Market rankings · North Carolina
Real estate businesses in North Carolina
Every metro area, small-town market and county in North Carolina, ranked by the Groundwork market score for real estate businesses, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 16,180
- 877 chain locations (5%)
- Official establishments
- 11,339
- +20.8% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $64.8B
- On rent and homeowner costs
- Listings per 10k households
- 37.8
- 2% below the U.S.
- Housing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)
- 92
- 8% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #38 of 51
- Market score 40 · Lower middle
A site report maps the real estate businesses 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 16,180 real estate businesses on map listings in North Carolina as of September 2026. 877 of them (5%) are chain locations, against 6% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 37.8, 2% below the U.S. rate of 38.5.
Household spending on rent and homeowner costs in North Carolina comes to about $64.8B a year: $15,139 per household, 9% below the U.S. average. Housing spending per office is 8% below the U.S. figure. The spending figure is all rent and homeowner costs, a measure of housing demand, not money real estate businesses take in.
Official counts show 11,339 businesses with payroll classed as real estate agents, property managers, mortgage lenders and inspectors in North Carolina in 2023, up 20.8% from 2019. That is one for every 378 households, against one for every 414 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 15.8% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 61 SBA-backed loans worth $26.9M have gone to businesses classed as real estate agents, property managers, mortgage lenders and inspectors in North Carolina.
Among the 50 states and DC, North Carolina ranks #38 for real estate businesses, with a Groundwork market score of 40 (lower middle). Of the 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Rocky Mount metro area scores highest (68). Of the 23 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Anderson Creek area scores highest (69).
Every market in North Carolina for real estate businesses
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 | Housing spending per listing (U.S. = 100) | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Rocky Mount, NC | 68 | 101 | 17.3 | 185 | +2.8% | #43 of 387 |
| 2Winston-Salem, NC | 63 | 701 | 24.9 | 134 | +5.3% | #68 of 387 |
| 3Burlington, NC | 63 | 180 | 25.7 | 129 | +8.5% | #70 of 387 |
| 4Goldsboro, NC | 63 | 119 | 25.0 | 128 | +3.8% | #71 of 387 |
| 5Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 62 | 298 | 19.9 | 163 | +3.2% | #76 of 387 |
| 6Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 59 | 773 | 31.1 | 121 | +7.5% | #103 of 387 |
| 7Greensboro-High Point, NC | 52 | 913 | 28.8 | 116 | +4.1% | #162 of 387 |
| 8Raleigh-Cary, NC | 40 | 3,059 | 53.3 | 75 | +12.6% | #283 of 387 |
| 9Greenville, NC | 39 | 255 | 34.2 | 93 | +5.4% | #290 of 387 |
| 10Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 39 | 4,825 | 44.8 | 83 | +10.1% | #294 of 387 |
