +7.8% | #639 of 2,090 |
| 30New Hanover County, NC | 60 | 83 | 7.9 | $4.9M | +8.6% | #648 of 2,090 |
| 31Sampson County, NC | 59 | 11 | 5.1 | $6.1M | +4.1% | #675 of 2,090 |
| 32Cherokee County, NC | 58 | 9 | 6.8 | $4.6M | +6.8% | #728 of 2,090 |
| 33Lee County, NC | 57 | 15 | 6.0 | $5.7M | +10.8% | #742 of 2,090 |
| 34Rockingham County, NC | 57 | 26 | 6.6 | $4.9M | +3.3% | #751 of 2,090 |
| 35Alamance County, NC | 56 | 50 | 7.1 | $4.9M | +8.5% | #790 of 2,090 |
| 36Alexander County, NC | 56 | 10 | 7.1 | $4.7M | +1.5% | #792 of 2,090 |
| 37Macon County, NC | 54 | 15 | 8.1 | $4.1M | +5.8% | #870 of 2,090 |
| 38Guilford County, NC | 53 | 168 | 7.6 | $4.8M | +4.4% | #904 of 2,090 |
| 39Granville County, NC | 53 | 23 | 10.2 | $3.6M | +2.1% | #917 of 2,090 |
| 40Wayne County, NC | 52 | 30 | 6.3 | $5.2M | +3.8% | #935 of 2,090 |
| 41Person County, NC | 52 | 15 | 9.3 | $3.7M | +3.7% | #960 of 2,090 |
| 42Pitt County, NC | 51 | 46 | 6.2 | $5.4M | +5.4% | #970 of 2,090 |
| 43Northampton County, NC | 50 | 5 | 6.4 | $4.9M | −5.4% | #1,013 of 2,090 |
| 44Carteret County, NC | 50 | 31 | 9.7 | $3.9M | +4.1% | #1,031 of 2,090 |
| 45Currituck County, NC | 50 | 19 | 16.0 | $2.7M | +16.7% | #1,051 of 2,090 |
| 46Caldwell County, NC | 49 | 19 | 5.8 | $5.6M | +0.7% | #1,061 of 2,090 |
| 47Haywood County, NC | 49 | 18 | 6.6 | $5.1M | +1.9% | #1,065 of 2,090 |
| 48Watauga County, NC | 49 | 15 | 7.1 | $4.7M | +0.6% | #1,068 of 2,090 |
| 49Catawba County, NC | 49 | 57 | 8.6 | $4.1M | +5.8% | #1,073 of 2,090 |
| 50Nash County, NC | 48 | 31 | 8.0 | $4.3M | +3.9% | #1,111 of 2,090 |
| 51Stanly County, NC | 48 | 22 | 8.7 | $3.9M | +9.8% | #1,117 of 2,090 |
| 52Wilkes County, NC | 46 | 18 | 6.6 | $4.5M | +0.6% | #1,179 of 2,090 |
| 53Chowan County, NC | 46 | 5 | 8.2 | $4.1M | +2.8% | #1,184 of 2,090 |
| 54McDowell County, NC | 45 | 13 | 7.0 | $4.6M | +1.5% | #1,225 of 2,090 |
| 55Burke County, NC | 44 | 27 | 7.4 | $4.4M | +1.6% | #1,259 of 2,090 |
| 56Cleveland County, NC | 44 | 31 | 8.0 | $4.1M | +3.4% | #1,263 of 2,090 |
| 57Buncombe County, NC | 44 | 97 | 9.5 | $4M | +2.9% | #1,266 of 2,090 |
| 58Transylvania County, NC | 44 | 15 | 10.3 | $3.4M | +2.9% | #1,281 of 2,090 |
| 59Wilson County, NC | 43 | 23 | 7.0 | $4.6M | +1.7% | #1,300 of 2,090 |
| 60Beaufort County, NC | 43 | 14 | 7.2 | $4.6M | 0.0% | #1,301 of 2,090 |
| 61Onslow County, NC | 43 | 66 | 8.8 | $4M | +6.0% | #1,315 of 2,090 |
| 62Montgomery County, NC | 43 | 12 | 11.3 | $2.9M | +2.7% | #1,335 of 2,090 |
| 63Warren County, NC | 41 | 9 | 11.0 | $2.8M | +1.6% | #1,416 of 2,090 |
| 64Craven County, NC | 40 | 40 | 9.3 | $3.7M | +3.5% | #1,439 of 2,090 |
| 65Rutherford County, NC | 40 | 25 | 9.4 | $3.3M | +2.1% | #1,445 of 2,090 |
| 66Ashe County, NC | 39 | 15 | 12.3 | $2.6M | +3.5% | #1,496 of 2,090 |
| 67Pasquotank County, NC | 38 | 15 | 9.5 | $3.6M | +4.5% | #1,511 of 2,090 |
| 68Surry County, NC | 38 | 27 | 9.0 | $3.5M | +1.3% | #1,513 of 2,090 |
| 69Cumberland County, NC | 37 | 90 | 6.9 | $4.8M | +0.4% | #1,549 of 2,090 |
| 70Alleghany County, NC | 36 | 7 | 13.5 | $2.2M | +5.4% | #1,615 of 2,090 |
| 71Jackson County, NC | 35 | 24 | 13.0 | $2.5M | +6.9% | #1,650 of 2,090 |
| 72Avery County, NC | 34 | 8 | 11.8 | $2.9M | +1.1% | #1,672 of 2,090 |
| 73Dare County, NC | 32 | 38 | 22.6 | $1.9M | +3.3% | #1,747 of 2,090 |
| 74Lenoir County, NC | 31 | 19 | 8.1 | $3.6M | +1.4% | #1,757 of 2,090 |
| 75Scotland County, NC | 30 | 8 | 6.4 | $4.6M | −0.3% | #1,783 of 2,090 |
| 76Bladen County, NC | 27 | 10 | 8.5 | $3.5M | +1.3% | #1,858 of 2,090 |
| 77Robeson County, NC | 27 | 54 | 12.5 | $2.2M | +3.4% | #1,876 of 2,090 |
| 78Martin County, NC | 24 | 10 | 10.5 | $2.8M | −1.6% | #1,925 of 2,090 |
