The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in North Carolina

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

1. 25Creedmoor, North Carolina

   Better for families than 91% of North Carolina towns

   Creedmoor is a city of 4,866 people in Granville County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of North Carolina towns and more of a college town than 82% of North Carolina towns.

   4,866 people · Granville County · median home $281,400 · income $82,961 · Jan low 28°F · 2 in snow

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

2. 24Mountain Home, North Carolina

   Better for families than 92% of North Carolina towns

   Mountain Home is a community of 3,490 people in Henderson County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for retirees than 86% of North Carolina towns and more of a college town than 86% of North Carolina towns.

   3,490 people · Henderson County · median home $400,000 · income $83,083 · Jan low 27°F · 7 in snow

   Full Mountain Home, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Southern Shores, North Carolina

   Better for families than 93% 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 quieter 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 →

4. 22Brices Creek, North Carolina

   Better for families than 93% of North Carolina towns

   Brices Creek is a community of 3,542 people in Craven County, North Carolina. It also ranks more of a college town than 91% of North Carolina towns and more upscale than 91% of North Carolina towns.

   3,542 people · Craven County · median home $338,700 · income $85,723 · Jan low 35°F · 2 in snow

   Full Brices Creek, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Porters Neck, North Carolina

   Better for families than 93% of North Carolina towns

   Porters Neck is a community of 7,397 people in New Hanover County, North Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 98% of North Carolina towns and better for retirees than 94% of North Carolina towns.

   7,397 people · New Hanover County · median home $569,700 · income $119,979 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

   Full Porters Neck, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Unionville, North Carolina

   Better for families than 94% of North Carolina towns

   Unionville is a town of 6,643 people in Union County, North Carolina. It also ranks easier by car than 94% of North Carolina towns.

   6,643 people · Union County · median home $336,200 · income $96,028 · Jan low 30°F · 2 in snow

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

7. 19Lowesville, North Carolina

   Better for families than 95% of North Carolina towns

   Lowesville is a community of 3,281 people in Lincoln County, North Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 92% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 89% 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 →

8. 18Forest Oaks, North Carolina

   Better for families than 95% of North Carolina towns

   Forest Oaks is a community of 4,209 people in Guilford County, North Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 94% of North Carolina towns and better for retirees than 91% of North Carolina towns.

   4,209 people · Guilford County · median home $349,300 · income $107,604 · Jan low 30°F · 4 in snow

   Full Forest Oaks, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Midland, North Carolina

   Better for families than 95% of North Carolina towns

   Midland is a town of 4,684 people in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. It also ranks more of a college town than 95% of North Carolina towns and more upscale than 81% of North Carolina towns.

   4,684 people · Cabarrus County · median home $369,100 · income $101,477 · Jan low 29°F · 3 in snow

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

10. 16Ogden, North Carolina

    Better for families than 95% of North Carolina towns

    Ogden is a community of 8,200 people in New Hanover County, North Carolina. It also ranks more seaside character than 99% of North Carolina towns and more upscale than 95% of North Carolina towns.

    8,200 people · New Hanover County · median home $463,700 · income $121,338 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

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

11. 15Westport, North Carolina

    Better for families than 96% of North Carolina towns

    Westport is a community of 5,705 people in Lincoln County, North Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 97% of North Carolina towns and more of a college town than 92% of North Carolina towns.

    5,705 people · Lincoln County · median home $580,000 · income $131,908 · Jan low 31°F · 4 in snow

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

12. 14Rolesville, North Carolina

    Better for families than 96% of North Carolina towns

    Rolesville is a town of 9,475 people in Wake County, North Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 96% of North Carolina towns and more of a college town than 87% of North Carolina towns.

    9,475 people · Wake County · median home $535,000 · income $149,565 · Jan low 28°F · 4 in snow

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

13. 13Wallburg, North Carolina

    Better for families than 97% of North Carolina towns

    Wallburg is a town of 3,051 people in Davidson County, North Carolina. It also ranks easier by car than 90% of North Carolina towns and more upscale than 81% of North Carolina towns.

