Market rankings · North Carolina
Salons, barbers and spas in North Carolina
Markets across North Carolina ranked by the Groundwork market score for salons, barbers and spas, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 21,458
- 3,217 chain locations (15%)
- Official establishments
- 4,049
- +25.4% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $3.8B
- On personal care products and services
- Listings per 10k households
- 50.1
- 6% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $179K
- 16% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #43 of 51
- Market score 40 · Lower middle
A site report maps the salons, barbers and spas 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 21,458 salons, barbers and spas in North Carolina. Chain locations make up 15% of them, against 15% across the U.S. That comes to 50.1 for every 10,000 households, 6% above the U.S. rate of 47.2.
Household spending on personal care products and services in North Carolina comes to about $3.8B a year: $897 per household, 11% below the U.S. average. That works out to $179K per business, 16% below the U.S. figure of $213K.
Official counts show 4,049 businesses with payroll classed as personal care services in North Carolina in 2023, up 25.4% from 2019. That is one for every 1,058 households, against one for every 804 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 14.1% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 211 SBA-backed loans worth $79.8M have gone to businesses classed as personal care services in North Carolina.
Among the 50 states and DC, North Carolina ranks #43 for salons, barbers and spas, 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 (72). Of the 23 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Anderson Creek area scores highest (78).
Every market in North Carolina for salons, barbers and spas
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 | 72 | 981 | 39.5 | $249K | +7.5% | #18 of 387 |
| 2Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 54 | 213 | 48.4 | $195K | +10.3% | #154 of 387 |
| 3Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 51 | 578 | 38.6 | $211K | +3.2% | #187 of 387 |
| 4Winston-Salem, NC | 51 | 1,232 | 43.8 | $194K | +5.3% | #189 of 387 |
| 5Raleigh-Cary, NC | 49 | 3,292 | 57.3 | $184K | +12.6% | #211 of 387 |
| 6Burlington, NC | 49 | 345 | 49.2 | $170K | +8.5% | #212 of 387 |
| 7Rocky Mount, NC | 46 | 256 | 43.8 | $182K | +2.8% | #241 of 387 |
| 8Wilmington, NC | 44 | 1,014 | 50.9 | $179K | +15.9% | #265 of 387 |
| 9Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 40 | 6,323 | 58.7 | $165K | +10.1% | #300 of 387 |
| 10Asheville, NC | 38 | 728 | 45.1 | $197K | +3.6% | #312 of 387 |
| 11Jacksonville, NC | 38 | 390 | 51.8 | $162K | +6.0% | #319 of 387 |
| 12Goldsboro, NC | 38 | 239 | 50.3 | $159K | +3.8% | #320 of 387 |
| 13Greensboro-High Point, NC | 36 | 1,696 | 53.5 | $158K | +4.1% | #330 of 387 |
| 14Greenville, NC | 34 | 385 | 51.7 | $155K | +5.4% | #345 of 387 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 30 | 3,476 | 49.1 | $193K | +0.9% | #363 of 387 |
| 15Fayetteville, NC | 22 | 924 | 62.0 | $130K | +1.6% | #383 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Anderson Creek, NC | 78 | 143 | 28.7 | $299K | +12.3% | #18 of 538 |
| 2Marion, NC | 57 | 63 | 33.8 | $229K | +1.5% | #190 of 538 |
| 3North Wilkesboro, NC | 56 | 76 | 28.0 | $261K | +0.6% | #202 of 538 |
| 4Kill Devil Hills, NC | 46 | 85 | 50.5 | $197K | +3.3% | #327 of 538 |
| 5Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 45 | 170 | 43.8 | $180K | +3.4% | #341 of 538 |
| 6Roanoke Rapids, NC | 44 | 81 | 28.7 | $251K | −4.3% | #344 of 538 |
| 7Brevard, NC | 44 | 57 | 39.1 | $216K | +2.9% | #347 of 538 |
| 8Lumberton, NC | 44 | 177 | 41.0 | $166K | +3.4% | #356 of 538 |
| 9Albemarle, NC | 42 | 109 | 43.2 | $187K | +9.8% | #369 of 538 |
| 10Forest City, NC | 42 | 109 | 40.9 | $183K | +2.1% | #370 of 538 |
| 11Sanford, NC | 42 | 126 | 50.1 | $164K | +10.8% | #372 of 538 |
| 12Henderson, NC | 41 | 64 | 39.6 | $188K | +0.2% | #382 of 538 |
| 13Kinston, NC | 40 | 100 | 42.8 | $166K | +1.4% | #395 of 538 |
| 14Waynesville, NC | 37 | 105 | 38.7 | $210K | +1.9% | #413 of 538 |
| 15Washington, NC | 37 | 77 | 39.7 | $199K | 0.0% | #417 of 538 |
| 16Rockingham, NC | 37 | 60 | 35.2 | $198K | −1.6% | #419 of 538 |
| 17Morehead City, NC | 37 | 162 | 50.7 | $176K | +4.1% | #423 of 538 |
| 18Mount Airy, NC | 36 | 132 | 44.2 | $174K | +1.3% | #436 of 538 |
| 19New Bern, NC | 36 | 258 | 49.2 | $166K | +3.6% | #438 of 538 |
| 20Elizabeth City, NC | 35 | 92 | 58.3 | $141K | +4.5% | #450 of 538 |
| 21Wilson, NC | 34 | 150 | 45.4 | $171K | +1.7% | #456 of 538 |
| 22Boone, NC | 32 | 79 | 37.3 | $212K | +0.6% | #469 of 538 |
| 23Laurinburg, NC | 32 | 61 | 48.5 | $148K | −0.3% | #473 of 538 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Chatham County, NC | 90 | 78 | 23.6 | $443K | +11.0% | #11 of 2,385 |
| 2Camden County, NC | 89 | 5 | 12.5 | $763K | +8.8% | #13 of 2,385 |
| 3Currituck County, NC | 86 | 28 | 23.6 | $428K | +16.7% | #29 of 2,385 |
| 4Franklin County, NC | 79 | 58 | 20.3 | $428K | +18.8% | #85 of 2,385 |
| 5Madison County, NC | 74 | 12 | 14.4 | $556K | +5.9% | #178 of 2,385 |
| 6Hoke County, NC | 74 | 50 | 26.0 | $320K | +9.0% | #192 of 2,385 |
| 7Harnett County, NC | 74 | 143 | 28.7 | $299K | +12.3% | #194 of 2,385 |
| 8Davie County, NC | 74 | 57 | 33.0 | $277K | +6.9% | #197 of 2,385 |
| 9Perquimans County, NC | 71 | 10 | 17.8 | $469K | +3.6% | #244 of 2,385 |
| 10Yancey County, NC | 69 | 13 | 16.0 | $507K | +3.2% | #300 of 2,385 |
| 11Orange County, NC | 69 | 181 | 31.6 | $325K | +6.1% | #319 of 2,385 |
| 12Union County, NC | 69 | 310 | 36.8 | $291K | +11.7% | #324 of 2,385 |
| 13Granville County, NC | 68 | 61 | 27.1 | $322K | +2.1% | #344 of 2,385 |
| 14Davidson County, NC | 68 | 214 | 30.6 | $270K | +6.6% | #355 of 2,385 |
| 15Johnston County, NC | 66 | 309 | 36.1 | $258K | +17.9% | #439 of 2,385 |