| 79Vance County, NC | 24 | 18 | 11.1 | $2.8M | +0.2% | #1,927 of 2,090 |
| 80Columbus County, NC | 22 | 17 | 8.5 | $3.6M | 0.0% | #1,968 of 2,090 |
| 81Richmond County, NC | 22 | 17 | 10.0 | $2.9M | −1.6% | #1,971 of 2,090 |
| 82Halifax County, NC | 20 | 17 | 8.3 | $3.5M | −3.9% | #1,995 of 2,090 |
| 83Hertford County, NC | 10 | 9 | 10.9 | $2.7M | −11.2% | #2,078 of 2,090 |
| Caswell County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $9.3M | +0.4% | |
| Anson County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 4.7 | $6.1M | −2.1% | |
| Greene County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $10.2M | +1.3% | |
| Yancey County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 4.9 | $6.9M | +3.2% | |
| Bertie County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 5.6 | $5.6M | −3.6% | |
| Mitchell County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 4.6 | $7M | +1.1% | |
| Swain County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 6.7 | $5M | −0.6% | |
| Perquimans County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 5.3 | $6.5M | +3.6% | |
| Pamlico County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 3.7 | $9.1M | +3.7% | |
| Clay County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $5.7M | +9.9% | |
| Camden County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 10.0 | $4M | +8.8% | |
| Washington County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 6.3 | $4.6M | −3.1% | |
| Gates County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 7.2 | $4.5M | −2.1% | |
| Jones County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 4.8 | $6.5M | +4.6% | |
| Graham County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 5.7 | $5.5M | +1.9% | |
| Hyde County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +1.0% | |
| Tyrrell County, NC | Not scored | 1 | 6.5 | $4.3M | +9.3% |
Markets with fewer than 5 pizza places on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many pizza places are in North Carolina?
As of September 2026, map listings count 3,190 pizza places in North Carolina. 2,149 of them (67%) are chain locations. The listings count pizza restaurants. 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 pizza places: fast food and sandwich shops 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 3,190 pizza places on map listings, it comes to $5.1M per pizza place. That spending covers all food away from home, which pizza places 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 pizza places?
North Carolina has 7.4 pizza places per 10,000 households, 7% below the U.S. rate of 8.0. Spending per pizza place is $5.1M, in line with the U.S. figure of $5.1M. At the U.S. ratio of pizza places to household spending, North Carolina would have about 3,182, against 3,190 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 pizza places?
Among 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area scores highest, at 82 (high). Among 23 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Anderson Creek area scores highest, at 71 (upper middle). Among 83 scored counties in North Carolina, Union County scores highest, at 85 (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 53 for pizza places (upper middle), #22 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 pizza places 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.
Pizza in other states
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Top markets for pizza places 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
- Fast food and sandwich shops5,755 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.