| 11Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 36 | 239 | 54.3 | 67 | +10.3% | #333 of 387 |
| 12Fayetteville, NC | 35 | 527 | 35.4 | 91 | +1.6% | #340 of 387 |
| 13Jacksonville, NC | 35 | 339 | 45.0 | 74 | +6.0% | #342 of 387 |
| 14Wilmington, NC | 34 | 1,174 | 58.9 | 60 | +15.9% | #351 of 387 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 29 | 3,279 | 46.4 | 79 | +0.9% | #373 of 387 |
| 15Asheville, NC | 27 | 805 | 49.9 | 70 | +3.6% | #381 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Housing spending per listing (U.S. = 100) | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Anderson Creek, NC | 69 | 81 | 16.3 | 207 | +12.3% | #55 of 536 |
| 2Lumberton, NC | 66 | 42 | 9.7 | 292 | +3.4% | #73 of 536 |
| 3North Wilkesboro, NC | 66 | 29 | 10.7 | 279 | +0.6% | #74 of 536 |
| 4Kinston, NC | 60 | 32 | 13.7 | 214 | +1.4% | #129 of 536 |
| 5Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 60 | 63 | 16.2 | 194 | +3.4% | #131 of 536 |
| 6Laurinburg, NC | 59 | 15 | 11.9 | 248 | −0.3% | #139 of 536 |
| 7Elizabeth City, NC | 55 | 52 | 32.9 | 99 | +4.5% | #202 of 536 |
| 8Roanoke Rapids, NC | 54 | 26 | 9.2 | 321 | −4.3% | #203 of 536 |
| 9Mount Airy, NC | 53 | 61 | 20.4 | 152 | +1.3% | #229 of 536 |
| 10Albemarle, NC | 53 | 57 | 22.6 | 143 | +9.8% | #231 of 536 |
| 11Wilson, NC | 50 | 59 | 17.8 | 175 | +1.7% | #267 of 536 |
| 12Rockingham, NC | 49 | 21 | 12.3 | 234 | −1.6% | #274 of 536 |
| 13Washington, NC | 46 | 37 | 19.1 | 166 | 0.0% | #302 of 536 |
| 14Marion, NC | 46 | 40 | 21.5 | 145 | +1.5% | #311 of 536 |
| 15Sanford, NC | 43 | 77 | 30.6 | 107 | +10.8% | #356 of 536 |
| 16Waynesville, NC | 38 | 70 | 25.8 | 126 | +1.9% | #413 of 536 |
| 17Henderson, NC | 36 | 35 | 21.7 | 140 | +0.2% | #438 of 536 |
| 18Forest City, NC | 36 | 65 | 24.4 | 125 | +2.1% | #442 of 536 |
| 19New Bern, NC | 36 | 186 | 35.5 | 91 | +3.6% | #451 of 536 |
| 20Brevard, NC | 33 | 63 | 43.2 | 77 | +2.9% | #481 of 536 |
| 21Morehead City, NC | 33 | 218 | 68.2 | 51 | +4.1% | #484 of 536 |
| 22Kill Devil Hills, NC | 33 | 239 | 142.0 | 27 | +3.3% | #486 of 536 |
| 23Boone, NC | 22 | 118 | 55.7 | 57 | +0.6% | #531 of 536 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Housing spending per listing (U.S. = 100) | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Duplin County, NC | 78 | 17 | 8.2 | 374 | +6.0% | #52 of 2,229 |
| 2Perquimans County, NC | 76 | 5 | 8.9 | 369 | +3.6% | #80 of 2,229 |
| 3Camden County, NC | 76 | 6 | 15.0 | 244 | +8.8% | #90 of 2,229 |
| 4Yadkin County, NC | 75 | 11 | 7.3 | 445 | +2.9% | #95 of 2,229 |
| 5Hoke County, NC | 75 | 24 | 12.5 | 264 | +9.0% | #106 of 2,229 |
| 6Franklin County, NC | 75 | 37 | 13.0 | 263 | +18.8% | #108 of 2,229 |
| 7Sampson County, NC | 71 | 21 | 9.7 | 312 | +4.1% | #182 of 2,229 |
| 8Person County, NC | 71 | 20 | 12.5 | 264 | +3.7% | #187 of 2,229 |
| 9Davidson County, NC | 70 | 100 | 14.3 | 229 | +6.6% | #208 of 2,229 |
| 10Rowan County, NC | 67 | 75 | 12.7 | 259 | +5.6% | #298 of 2,229 |
| 11Harnett County, NC | 67 | 81 | 16.3 | 207 | +12.3% | #307 of 2,229 |
| 12Alexander County, NC | 65 | 12 | 8.5 | 376 | +1.5% | #363 of 2,229 |
