The 25 Quietest Small Towns in North Carolina

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 188 towns of 500–10,000 people in North Carolina. #1 is St. James, NC.

1. 25Surf City, North Carolina

   Quieter than 83% of North Carolina towns

   Surf City is a town of 3,867 people in Pender County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 95% of North Carolina towns and more seaside character than 92% of North Carolina towns.

   3,867 people · Pender County · median home $512,300 · income $81,433 · Jan low 35°F · 1 in snow

   Full Surf City, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Pittsboro, North Carolina

   Quieter than 83% of North Carolina towns

   Pittsboro is a town of 4,537 people in Chatham County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for young professionals than 94% of North Carolina towns and more upscale than 87% of North Carolina towns.

   4,537 people · Chatham County · median home $376,300 · income $81,639 · Jan low 30°F · 3 in snow

   Full Pittsboro, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

   Quieter than 84% of North Carolina towns

   Kitty Hawk is a town of 3,689 people in Dare County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of North Carolina towns and more seaside character than 95% of North Carolina towns.

   3,689 people · Dare County · median home $535,000 · income $94,450 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

   Full Kitty Hawk, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Lake Norman of Catawba, North Carolina

   Quieter than 85% of North Carolina towns

   Lake Norman of Catawba is a community of 8,658 people in Catawba County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for retirees than 91% of North Carolina towns and better for a vacation home than 90% of North Carolina towns.

   8,658 people · Catawba County · median home $492,600 · income $112,656 · Jan low 31°F · 5 in snow

   Full Lake Norman of Catawba, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Trent Woods, North Carolina

   Quieter than 86% of North Carolina towns

   Trent Woods is a town of 4,074 people in Craven County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for retirees than 98% of North Carolina towns and better for families than 97% of North Carolina towns.

   4,074 people · Craven County · median home $343,100 · income $107,802 · Jan low 35°F · 2 in snow

   Full Trent Woods, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Emerald Isle, North Carolina

   Quieter than 87% of North Carolina towns

   Emerald Isle is a town of 3,847 people in Carteret County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of North Carolina towns and better for cycling than 94% of North Carolina towns.

   3,847 people · Carteret County · median home $603,700 · income $89,773 · Jan low 34°F · 1 in snow

   Full Emerald Isle, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19Fearrington Village, North Carolina

   Quieter than 88% of North Carolina towns

   Fearrington Village is a community of 2,557 people in Chatham County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for retirees than 100% of North Carolina towns and more upscale than 100% of North Carolina towns.

   2,557 people · Chatham County · median home $472,600 · income $86,116 · Jan low 30°F · 3 in snow

   Full Fearrington Village, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Etowah, North Carolina

   Quieter than 88% of North Carolina towns

   Etowah is a community of 7,642 people in Henderson County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for retirees than 95% of North Carolina towns and better for a vacation home than 88% of North Carolina towns.

   7,642 people · Henderson County · median home $338,100 · income $72,596 · Jan low 26°F · 7 in snow

   Full Etowah, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Lowesville, North Carolina

   Quieter than 89% of North Carolina towns

   Lowesville is a community of 3,281 people in Lincoln County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for families than 95% of North Carolina towns and more upscale than 92% of North Carolina towns.

   3,281 people · Lincoln County · median home $406,500 · income $113,510 · Jan low 31°F · 3 in snow

   Full Lowesville, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16Flat Rock, North Carolina

    Quieter than 89% of North Carolina towns

    Flat Rock is a village of 3,486 people in Henderson County, North Carolina. It also ranks better transit than 95% of North Carolina towns and better for retirees than 94% of North Carolina towns.

    3,486 people · Henderson County · median home $601,700 · income $95,098 · Jan low 27°F · 7 in snow

    Full Flat Rock, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Shallotte, North Carolina

    Quieter than 90% of North Carolina towns

    Shallotte is a town of 4,185 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 86% of North Carolina towns and more seaside character than 86% of North Carolina towns.

    4,185 people · Brunswick County · median home $349,500 · income $88,367 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

    Full Shallotte, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Midway, North Carolina

    Quieter than 90% of North Carolina towns

    

    Midway is a town of 4,742 people in Davidson County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for families than 90% of North Carolina towns and better transit than 77% of North Carolina towns.

    4,742 people · Davidson County · median home $274,100 · income $83,446 · Jan low 28°F · 3 in snow

    Full Midway, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Bermuda Run, North Carolina

    Quieter than 92% of North Carolina towns

    Bermuda Run is a town of 3,120 people in Davie County, North Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 89% of North Carolina towns and better for retirees than 80% of North Carolina towns.