    3,051 people · Davidson County · median home $343,700 · income $88,406 · Jan low 31°F · 4 in snow

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

14. 12Trent Woods, North Carolina

    Better for families than 97% 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 more upscale than 96% 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 →

15. 11Archer Lodge, North Carolina

    Better for families than 97% of North Carolina towns

    Archer Lodge is a town of 4,797 people in Johnston County, North Carolina. It also ranks more of a college town than 99% of North Carolina towns and better for first-time buyers than 88% of North Carolina towns.

    4,797 people · Johnston County · median home $324,500 · income $91,188 · Jan low 31°F · 3 in snow

    Full Archer Lodge, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Hampstead, North Carolina

    Better for families than 97% of North Carolina towns

    Hampstead is a community of 7,016 people in Pender County, North Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 91% of North Carolina towns and more seaside character than 89% of North Carolina towns.

    7,016 people · Pender County · median home $402,100 · income $91,745 · Jan low 33°F · 1 in snow

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

17. 9Mills River, North Carolina

    Better for families than 97% of North Carolina towns

    Mills River is a town of 7,078 people in Henderson County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for retirees than 90% of North Carolina towns and better for cycling than 88% of North Carolina towns.

    7,078 people · Henderson County · median home $436,100 · income $105,398 · Jan low 27°F · 9 in snow

    Full Mills River, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Mineral Springs, North Carolina

    Better for families than 98% of North Carolina towns

    Mineral Springs is a town of 3,159 people in Union County, North Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 92% of North Carolina towns and better for young professionals than 70% of North Carolina towns.

    3,159 people · Union County · median home $389,900 · income $91,500 · Jan low 32°F · 2 in snow

    Full Mineral Springs, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Briar Chapel, North Carolina

    Better for families than 98% of North Carolina towns

    Briar Chapel is a community of 5,108 people in Chatham County, North Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 100% of North Carolina towns and better transit than 85% of North Carolina towns.

    5,108 people · Chatham County · median home $570,300 · income $166,063 · Jan low 29°F · 3 in snow

    Full Briar Chapel, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Wesley Chapel, North Carolina

    Better for families than 98% of North Carolina towns

    Wesley Chapel is a village of 8,681 people in Union County, North Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 96% of North Carolina towns and better transit than 90% of North Carolina towns.

    8,681 people · Union County · median home $535,500 · income $132,188 · Jan low 32°F · 2 in snow

    Full Wesley Chapel, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5Fairview, North Carolina

    Better for families than 99% of North Carolina towns

    Fairview is a town of 3,456 people in Union County, North Carolina. It also ranks more of a college town than 97% of North Carolina towns and more upscale than 80% of North Carolina towns.

    3,456 people · Union County · median home $382,300 · income $98,808 · Jan low 32°F · 3 in snow

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

22. 4Whispering Pines, North Carolina

    Better for families than 99% of North Carolina towns

    Whispering Pines is a village of 4,987 people in Moore County, North Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 94% of North Carolina towns and more of a college town than 93% of North Carolina towns.

    4,987 people · Moore County · median home $464,800 · income $126,450 · Jan low 31°F · 1 in snow

    Full Whispering Pines, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Oak Ridge, North Carolina

    Better for families than 99% of North Carolina towns

    Oak Ridge is a town of 7,474 people in Guilford County, North Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 96% of North Carolina towns and better for cycling than 79% of North Carolina towns.

    7,474 people · Guilford County · median home $529,300 · income $155,385 · Jan low 30°F · 7 in snow

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

24. 2Stokesdale, North Carolina

    Better for families than 100% of North Carolina towns

    Stokesdale is a town of 5,924 people in Guilford County, North Carolina. It also ranks more of a college town than 95% of North Carolina towns and more upscale than 95% of North Carolina towns.

    5,924 people · Guilford County · median home $379,100 · income $121,071 · Jan low 30°F · 7 in snow

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

25. 1Marvin, North Carolina

    Better for families than 100% of North Carolina towns

    Marvin is a village of 6,358 people in Union County, North Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 100% of North Carolina towns and better for young professionals than 88% of North Carolina towns.

    6,358 people · Union County · median home $906,000 · income $250,001 · Jan low 32°F · 2 in snow

    Full Marvin, 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 Quietest Small Towns in North Carolina
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns 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

• The 50 Best Small Towns for Families in America
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Ohio