| 13Robeson County, NC | 64 | 42 | 9.7 | 292 | +3.4% | #392 of 2,229 |
| 14Stokes County, NC | 64 | 30 | 15.3 | 205 | +3.5% | #413 of 2,229 |
| 15Martin County, NC | 63 | 6 | 6.3 | 472 | −1.6% | #429 of 2,229 |
| 16Edgecombe County, NC | 63 | 22 | 11.2 | 271 | +0.7% | #437 of 2,229 |
| 17Granville County, NC | 63 | 31 | 13.8 | 247 | +2.1% | #439 of 2,229 |
| 18Rockingham County, NC | 63 | 52 | 13.1 | 236 | +3.3% | #442 of 2,229 |
| 19Gaston County, NC | 63 | 170 | 18.2 | 185 | +7.8% | #463 of 2,229 |
| 20Wilkes County, NC | 62 | 29 | 10.7 | 279 | +0.6% | #485 of 2,229 |
| 21Chowan County, NC | 62 | 9 | 14.7 | 220 | +2.8% | #495 of 2,229 |
| 22Randolph County, NC | 62 | 85 | 14.7 | 216 | +3.5% | #497 of 2,229 |
| 23Davie County, NC | 62 | 37 | 21.4 | 166 | +6.9% | #509 of 2,229 |
| 24Hertford County, NC | 59 | 6 | 7.2 | 411 | −11.2% | #587 of 2,229 |
| 25Columbus County, NC | 59 | 18 | 9.0 | 332 | 0.0% | #593 of 2,229 |
Show all 100 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Housing spending per listing (U.S. = 100) | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Bladen County, NC | 59 | 14 | 11.8 | 246 | +1.3% | #603 of 2,229 |
| 27Chatham County, NC | 59 | 86 | 26.1 | 152 | +11.0% | #634 of 2,229 |
| 28Clay County, NC | 59 | 13 | 25.6 | 124 | +9.9% | #639 of 2,229 |
| 29Anson County, NC | 58 | 8 | 9.4 | 309 | −2.1% | #645 of 2,229 |
| 30Union County, NC | 58 | 210 | 24.9 | 162 | +11.7% | #672 of 2,229 |
| 31Johnston County, NC | 58 | 212 | 24.8 | 145 | +17.9% | #682 of 2,229 |
| 32Scotland County, NC | 56 | 15 | 11.9 | 248 | −0.3% | #749 of 2,229 |
| 33Burke County, NC | 56 | 49 | 13.5 | 234 | +1.6% | #754 of 2,229 |
| 34Caldwell County, NC | 56 | 44 | 13.4 | 233 | +0.7% | #755 of 2,229 |
| 35Lenoir County, NC | 56 | 32 | 13.7 | 214 | +1.4% | #760 of 2,229 |
| 36Montgomery County, NC | 56 | 16 | 15.0 | 210 | +2.7% | #761 of 2,229 |
| 37Cleveland County, NC | 56 | 63 | 16.2 | 194 | +3.4% | #765 of 2,229 |
| 38Stanly County, NC | 55 | 57 | 22.6 | 143 | +9.8% | #835 of 2,229 |
| 39Nash County, NC | 54 | 79 | 20.4 | 161 | +3.9% | #867 of 2,229 |
| 40Cabarrus County, NC | 53 | 220 | 26.1 | 145 | +9.9% | #932 of 2,229 |
| 41Pasquotank County, NC | 53 | 52 | 32.9 | 99 | +4.5% | #949 of 2,229 |
| 42Wayne County, NC | 52 | 119 | 25.0 | 128 | +3.8% | #1,000 of 2,229 |
| 43Surry County, NC | 51 | 61 | 20.4 | 152 | +1.3% | #1,040 of 2,229 |
| 44Alamance County, NC | 51 | 180 | 25.7 | 129 | +8.5% | #1,046 of 2,229 |
| 45Durham County, NC | 50 | 418 | 29.5 | 126 | +7.7% | #1,095 of 2,229 |
| 46Lincoln County, NC | 50 | 108 | 29.3 | 124 | +13.2% | #1,097 of 2,229 |
| 47Richmond County, NC | 49 | 21 | 12.3 | 234 | −1.6% | #1,114 of 2,229 |
| 48Halifax County, NC | 49 | 26 | 12.8 | 230 | −3.9% | #1,115 of 2,229 |
| 49Wilson County, NC | 47 | 59 | 17.8 | 175 | +1.7% | #1,209 of 2,229 |
| 50McDowell County, NC | 46 | 40 | 21.5 | 145 | +1.5% | #1,277 of 2,229 |
| 51Beaufort County, NC | 45 | 37 | 19.1 | 166 | 0.0% | #1,334 of 2,229 |
| 52Lee County, NC | 45 | 77 | 30.6 | 107 | +10.8% | #1,356 of 2,229 |
| 53Madison County, NC | 44 | 22 | 26.4 | 121 | +5.9% | #1,409 of 2,229 |
