Data / Rankings / Residents who moved from another county in the past year / Cities in North Carolina

Cities in North Carolina by residents who moved from another county in the past year

Boone, NC had the highest residents who moved from another county in the past year of 93 cities in 2022, at 31.7%. Zebulon, NC had the lowest, at 1.9%. The median was 7.2% and the figure for North Carolina was 6.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest31.7Boone, NC
Lowest1.9Zebulon, NC
Median7.293 cities
North Carolina6.8History

Top 40 cities, 2022

Boone, NC: 31.7 %Boone, NC31.7Elon, NC: 24.4 %Elon, NC24.4Spring Lake, NC: 22.9 %Spring Lake, NC22.9Jacksonville, NC: 20.9 %Jacksonville, NC20.9Greenville, NC: 17.6 %Greenville, NC17.6Chapel Hill, NC: 17.1 %Chapel Hill, NC17.1Davidson, NC: 12.9 %Davidson, NC12.9Elizabeth City, NC: 12.2 %Elizabeth City, NC12.2Havelock, NC: 11.5 %Havelock, NC11.5Wilmington, NC: 11.5 %Wilmington, NC11.5Carrboro, NC: 10.9 %Carrboro, NC10.9Fayetteville, NC: 10.8 %Fayetteville, NC10.8Morrisville, NC: 10.8 %Morrisville, NC10.8Stallings, NC: 10.6 %Stallings, NC10.6Pinehurst, NC: 10.6 %Pinehurst, NC10.6Waxhaw, NC: 10.5 %Waxhaw, NC10.5Garner, NC: 10.5 %Garner, NC10.5Mooresville, NC: 10.4 %Mooresville, NC10.4Salisbury, NC: 9.7 %Salisbury, NC9.7Hickory, NC: 9.6 %Hickory, NC9.6Clayton, NC: 9.6 %Clayton, NC9.6Southern Pines, NC: 9.5 %Southern Pines, NC9.5Leland, NC: 9.5 %Leland, NC9.5Asheville, NC: 9.3 %Asheville, NC9.3Kernersville, NC: 9.3 %Kernersville, NC9.3Lincolnton, NC: 9.1 %Lincolnton, NC9.1Burlington, NC: 8.9 %Burlington, NC8.9Hendersonville, NC: 8.8 %Hendersonville, NC8.8Laurinburg, NC: 8.8 %Laurinburg, NC8.8Durham, NC: 8.7 %Durham, NC8.7Albemarle, NC: 8.6 %Albemarle, NC8.6Morehead City, NC: 8.5 %Morehead City, NC8.5Weddington, NC: 8.4 %Weddington, NC8.4Indian Trail, NC: 8.1 %Indian Trail, NC8.1Cary, NC: 8 %Cary, NC8Raleigh, NC: 7.8 %Raleigh, NC7.8Goldsboro, NC: 7.7 %Goldsboro, NC7.7Wilson, NC: 7.7 %Wilson, NC7.7High Point, NC: 7.7 %High Point, NC7.7Belmont, NC: 7.5 %Belmont, NC7.5Boone, NC: 31.7 %Boone, NC31.7Elon, NC: 24.4 %Elon, NC24.4Spring Lake, NC: 22.9 %Spring Lake, NC22.9Jacksonville, NC: 20.9 %Jacksonville, NC20.9Greenville, NC: 17.6 %Greenville, NC17.6Chapel Hill, NC: 17.1 %Chapel Hill, NC17.1Davidson, NC: 12.9 %Davidson, NC12.9Elizabeth City, NC: 12.2 %Elizabeth City, NC12.2Havelock, NC: 11.5 %Havelock, NC11.5Wilmington, NC: 11.5 %Wilmington, NC11.5Carrboro, NC: 10.9 %Carrboro, NC10.9Fayetteville, NC: 10.8 %Fayetteville, NC10.8Morrisville, NC: 10.8 %Morrisville, NC10.8Stallings, NC: 10.6 %Stallings, NC10.6Pinehurst, NC: 10.6 %Pinehurst, NC10.6Waxhaw, NC: 10.5 %Waxhaw, NC10.5Garner, NC: 10.5 %Garner, NC10.5Mooresville, NC: 10.4 %Mooresville, NC10.4Salisbury, NC: 9.7 %Salisbury, NC9.7Hickory, NC: 9.6 %Hickory, NC9.6Clayton, NC: 9.6 %Clayton, NC9.6Southern Pines, NC: 9.5 %Southern Pines, NC9.5Leland, NC: 9.5 %Leland, NC9.5Asheville, NC: 9.3 %Asheville, NC9.3Kernersville, NC: 9.3 %Kernersville, NC9.3Lincolnton, NC: 9.1 %Lincolnton, NC9.1Burlington, NC: 8.9 %Burlington, NC8.9Hendersonville, NC: 8.8 %Hendersonville, NC8.8Laurinburg, NC: 8.8 %Laurinburg, NC8.8Durham, NC: 8.7 %Durham, NC8.7Albemarle, NC: 8.6 %Albemarle, NC8.6Morehead City, NC: 8.5 %Morehead City, NC8.5Weddington, NC: 8.4 %Weddington, NC8.4Indian Trail, NC: 8.1 %Indian Trail, NC8.1Cary, NC: 8 %Cary, NC8Raleigh, NC: 7.8 %Raleigh, NC7.8Goldsboro, NC: 7.7 %Goldsboro, NC7.7Wilson, NC: 7.7 %Wilson, NC7.7High Point, NC: 7.7 %High Point, NC7.7Belmont, NC: 7.5 %Belmont, NC7.5