    3,120 people · Davie County · median home $347,600 · income $69,301 · Jan low 25°F · 5 in snow

    Full Bermuda Run, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Southport, North Carolina

    Quieter than 92% of North Carolina towns

    Southport is a city of 3,971 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 91% of North Carolina towns and more seaside character than 90% of North Carolina towns.

    3,971 people · Brunswick County · median home $437,700 · income $87,641 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

    Full Southport, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Sunset Beach, North Carolina

    Quieter than 93% of North Carolina towns

    Sunset Beach is a town of 4,175 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 94% of North Carolina towns and better for retirees than 90% of North Carolina towns.

    4,175 people · Brunswick County · median home $410,900 · income $81,976 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

    Full Sunset Beach, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Oak Island, North Carolina

    Quieter than 93% of North Carolina towns

    Oak Island is a town of 8,396 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of North Carolina towns and more seaside character than 92% of North Carolina towns.

    8,396 people · Brunswick County · median home $456,500 · income $85,872 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

    Full Oak Island, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Grandy, North Carolina

    Quieter than 95% of North Carolina towns

    Grandy is a community of 2,776 people in Currituck County, North Carolina. It also ranks more seaside character than 98% of North Carolina towns and better for a vacation home than 90% of North Carolina towns.

    2,776 people · Currituck County · median home $306,000 · income $62,847 · Jan low 33°F · 1 in snow

    Full Grandy, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Carolina Shores, North Carolina

    Quieter than 95% of North Carolina towns

    Carolina Shores is a town of 4,588 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 92% of North Carolina towns and better for retirees than 79% of North Carolina towns.

    4,588 people · Brunswick County · median home $288,600 · income $76,087 · Jan low 34°F · 1 in snow

    Full Carolina Shores, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Seven Lakes, North Carolina

    Quieter than 95% of North Carolina towns

    Seven Lakes is a community of 4,900 people in Moore County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for retirees than 94% of North Carolina towns and better for a vacation home than 88% of North Carolina towns.

    4,900 people · Moore County · median home $394,500 · income $91,085 · Jan low 33°F · 3 in snow

    Full Seven Lakes, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Wentworth, North Carolina

    Quieter than 96% of North Carolina towns

    Wentworth is a town of 2,662 people in Rockingham County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for families than 86% of North Carolina towns and easier by car than 83% of North Carolina towns.

    2,662 people · Rockingham County · median home $170,300 · income $68,500 · Jan low 29°F · 7 in snow

    Full Wentworth, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5Windsor, North Carolina

    Quieter than 96% of North Carolina towns

    Windsor is a town of 3,582 people in Bertie County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of North Carolina towns and more seaside character than 88% of North Carolina towns.

    3,582 people · Bertie County · median home $102,700 · income $40,714 · Jan low 33°F · 1 in snow

    Full Windsor, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Southern Shores, North Carolina

    Quieter than 97% of North Carolina towns

    Southern Shores is a town of 3,090 people in Dare County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of North Carolina towns and more upscale than 97% of North Carolina towns.

    3,090 people · Dare County · median home $712,300 · income $131,429 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

    Full Southern Shores, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Red Oak, North Carolina

    Quieter than 97% of North Carolina towns

    

    Red Oak is a town of 3,342 people in Nash County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for retirees than 93% of North Carolina towns and better for families than 91% of North Carolina towns.

    3,342 people · Nash County · median home $271,800 · income $90,214 · Jan low 31°F · 1 in snow

    Full Red Oak, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Nags Head, North Carolina

    Quieter than 98% of North Carolina towns

    Nags Head is a town of 3,168 people in Dare County, North Carolina. It also ranks more seaside character than 95% of North Carolina towns and better for retirees than 86% of North Carolina towns.

    3,168 people · Dare County · median home $490,800 · income $91,264 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

    Full Nags Head, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1St. James, North Carolina

    Quieter than 99% of North Carolina towns

    St. James is a town of 6,529 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for retirees than 97% of North Carolina towns and better for a vacation home than 96% of North Carolina towns.

    6,529 people · Brunswick County · median home $636,800 · income $116,383 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

    Full St. James, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More North Carolina rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in North Carolina
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in North Carolina
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in North Carolina
• The 13 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in North Carolina
• 25 Small Towns in North Carolina With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in North Carolina With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in North Carolina
• 25 Small Towns in North Carolina With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in North Carolina
• The 20 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in North Carolina

Same ranking, other places

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