| 54Catawba County, NC | 44 | 193 | 29.1 | 115 | +5.8% | #1,413 of 2,229 |
| 55Pamlico County, NC | 43 | 17 | 31.2 | 102 | +3.7% | #1,476 of 2,229 |
| 56Yancey County, NC | 42 | 21 | 25.8 | 125 | +3.2% | #1,515 of 2,229 |
| 57Forsyth County, NC | 42 | 523 | 32.7 | 103 | +5.0% | #1,529 of 2,229 |
| 58Alleghany County, NC | 42 | 15 | 29.0 | 102 | +5.4% | #1,532 of 2,229 |
| 59Pender County, NC | 42 | 88 | 34.8 | 102 | +19.0% | #1,534 of 2,229 |
| 60Orange County, NC | 41 | 249 | 43.4 | 90 | +6.1% | #1,582 of 2,229 |
| 61Iredell County, NC | 40 | 335 | 43.9 | 83 | +12.9% | #1,641 of 2,229 |
| 62Wake County, NC | 40 | 2,810 | 61.1 | 67 | +11.2% | #1,647 of 2,229 |
| 63Currituck County, NC | 40 | 72 | 60.8 | 63 | +16.7% | #1,648 of 2,229 |
| 64Vance County, NC | 39 | 35 | 21.7 | 140 | +0.2% | #1,658 of 2,229 |
| 65Brunswick County, NC | 39 | 342 | 49.5 | 71 | +26.5% | #1,707 of 2,229 |
| 66Rutherford County, NC | 38 | 65 | 24.4 | 125 | +2.1% | #1,732 of 2,229 |
| 67Guilford County, NC | 38 | 776 | 35.3 | 97 | +4.4% | #1,742 of 2,229 |
| 68Ashe County, NC | 37 | 32 | 26.2 | 119 | +3.5% | #1,783 of 2,229 |
| 69Henderson County, NC | 37 | 179 | 35.1 | 97 | +5.0% | #1,801 of 2,229 |
| 70Polk County, NC | 37 | 42 | 46.8 | 73 | +6.0% | #1,815 of 2,229 |
| 71Moore County, NC | 37 | 239 | 54.3 | 67 | +10.3% | #1,819 of 2,229 |
| 72Haywood County, NC | 36 | 70 | 25.8 | 126 | +1.9% | #1,831 of 2,229 |
| 73Pitt County, NC | 36 | 255 | 34.2 | 93 | +5.4% | #1,848 of 2,229 |
| 74Mecklenburg County, NC | 36 | 3,161 | 67.8 | 56 | +10.5% | #1,856 of 2,229 |
| 75Onslow County, NC | 35 | 339 | 45.0 | 74 | +6.0% | #1,890 of 2,229 |
| 76Craven County, NC | 33 | 166 | 38.7 | 84 | +3.5% | #1,982 of 2,229 |
| 77New Hanover County, NC | 33 | 744 | 71.0 | 50 | +8.6% | #1,991 of 2,229 |
| 78Jackson County, NC | 31 | 71 | 38.5 | 82 | +6.9% | #2,047 of 2,229 |
| 79Cherokee County, NC | 31 | 57 | 43.0 | 71 | +6.8% | #2,053 of 2,229 |
| 80Carteret County, NC | 30 | 218 | 68.2 | 51 | +4.1% | #2,082 of 2,229 |
| 81Warren County, NC | 29 | 30 | 36.8 | 82 | +1.6% | #2,098 of 2,229 |
| 82Macon County, NC | 29 | 104 | 56.5 | 57 | +5.8% | #2,107 of 2,229 |
| 83Dare County, NC | 29 | 239 | 142.0 | 27 | +3.3% | #2,113 of 2,229 |
| 84Mitchell County, NC | 28 | 22 | 33.4 | 94 | +1.1% | #2,122 of 2,229 |
| 85Cumberland County, NC | 28 | 503 | 38.8 | 83 | +0.4% | #2,125 of 2,229 |
| 86Transylvania County, NC | 28 | 63 | 43.2 | 77 | +2.9% | #2,128 of 2,229 |
| 87Buncombe County, NC | 27 | 604 | 59.3 | 60 | +2.9% | #2,154 of 2,229 |
| 88Swain County, NC | 21 | 22 | 36.6 | 86 | −0.6% | #2,207 of 2,229 |
| 89Avery County, NC | 20 | 53 | 78.0 | 42 | +1.1% | #2,215 of 2,229 |
| 90Watauga County, NC | 17 | 118 | 55.7 | 57 | +0.6% | #2,224 of 2,229 |
| Caswell County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | 910 | +0.4% | |
| Greene County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | 1,021 | +1.3% | |
| Bertie County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 5.6 | 549 | −3.6% | |
| Northampton County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −5.4% | |
