Ranking · North Carolina
Richest and poorest places in North Carolina
Marvin has the highest median household income of North Carolina's 434 ranked places ($250,000 or more), within the margin of error of Governors Club; Scotland Neck has the lowest ($19,083). Ranked: places with 1,000 or more residents in the 2020 Census and an estimate whose coefficient of variation is 40% or less.
Which are the richest places?
Richest places in North Carolina, first to fifth: Marvin ($250,000 or more), Governors Club ($235,625), Weddington ($190,766), Lake Norman of Iredell ($173,542) and Biltmore Forest ($169,167).
| Rank | Place | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvinwithin the margin | $250,000 or more |
| 2 | Governors Club | $235,625±$16,268 |
| 3 | Weddingtonwithin the margin | $190,766±$24,012 |
| 4 | Lake Norman of Iredellwithin the margin | $173,542±$41,160 |
| 5 | Biltmore Forestwithin the margin | $169,167±$40,342 |
| 6 | Davidsonwithin the margin | $166,556±$28,347 |
| 7 | Walnut Creekwithin the margin | $166,250±$52,054 |
| 8 | Briar Chapelwithin the margin | $166,063±$13,257 |
| 9 | Summerfieldwithin the margin | $160,275±$23,472 |
| 10 | Oak Ridgewithin the margin | $155,385±$23,788 |
| 11 | Wrightsville Beachwithin the margin | $151,563±$78,972 |
| 12 | Rolesvillewithin the margin | $149,565±$18,991 |
| 13 | Harrisburgwithin the margin | $148,254±$9,305 |
| 14 | Apexwithin the margin | $144,135±$9,485 |
| 15 | Holly Springswithin the margin | $135,578±$6,882 |
| 16 | Carywithin the margin | $134,905±$3,712 |
| 17 | Wesley Chapelwithin the margin | $132,188±$36,990 |
| 18 | Westportwithin the margin | $131,908±$25,775 |
| 19 | Waxhawwithin the margin | $131,894±$11,510 |
| 20 | Southern Shoreswithin the margin | $131,429±$23,323 |
| 21 | Whispering Pineswithin the margin | $126,450±$21,571 |
| 22 | Governors Villagewithin the margin | $125,857±$57,944 |
| 23 | Morrisvillewithin the margin | $125,396±$12,240 |
| 24 | Wake Forestwithin the margin | $123,802±$6,456 |
| 25 | Ogden | $121,338±$9,967 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
Which are the poorest places?
Poorest places in North Carolina, first to fifth: Scotland Neck ($19,083), Red Springs ($20,833), Maxton ($22,667), Pembroke ($25,889) and McLeansville ($27,161).
| Rank | Place | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 434 | Scotland Neckwithin the margin | $19,083±$9,024 |
| 433 | Red Springswithin the margin | $20,833±$6,941 |
| 432 | Maxtonwithin the margin | $22,667±$5,232 |
| 431 | Pembrokewithin the margin | $25,889±$2,672 |
| 430 | McLeansvillewithin the margin | $27,161±$15,807 |
| 429 | Yanceyvillewithin the margin | $27,655±$8,197 |
| 428 | Barker Heightswithin the margin | $29,277±$11,640 |
| 427 | Elizabethtownwithin the margin | $29,375±$9,800 |
| 426 | Jonesvillewithin the margin | $29,837±$9,545 |
| 425 | Boonewithin the margin | $30,065±$5,963 |
| 424 | Whitevillewithin the margin | $31,167±$10,113 |
| 423 | Snow Hillwithin the margin | $31,629±$12,462 |
| 422 | Belhavenwithin the margin | $32,644±$7,251 |
| 421 | Bayborowithin the margin | $33,636±$11,261 |
| 420 | East Rockinghamwithin the margin | $34,355±$5,693 |
| 419 | East Spencerwithin the margin | $34,417±$19,881 |
| 418 | Plymouthwithin the margin | $34,521±$7,287 |
| 417 | Enfieldwithin the margin | $34,830±$9,550 |
| 416 | Toastwithin the margin | $35,111±$12,009 |
| 415 | Forest Citywithin the margin | $35,524±$5,910 |
| 414 | Ramseurwithin the margin | $35,923±$13,959 |
| 413 | Cullowheewithin the margin | $35,929±$9,937 |
| 412 | Elm Citywithin the margin | $36,150±$18,328 |
| 411 | Roxborowithin the margin | $36,553±$6,082 |
| 410 | Fairmont | $36,641±$5,639 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
Which places in North Carolina have the highest income per person?
The survey publishes income per person without a top code, so it gives a figure even for the richest places: Governors Club has the highest estimate, $176,024 per resident (±$50,622), clearly ahead of Biltmore Forest ($114,210).
| Rank | Place | Per capita income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Governors Club | $176,024±$50,622 |
| 2 | Biltmore Forestwithin the margin | $114,210±$24,539 |
| 3 | Wrightsville Beachwithin the margin | $101,948±$18,003 |
| 4 | Lake Norman of Iredellwithin the margin | $92,512±$11,363 |
| 5 | Davidsonwithin the margin | $86,576±$10,148 |
| 6 | Walnut Creekwithin the margin | $86,495±$19,959 |
| 7 | Weddingtonwithin the margin | $83,398±$9,543 |
| 8 | St. Jameswithin the margin | $82,804±$18,591 |
| 9 | Marvinwithin the margin | $82,505±$9,702 |
| 10 | Pine Knoll Shores | $78,489±$10,050 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How is this ranking made?
Each place's median household income is read from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey. A place enters the ranking if it had 1,000 or more residents in the 2020 Census and its estimate has a coefficient of variation of 40% or less. Ties in the published figure share a rank. This is a measurement of one figure, not a judgment of a place.
Source: PlainCities ranking method applied to the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections