Data / Rankings / Housing vacancy rate, all vacant units (US) / Cities in North Carolina

Cities in North Carolina by housing vacancy rate, all vacant units (US)

Asheville, NC had the highest housing vacancy rate, all vacant units (US) of 93 cities in 2023, at 22.6%. Stallings, NC had the lowest, at 2.6%. The median was 8.9% and the figure for North Carolina was 13.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest22.6Asheville, NC
Lowest2.6Stallings, NC
Median8.993 cities
North Carolina13.1History

Top 40 cities, 2023

Asheville, NC: 22.6 %Asheville, NC22.6Morehead City, NC: 19.8 %Morehead City, NC19.8Lumberton, NC: 17.4 %Lumberton, NC17.4Kinston, NC: 17.1 %Kinston, NC17.1Albemarle, NC: 17 %Albemarle, NC17Waynesville, NC: 16.9 %Waynesville, NC16.9Spring Lake, NC: 16.3 %Spring Lake, NC16.3Lexington, NC: 16.1 %Lexington, NC16.1Southern Pines, NC: 15.4 %Southern Pines, NC15.4Elon, NC: 15.4 %Elon, NC15.4Elizabeth City, NC: 15.1 %Elizabeth City, NC15.1Shelby, NC: 15.1 %Shelby, NC15.1Henderson, NC: 14.6 %Henderson, NC14.6Rocky Mount, NC: 14.4 %Rocky Mount, NC14.4Laurinburg, NC: 13.9 %Laurinburg, NC13.9Pinehurst, NC: 13.9 %Pinehurst, NC13.9Eden, NC: 13.7 %Eden, NC13.7Goldsboro, NC: 13.4 %Goldsboro, NC13.4Concord, NC: 12.8 %Concord, NC12.8Kannapolis, NC: 12.8 %Kannapolis, NC12.8Smithfield, NC: 12.5 %Smithfield, NC12.5Salisbury, NC: 12.4 %Salisbury, NC12.4Havelock, NC: 12.3 %Havelock, NC12.3Boone, NC: 12.2 %Boone, NC12.2New Bern, NC: 12.1 %New Bern, NC12.1Davidson, NC: 11.9 %Davidson, NC11.9Winston-Salem, NC: 11.6 %Winston-Salem, NC11.6Jacksonville, NC: 11.5 %Jacksonville, NC11.5Tarboro, NC: 11.3 %Tarboro, NC11.3Greenville, NC: 11.1 %Greenville, NC11.1Chapel Hill, NC: 10.7 %Chapel Hill, NC10.7Fayetteville, NC: 10.7 %Fayetteville, NC10.7Wilson, NC: 10.7 %Wilson, NC10.7Hickory, NC: 10.5 %Hickory, NC10.5Roanoke Rapids, NC: 10.4 %Roanoke Rapids, NC10.4Wilmington, NC: 9.9 %Wilmington, NC9.9Lenoir, NC: 9.8 %Lenoir, NC9.8Morrisville, NC: 9.8 %Morrisville, NC9.8Raleigh, NC: 9.8 %Raleigh, NC9.8Statesville, NC: 9.5 %Statesville, NC9.5Asheville, NC: 22.6 %Asheville, NC22.6Morehead City, NC: 19.8 %Morehead City, NC19.8Lumberton, NC: 17.4 %Lumberton, NC17.4Kinston, NC: 17.1 %Kinston, NC17.1Albemarle, NC: 17 %Albemarle, NC17Waynesville, NC: 16.9 %Waynesville, NC16.9Spring Lake, NC: 16.3 %Spring Lake, NC16.3Lexington, NC: 16.1 %Lexington, NC16.1Southern Pines, NC: 15.4 %Southern Pines, NC15.4Elon, NC: 15.4 %Elon, NC15.4Elizabeth City, NC: 15.1 %Elizabeth City, NC15.1Shelby, NC: 15.1 %Shelby, NC15.1Henderson, NC: 14.6 %Henderson, NC14.6Rocky Mount, NC: 14.4 %Rocky Mount, NC14.4Laurinburg, NC: 13.9 %Laurinburg, NC13.9Pinehurst, NC: 13.9 %Pinehurst, NC13.9Eden, NC: 13.7 %Eden, NC13.7Goldsboro, NC: 13.4 %Goldsboro, NC13.4Concord, NC: 12.8 %Concord, NC12.8Kannapolis, NC: 12.8 %Kannapolis, NC12.8Smithfield, NC: 12.5 %Smithfield, NC12.5Salisbury, NC: 12.4 %Salisbury, NC12.4Havelock, NC: 12.3 %Havelock, NC12.3Boone, NC: 12.2 %Boone, NC12.2New Bern, NC: 12.1 %New Bern, NC12.1Davidson, NC: 11.9 %Davidson, NC11.9Winston-Salem, NC: 11.6 %Winston-Salem, NC11.6Jacksonville, NC: 11.5 %Jacksonville, NC11.5Tarboro, NC: 11.3 %Tarboro, NC11.3Greenville, NC: 11.1 %Greenville, NC11.1Chapel Hill, NC: 10.7 %Chapel Hill, NC10.7Fayetteville, NC: 10.7 %Fayetteville, NC10.7Wilson, NC: 10.7 %Wilson, NC10.7Hickory, NC: 10.5 %Hickory, NC10.5Roanoke Rapids, NC: 10.4 %Roanoke Rapids, NC10.4Wilmington, NC: 9.9 %Wilmington, NC9.9Lenoir, NC: 9.8 %Lenoir, NC9.8Morrisville, NC: 9.8 %Morrisville, NC9.8Raleigh, NC: 9.8 %Raleigh, NC9.8Statesville, NC: 9.5 %Statesville, NC9.5
