Top 10 Worst Places To Live In North Carolina In 2025

Top 10 Worst Places to Live In North Carolina . Top 10 Worst Cities In North Carolina to Live, Raise a Family, Job or Retire. Top 10 Worst Towns in North Carolina. Top 10 Worst Villages in North Carolina. An eastern coast U.S. State, North Carolina is famous for both its mountains and its beaches. If you’re considering heading to North Carolina, you’ll find plenty of places which are best to live, do job, raise a family or simply retire. Unfortunately, you’ll also find no shortage of places that don’t. Let’s find out which are top 10 worst places to live in the Tar Heel State.

10. Washington, North Carolina

Commonly known as "Original Washington" or "Little Washington", Washington is a city in Beaufort County in North Carolina with a population of roughly 10,000 residents. Both poverty rate and unemployment rate of Washington are nearly double than national average. The typical household in Washington earns $37,000 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500.

9. Mount Airy, North Carolina

Best known as the birthplace of actor Andy Griffith, Mount Airy is a city in Surry County, with population of almost 11,000 residents. Financial hardship is relatively common in the city as 1 in every 3 residents lives below the poverty line and 1 in every 15 workers are unemployed. While median income is 55% lower than nationwide; 1 in every 7 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year.

8. Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville is a city in Cumberland County with population of more than 200,000 residents. The poverty rate of Fayetteville is 19.9%, which is 42% higher than national average. Fayetteville is ranked as one of the worst cities in the nation to find a job. While the unemployment rate remained twice the national rate; more than half of households earn less than $50,000 a year.

7. Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina

Roanoke Rapids is a city in Halifax County with roughly population of 15,000. Financial hardship is not new n the city as 1 in every 4 residents live below the poverty line and 1 in every 8 area households live on an income of less than $10,000 a year. Crime, Jobs and Real Estate are few major concerns that you should know before moving here.

6. Dunn, North Carolina

Dunn is the largest city of Harnett County with population of about 10,000 residents. The poverty rate of Dunn is 23%, which is 64% higher than national average. While the unemployment rate of city remained 6.7%, 1 in every 4 residents lives below the poverty line. Safety and Jobs are issues to tackle while living in city.

5. Lincolnton, North Carolina

Known as the site of the first textile mill in North Carolina, Lincolnton is a city in Lincoln County with population of 11,000. The poverty rate of Lincolnton is 22%, which is 58% higher than national average. Only 17% of adults have a bachelor's degree compared to 32% nationwide which clears why 1 in every 12 workers in city is unemployed while 1 in every 5 residents lives below poverty line.

4. Asheboro, North Carolina

Best known for its numerous historic structures and for being home to the North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro is a city with roughly population of 26,000. While poverty rate of city is 19.4%, the unemployment rate remained at 6.1%. While Asheboro remained most violent city in the state, residents have 1 in 22 chance of being victim of property crime.

3. Sanford, North Carolina

One of the nation's largest producers of brick and pottery products, Sanford is a city in Lee County. While 1 in every 5 residents lives below the poverty line, more than 1 in every 12 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. With 5 murders, 20 robberies and 39 assaults in a year in a city with population of 30,000, Sanford remained one of the most violent cities in the state.

2. Goldsboro, North Carolina

With a population of about 35,000; Goldsboro is one of the poorest cities in North Carolina with poverty rate of 24%. While 1 in every 4 residents lives below the poverty line; 1 in every 9 area households lives on an income of less than $10,000 a year. Finding jobs is the serious problem in the city as unemployment rate remained 130% higher than national average. That’s not all, residents have 1 in 16 chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here.

1. Laurinburg, North Carolina

Located in southern North Carolina near the South Carolina border, Laurinburg is a city in Scotland County with population of 15,000 residents. Laurinburg remained the poorest city in state with 37% poverty rate which is more than twice of national average. While 1 in every 3 residents lives below the poverty line; 1 in every 7 workers is unemployed. Laurinburg is one of the most violent cities in nation as violent crime rate remained 360% higher than national average. Residents have 1 in 22 chance of becoming a victim of property crime here.

If you’re thinking about a move to North Carolina, here are the places you should avoid to live, retire or raise a family. 10 Most Dangerous Cities In North Carolina You Should Never Move To. Top 10 Worst Cities To Live In North Carolina. 10 Places in North Carolina You Should NEVER Move To.

Tags

• travel
 
• where to live in north carolina america
 
• where to live in north carolina
 
• relocate to north carolina
 
• relocate to usa
 
• top 10 reasons not to
 
• where to live
 
• worst towns in america
 
• north carolina
 
• worst places to live
 
• worst cities to live in america
 
• best and worst us states
 
• worst states in america
 
• worst us cities
 
• worst places to live in north carolina
 
• worst towns in north carolina
 
• worst cities in north carolina
 
• moving to north carolina
 
• living in north carolina
 
• nc
 
• usa