| 16Brunswick County, NC | 65 | 248 | 35.9 | $251K | +26.5% | #476 of 2,385 |
| 17Caswell County, NC | 61 | 9 | 10.2 | $749K | +0.4% | #584 of 2,385 |
| 18Caldwell County, NC | 61 | 84 | 25.5 | $304K | +0.7% | #613 of 2,385 |
| 19Warren County, NC | 60 | 12 | 14.7 | $501K | +1.6% | #631 of 2,385 |
| 20Alleghany County, NC | 59 | 11 | 21.2 | $337K | +5.4% | #681 of 2,385 |
| 21Person County, NC | 59 | 45 | 28.0 | $297K | +3.7% | #693 of 2,385 |
| 22Ashe County, NC | 59 | 35 | 28.7 | $270K | +3.5% | #705 of 2,385 |
| 23Pender County, NC | 59 | 88 | 34.8 | $264K | +19.0% | #709 of 2,385 |
| 24Stokes County, NC | 58 | 59 | 30.2 | $260K | +3.5% | #757 of 2,385 |
| 25Yadkin County, NC | 58 | 51 | 34.0 | $241K | +2.9% | #759 of 2,385 |
Show all 100 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Greene County, NC | 57 | 11 | 15.9 | $452K | +1.3% | #767 of 2,385 |
| 27Henderson County, NC | 57 | 161 | 31.5 | $275K | +5.0% | #795 of 2,385 |
| 28Burke County, NC | 55 | 111 | 30.6 | $258K | +1.6% | #901 of 2,385 |
| 29Gates County, NC | 53 | 7 | 16.7 | $469K | −2.1% | #959 of 2,385 |
| 30Rowan County, NC | 53 | 208 | 35.3 | $236K | +5.6% | #1,010 of 2,385 |
| 31Clay County, NC | 52 | 17 | 33.5 | $239K | +9.9% | #1,062 of 2,385 |
| 32Rockingham County, NC | 52 | 131 | 33.1 | $233K | +3.3% | #1,068 of 2,385 |
| 33Wilkes County, NC | 51 | 76 | 28.0 | $261K | +0.6% | #1,102 of 2,385 |
| 34McDowell County, NC | 51 | 63 | 33.8 | $229K | +1.5% | #1,122 of 2,385 |
| 35Lincoln County, NC | 50 | 176 | 47.8 | $197K | +13.2% | #1,193 of 2,385 |
| 36Northampton County, NC | 49 | 9 | 11.5 | $650K | −5.4% | #1,197 of 2,385 |
| 37Randolph County, NC | 49 | 218 | 37.8 | $210K | +3.5% | #1,235 of 2,385 |
| 38Durham County, NC | 49 | 677 | 47.7 | $203K | +7.7% | #1,237 of 2,385 |
| 39Moore County, NC | 49 | 213 | 48.4 | $195K | +10.3% | #1,240 of 2,385 |
| 40Alexander County, NC | 48 | 41 | 29.0 | $275K | +1.5% | #1,259 of 2,385 |
| 41Bertie County, NC | 47 | 13 | 18.2 | $415K | −3.6% | #1,306 of 2,385 |
| 42Pamlico County, NC | 47 | 20 | 36.7 | $217K | +3.7% | #1,353 of 2,385 |
| 43Polk County, NC | 47 | 37 | 41.2 | $211K | +6.0% | #1,358 of 2,385 |
| 44Macon County, NC | 45 | 62 | 33.7 | $240K | +5.8% | #1,456 of 2,385 |
| 45Cabarrus County, NC | 45 | 446 | 52.9 | $187K | +9.9% | #1,489 of 2,385 |
| 46Nash County, NC | 45 | 182 | 46.9 | $176K | +3.9% | #1,492 of 2,385 |
| 47Alamance County, NC | 45 | 345 | 49.2 | $170K | +8.5% | #1,494 of 2,385 |
| 48Lee County, NC | 45 | 126 | 50.1 | $164K | +10.8% | #1,495 of 2,385 |
| 49Cherokee County, NC | 44 | 69 | 52.1 | $144K | +6.8% | #1,549 of 2,385 |
| 50Edgecombe County, NC | 43 | 74 | 37.7 | $199K | +0.7% | #1,584 of 2,385 |
| 51Dare County, NC | 43 | 85 | 50.5 | $197K | +3.3% | #1,585 of 2,385 |
| 52Stanly County, NC | 43 | 109 | 43.2 | $187K | +9.8% | #1,592 of 2,385 |
| 53Cleveland County, NC | 43 | 170 | 43.8 | $180K | +3.4% | #1,596 of 2,385 |
| 54Gaston County, NC | 43 | 465 | 49.7 | $171K | +7.8% | #1,600 of 2,385 |