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Asheville, NC22.6+1.7 pts
2Morehead City, NC19.8-1.7 pts
3Lumberton, NC17.4-0.6 pts
4Kinston, NC17.1-1.5 pts
5Albemarle, NC17-0.3 pts
6Waynesville, NC16.9+1.1 pts
7Spring Lake, NC16.3+0.5 pts
8Lexington, NC16.1+1.7 pts
9Southern Pines, NC15.4+1.8 pts
10Elon, NC15.4+1 pts
11Elizabeth City, NC15.1+0.6 pts
12Shelby, NC15.1-1.1 pts
13Henderson, NC14.6-1.4 pts
14Rocky Mount, NC14.4-0.1 pts
15Laurinburg, NC13.9-1.6 pts
16Pinehurst, NC13.9-1 pts
17Eden, NC13.70 pts
18Goldsboro, NC13.4+0.9 pts
19Concord, NC12.8-0.9 pts
20Kannapolis, NC12.8-1 pts
21Smithfield, NC12.5-2 pts
22Salisbury, NC12.4+0.2 pts
23Havelock, NC12.3+0.3 pts
24Boone, NC12.2-0.8 pts
25New Bern, NC12.1-0.7 pts
26Davidson, NC11.9+2.6 pts
27Winston-Salem, NC11.6-0.4 pts
28Jacksonville, NC11.5-0 pts
29Tarboro, NC11.3+1.4 pts
30Greenville, NC11.1-1.5 pts
31Chapel Hill, NC10.7-0.1 pts
31Fayetteville, NC10.7-0.4 pts
33Wilson, NC10.7-1 pts
34Hickory, NC10.5+0.6 pts
35Roanoke Rapids, NC10.4+0.2 pts
36Wilmington, NC9.9-0.3 pts
37Lenoir, NC9.8-2.3 pts
38Morrisville, NC9.8+0.4 pts
39Raleigh, NC9.8-0.5 pts
40Statesville, NC9.5-0.1 pts
41Mount Airy, NC9.4-2.9 pts
42Greensboro, NC9.3-0.4 pts
43Pineville, NC9.1+1.6 pts
44Sanford, NC9.1-0.8 pts
45Burlington, NC9+0.1 pts
46Graham, NC9-0.7 pts
47Reidsville, NC8.9-2.8 pts
48Morganton, NC8.8-1.8 pts
49Gastonia, NC8.7-0.9 pts
50Hendersonville, NC8.2+0.5 pts
51High Point, NC8.1+0.1 pts
52Thomasville, NC7.9+0.3 pts
53Cornelius, NC7.8+0.8 pts
54Charlotte, NC7.6+0.1 pts
55Mebane, NC7.3+0.3 pts
56Garner, NC7.3-0.2 pts
57Carrboro, NC7.3-0.4 pts
58Durham, NC7.2+0.4 pts
59Monroe, NC7-0.3 pts
60Mooresville, NC6.8+0.8 pts
61Kings Mountain, NC6.8-2.3 pts
62Lincolnton, NC6.7-1.2 pts
63Clemmons, NC6.6-0.5 pts
64Aberdeen, NC6.5-2.3 pts
65Cary, NC6.4-0.2 pts
66Newton, NC6.4+0.6 pts
67Mint Hill, NC6.4+0.8 pts
68Leland, NC6.1-0.3 pts
69Asheboro, NC6-2.8 pts
70Hope Mills, NC5.9-1.6 pts
71Matthews, NC5.7-0 pts
72Summerfield, NC5.6+0.8 pts
73Wendell, NC5.5+0.4 pts
74Indian Trail, NC5.4+0.2 pts
75Clayton, NC5.4-0.6 pts
76Winterville, NC5.2+1.1 pts
77Wake Forest, NC5.1-0.2 pts
78Apex, NC5.1-0.5 pts
79Harrisburg, NC5+0.3 pts
80Holly Springs, NC5-0.4 pts
81Zebulon, NC4.9-1.2 pts
82Fuquay-Varina, NC4.6+0.1 pts
83Knightdale, NC4.6+0.9 pts
84Kernersville, NC4.5-0.9 pts
85Archdale, NC4.5-1.2 pts
86Waxhaw, NC3.9+0.3 pts
87Lewisville, NC3.9-1.5 pts
88Huntersville, NC3.8-0.3 pts
89Rolesville, NC3.7+0.4 pts
90Mount Holly, NC3.6-0.4 pts
91Belmont, NC3.3-1.1 pts
92Weddington, NC2.9+0.2 pts
93Stallings, NC2.6+0.7 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Vacant housing units as a percentage of all housing units.