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2022 (%)Change on 2021
1Boone, NC31.7+0.1 pts
2Elon, NC24.4+4.6 pts
3Spring Lake, NC22.9+0.5 pts
4Jacksonville, NC20.9-2.3 pts
5Greenville, NC17.6-0.9 pts
6Chapel Hill, NC17.1-2.9 pts
7Davidson, NC12.9+0.4 pts
8Elizabeth City, NC12.2-2.7 pts
9Havelock, NC11.5-1.8 pts
9Wilmington, NC11.5+0.1 pts
11Carrboro, NC10.9-1.7 pts
12Fayetteville, NC10.8-0.3 pts
13Morrisville, NC10.8+0.9 pts
14Stallings, NC10.6-0.7 pts
15Pinehurst, NC10.6-0.7 pts
16Waxhaw, NC10.5+1 pts
17Garner, NC10.5-0.7 pts
18Mooresville, NC10.4-0.6 pts
19Salisbury, NC9.7-0.2 pts
20Hickory, NC9.6-0.2 pts
21Clayton, NC9.6-0.1 pts
22Southern Pines, NC9.5+1.3 pts
23Leland, NC9.5-0.7 pts
24Asheville, NC9.3+0.5 pts
25Kernersville, NC9.3-0.2 pts
26Lincolnton, NC9.1+0.2 pts
27Burlington, NC8.9+1 pts
28Hendersonville, NC8.8+1 pts
29Laurinburg, NC8.8+1.1 pts
30Durham, NC8.7-0.2 pts
31Albemarle, NC8.6+0.8 pts
32Morehead City, NC8.5-1.5 pts
33Weddington, NC8.4-1.4 pts
34Indian Trail, NC8.1-0.5 pts
35Cary, NC8-0.2 pts
36Raleigh, NC7.8+0.4 pts
37Goldsboro, NC7.7-0.5 pts
38Wilson, NC7.7+1.6 pts
39High Point, NC7.7+0.7 pts
40Belmont, NC7.5+1.4 pts
41Huntersville, NC7.5+0.4 pts
42Aberdeen, NC7.5+2.3 pts
43Kings Mountain, NC7.5+0.3 pts
44Rocky Mount, NC7.4-0.2 pts
45Greensboro, NC7.3+0.3 pts
46Kannapolis, NC7.2+0.2 pts
47New Bern, NC7.2+0.2 pts
48Eden, NC7.2-0.7 pts
49Wake Forest, NC7-0.6 pts
50Winston-Salem, NC6.9+0.5 pts
51Thomasville, NC6.8-1 pts
52Hope Mills, NC6.7+0.9 pts
53Mebane, NC6.7+0.7 pts
54Mount Airy, NC6.7-0.8 pts
55Pineville, NC6.7-2.9 pts
56Concord, NC6.6+0.1 pts
57Winterville, NC6.6+0.8 pts
58Charlotte, NC6.6+0.5 pts
59Mount Holly, NC6.4-1 pts
60Shelby, NC6.4-0.6 pts
61Cornelius, NC6.3-0.2 pts
61Fuquay-Varina, NC6.3+0.2 pts
63Reidsville, NC6.2+1.3 pts
64Apex, NC6.1-0.9 pts
65Waynesville, NC5.9-0.4 pts
66Newton, NC5.9-1.3 pts
67Wendell, NC5.9-1.4 pts
68Matthews, NC5.8-0.6 pts
69Morganton, NC5.8+0.7 pts
69Sanford, NC5.8+0.6 pts
71Statesville, NC5.7+0.7 pts
72Archdale, NC5.7-0.4 pts
73Henderson, NC5.6+0.2 pts
74Monroe, NC5.6-0.3 pts
75Gastonia, NC5.6-0.5 pts
76Lexington, NC5.5-0.4 pts
77Harrisburg, NC5-0.5 pts
78Graham, NC5+1 pts
79Holly Springs, NC4.8-0.9 pts
80Clemmons, NC4.6-0.3 pts
81Lumberton, NC4.3-0.3 pts
82Knightdale, NC4.3+0.4 pts
83Lenoir, NC4.2+0.3 pts
84Kinston, NC4-0.5 pts
85Asheboro, NC3.9+0.1 pts
86Summerfield, NC3.8+1.2 pts
87Tarboro, NC3.8+1.7 pts
88Smithfield, NC3.5-0.5 pts
89Mint Hill, NC3.4-1.5 pts
90Rolesville, NC3-1.3 pts
91Lewisville, NC2.8+0.1 pts
92Roanoke Rapids, NC2+0.2 pts
93Zebulon, NC1.9-0.7 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People aged 1 and over who lived in a different US county one year earlier, in the same state or another state, as a percentage of all people aged 1 and over living in the area. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