| 55Wake County, NC | 43 | 2,925 | 63.6 | $171K | +11.2% | #1,601 of 2,385 |
| 56Transylvania County, NC | 42 | 57 | 39.1 | $216K | +2.9% | #1,629 of 2,385 |
| 57Iredell County, NC | 42 | 397 | 52.0 | $182K | +12.9% | #1,647 of 2,385 |
| 58Robeson County, NC | 42 | 177 | 41.0 | $166K | +3.4% | #1,653 of 2,385 |
| 59Martin County, NC | 41 | 30 | 31.6 | $230K | −1.6% | #1,672 of 2,385 |
| 60Jackson County, NC | 41 | 74 | 40.2 | $194K | +6.9% | #1,689 of 2,385 |
| 61Rutherford County, NC | 40 | 109 | 40.9 | $183K | +2.1% | #1,747 of 2,385 |
| 62Vance County, NC | 39 | 64 | 39.6 | $188K | +0.2% | #1,788 of 2,385 |
| 63Lenoir County, NC | 39 | 100 | 42.8 | $166K | +1.4% | #1,794 of 2,385 |
| 64Chowan County, NC | 38 | 23 | 37.5 | $216K | +2.8% | #1,813 of 2,385 |
| 65Mitchell County, NC | 38 | 27 | 41.0 | $189K | +1.1% | #1,825 of 2,385 |
| 66Carteret County, NC | 38 | 162 | 50.7 | $176K | +4.1% | #1,829 of 2,385 |
| 67Mecklenburg County, NC | 37 | 3,604 | 77.3 | $130K | +10.5% | #1,891 of 2,385 |
| 68Haywood County, NC | 36 | 105 | 38.7 | $210K | +1.9% | #1,903 of 2,385 |
| 69Montgomery County, NC | 36 | 40 | 37.6 | $210K | +2.7% | #1,904 of 2,385 |
| 70Beaufort County, NC | 36 | 77 | 39.7 | $199K | 0.0% | #1,910 of 2,385 |
| 71Catawba County, NC | 36 | 342 | 51.6 | $165K | +5.8% | #1,925 of 2,385 |
| 72Onslow County, NC | 36 | 390 | 51.8 | $162K | +6.0% | #1,927 of 2,385 |
| 73Pasquotank County, NC | 36 | 92 | 58.3 | $141K | +4.5% | #1,929 of 2,385 |
| 74Swain County, NC | 35 | 20 | 33.3 | $237K | −0.6% | #1,938 of 2,385 |
| 75Richmond County, NC | 35 | 60 | 35.2 | $198K | −1.6% | #1,956 of 2,385 |
| 76Surry County, NC | 35 | 132 | 44.2 | $174K | +1.3% | #1,966 of 2,385 |
| 77Forsyth County, NC | 35 | 851 | 53.2 | $162K | +5.0% | #1,970 of 2,385 |
| 78Wayne County, NC | 35 | 239 | 50.3 | $159K | +3.8% | #1,971 of 2,385 |
| 79Columbus County, NC | 35 | 95 | 47.4 | $154K | 0.0% | #1,973 of 2,385 |
| 80Hertford County, NC | 34 | 26 | 31.4 | $230K | −11.2% | #1,981 of 2,385 |
| 81Wilson County, NC | 34 | 150 | 45.4 | $171K | +1.7% | #2,008 of 2,385 |
| 82Pitt County, NC | 33 | 385 | 51.7 | $155K | +5.4% | #2,040 of 2,385 |
| 83Craven County, NC | 33 | 233 | 54.3 | $152K | +3.5% | #2,042 of 2,385 |
| 84New Hanover County, NC | 33 | 678 | 64.7 | $142K | +8.6% | #2,046 of 2,385 |
| 85Avery County, NC | 32 | 28 | 41.2 | $202K | +1.1% | #2,065 of 2,385 |
| 86Scotland County, NC | 32 | 61 | 48.5 | $148K | −0.3% | #2,084 of 2,385 |
| 87Guilford County, NC | 32 | 1,347 | 61.3 | $142K | +4.4% | #2,085 of 2,385 |
| 88Watauga County, NC | 31 | 79 | 37.3 | $212K | +0.6% | #2,098 of 2,385 |
| 89Bladen County, NC | 30 | 37 | 31.3 | $226K | +1.3% | #2,124 of 2,385 |
| 90Halifax County, NC | 30 | 72 | 35.3 | $202K | −3.9% | #2,129 of 2,385 |
| 91Buncombe County, NC | 30 | 555 | 54.5 | $167K | +2.9% | #2,136 of 2,385 |
| 92Sampson County, NC | 29 | 90 | 41.7 | $179K | +4.1% | #2,156 of 2,385 |
| 93Duplin County, NC | 29 | 95 | 45.7 | $165K | +6.0% | #2,160 of 2,385 |