More on how it is measured
  • Vacant units include those for rent or for sale, rented or sold but not yet occupied, for seasonal, recreational or occasional use, for migrant workers, and other vacant units.
  • United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

This gross rate counts seasonal and other off-market vacant units, so it is much higher than the rental and homeowner vacancy rates of the Housing Vacancy Survey (rental_vacancy_rate and homeowner_vacancy_rate) and cannot be compared with them. Counties with many holiday homes have high rates.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25002: vacant housing units as a percentage of all housing units, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25002: vacant housing units as a percentage of all housing units, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in North Carolina by housing vacancy rate, all vacant units (US), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25002.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25002: vacant housing units as a percentage of all housing units, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in North Carolina by housing vacancy rate, all vacant units (US), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25002.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/housing-vacancy-rate-all-vacant-units/north-carolina-cities?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25002: vacant housing units as a percentage of all housing units, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in North Carolina by housing vacancy rate, all vacant units (US), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25002.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/housing-vacancy-rate-all-vacant-units/north-carolina-cities?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25002: vacant housing units as a percentage of all housing units, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in North Carolina by housing vacancy rate, all vacant units (US), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25002.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/housing-vacancy-rate-all-vacant-units/north-carolina-cities?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_north_carolina_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25002: vacant housing units as a percentage of all housing units, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in North Carolina by housing vacancy rate, all vacant units (US), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25002.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/housing-vacancy-rate-all-vacant-units/north-carolina-cities?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25002: vacant housing units as a percentage of all housing units, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25002: vacant housing units as a percentage of all housing units, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in North Carolina by housing vacancy rate, all vacant units (US), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25002.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/housing-vacancy-rate-all-vacant-units/north-carolina-cities?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/housing-vacancy-rate-all-vacant-units/north-carolina-cities?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25002: vacant housing units as a percentage of all housing units, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b25002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in North Carolina by housing vacancy rate, all vacant units (US) using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"vacancy_rate_acs","level":"municipality","within":"North Carolina","limit":10}
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Questions

Which city has the highest housing vacancy rate, all vacant units (US)?

Asheville, NC, with 22.6% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest housing vacancy rate, all vacant units (US)?

Stallings, NC, with 2.6% in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25002: vacant housing units as a percentage of all housing units, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Housing vacancy rate, all vacant units (US): other rankings

Cities in North Carolina: more rankings