| Washington County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 8.4 | 343 | −3.1% | |
| Gates County, NC | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −2.1% | |
| Jones County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 7.3 | 428 | +4.6% | |
| Graham County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 8.5 | 362 | +1.9% | |
| Hyde County, NC | Not scored | 2 | 10.3 | 285 | +1.0% | |
| Tyrrell County, NC | Not scored | 3 | 19.4 | 147 | +9.3% |
Markets with fewer than 5 real estate businesses on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many real estate businesses are in North Carolina?
As of September 2026, map listings count 16,180 real estate businesses in North Carolina. 877 of them (5%) are chain locations. The listings count real estate agents and brokers, property managers, mortgage brokers and lenders, and home inspectors. Official counts show 11,339 businesses with payroll classed as real estate agents, property managers, mortgage lenders and inspectors in 2023, up 20.8% from 2019. Another 53,235 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.
How much do households in North Carolina spend on rent and homeowner costs?
About $64.8B a year, or $15,139 per household. That is 9% below the U.S. average (an index of 91, where 100 is the U.S. average). For the 16,180 real estate businesses on map listings, housing spending per office is 8% below the U.S. figure. That figure is all rent and homeowner costs, used as a measure of housing demand; it is not money real estate businesses take in. 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 real estate businesses?
North Carolina has 37.8 real estate businesses per 10,000 households, 2% below the U.S. rate of 38.5. The index of housing spending per office is 92, where 100 is the U.S. At the U.S. ratio of real estate businesses to household spending, North Carolina would have about 14,966, against 16,180 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 378 households, against one for every 414 across the U.S. The official count rose 20.8% from 2019 to 2023, against +15.8% for the U.S.
Which market in North Carolina has the highest market score for real estate businesses?
Among 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Rocky Mount metro area scores highest, at 68 (upper middle). Among 23 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Anderson Creek area scores highest, at 69 (upper middle). Among 90 scored counties in North Carolina, Duplin County scores highest, at 78 (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 real estate businesses (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 real estate businesses 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.
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Top markets for real estate businesses across the U.S. · All business types in North Carolina
Related business types in North Carolina
- Real estate agents and brokers12,932 listings
- Property management1,257 listings
- Mortgage brokers and lenders1,750 listings
- Home inspectors241 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.