Counts people who arrived, not net migration: people who left are not subtracted. Moves from abroad are left out. Includes moves from other states, which moved_from_other_state_share shows alone.

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 B07003: people aged 1 and over who moved from a different county in the past year, as a percentage of the population aged 1 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b07003.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 B07003: people aged 1 and over who moved from a different county in the past year, as a percentage of the population aged 1 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in North Carolina by residents who moved from another county in the past year, 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b07003.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B07003: people aged 1 and over who moved from a different county in the past year, as a percentage of the population aged 1 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in North Carolina by residents who moved from another county in the past year, 2022. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b07003.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/moved-from-another-county/north-carolina-cities?period=2022. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B07003: people aged 1 and over who moved from a different county in the past year, as a percentage of the population aged 1 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in North Carolina by residents who moved from another county in the past year, 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b07003.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/moved-from-another-county/north-carolina-cities?period=2022.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B07003: people aged 1 and over who moved from a different county in the past year, as a percentage of the population aged 1 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in North Carolina by residents who moved from another county in the past year, 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b07003.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/moved-from-another-county/north-carolina-cities?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_north_carolina_2022,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B07003: people aged 1 and over who moved from a different county in the past year, as a percentage of the population aged 1 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in North Carolina by residents who moved from another county in the past year, 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b07003.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/moved-from-another-county/north-carolina-cities?period=2022. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B07003: people aged 1 and over who moved from a different county in the past year, as a percentage of the population aged 1 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b07003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B07003: people aged 1 and over who moved from a different county in the past year, as a percentage of the population aged 1 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in North Carolina by residents who moved from another county in the past year, 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b07003.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/moved-from-another-county/north-carolina-cities?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/moved-from-another-county/north-carolina-cities?period=2022.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B07003: people aged 1 and over who moved from a different county in the past year, as a percentage of the population aged 1 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b07003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in North Carolina by residents who moved from another county in the past year using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"moved_from_other_county_share","level":"municipality","within":"North Carolina","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=moved_from_other_county_share&level=municipality&within=North%20Carolina&limit=10

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Questions

Which city has the highest residents who moved from another county in the past year?

Boone, NC, with 31.7% in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest residents who moved from another county in the past year?

Zebulon, NC, with 1.9% in 2022.

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 B07003: people aged 1 and over who moved from a different county in the past year, as a percentage of the population aged 1 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Residents who moved from another county in the past year: other rankings

Cities in North Carolina: more rankings