| 94Washington County, NC | 20 | 15 | 31.6 | $222K | −3.1% | #2,296 of 2,385 |
| 95Anson County, NC | 20 | 27 | 31.6 | $221K | −2.1% | #2,297 of 2,385 |
| 96Cumberland County, NC | 19 | 874 | 67.4 | $120K | +0.4% | #2,315 of 2,385 |
| Jones County, NC | Not scored | 5 | 12.1 | $633K | +4.6% | |
| Graham County, NC | Not scored | 8 | 22.7 | $336K | +1.9% | |
| Hyde County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 20.6 | $343K | +1.0% | |
| Tyrrell County, NC | Not scored | 4 | 25.9 | $264K | +9.3% |
Markets with fewer than 5 salons, barbers and spas on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many salons, barbers and spas are in North Carolina?
There are 21,458 salons, barbers and spas on map listings in North Carolina as of September 2026. 3,217 of them (15%) are chain locations. The listings count hair and nail salons, barbers, spas and skin care. Official counts show 4,049 businesses with payroll classed as personal care services in 2023, up 25.4% from 2019. Another 53,095 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.
How much do households in North Carolina spend on personal care products and services?
About $3.8B a year, or $897 per household. That is 11% below the U.S. average (an index of 89, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 21,458 salons, barbers and spas on map listings, it comes to $179K per business. 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 salons, barbers and spas?
North Carolina has 50.1 salons, barbers and spas per 10,000 households, 6% above the U.S. rate of 47.2. Spending per business is $179K, 16% below the U.S. figure of $213K. At the national ratio of salons, barbers and spas to household spending, North Carolina would have about 18,050, against 21,458 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,058 households, against one for every 804 across the U.S. The official count rose 25.4% from 2019 to 2023, against +14.1% for the U.S.
Which market in North Carolina has the highest market score for salons, barbers and spas?
Among 16 scored metro areas in or partly in North Carolina, the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area scores highest, at 72 (upper middle). Among 23 scored small-town markets in or partly in North Carolina, the Anderson Creek area scores highest, at 78 (high). Among 96 scored counties in North Carolina, Chatham County scores highest, at 90 (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 salons, barbers and spas (lower middle), #43 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 salons, barbers and spas 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.
Salons, barbers and spas in other states
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Top markets for salons, barbers and spas across the U.S. · All business types in North Carolina
Related business types in North Carolina
- Hair salons11,173 listings
- Barbershops2,398 listings
- Nail salons2,739 listings
- Spas and skin care4,736 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.