Skip to content
All counties in North Carolina eviction risk overview
County index·100 counties tracked

All Counties in North Carolina, Eviction Risk 2026

100 counties covering 774 incorporated cities and 6,708,192 residents. Statewide average landlord risk score is 3.8/10 (Low), but county-level scores vary sharply, urban counties with strong tenant protections or high rent burdens routinely score several points above rural counties.

Counties tracked100administrative regions
State avg risk3.8/ 10 · Low
Cities in dataset774incorporated places
Total residents6.7Macross all counties
All 100 counties in North Carolina
Ranked by eviction risk · click any column to re-sort, or search to filter
County↕ Population↕ Risk↕ Lean↕ Renters↕ % income on rent↕ Avg rent↕ Poverty↕ Cities↕
01 Washington County Pop 3,851 · 50% renters · 45% on rent · $696 · 3 cities 3,851 5.3 Dem 49.9% 44.7% $696 37.9% 3
02 Scotland County Pop 18,791 · 44% renters · 35% on rent · $771 · 7 cities 18,791 4.7 IND 44.2% 34.8% $771 33.8% 7
03 Tyrrell County Pop 759 · 51% renters · 42% on rent · $678 · 1 city 759 4.6 Rep 50.7% 42.1% $678 35.3% 1
04 Halifax County Pop 25,294 · 41% renters · 33% on rent · $721 · 9 cities 25,294 4.5 Dem 40.6% 32.6% $721 30.0% 9
05 Greene County Pop 4,663 · 45% renters · 38% on rent · $790 · 4 cities 4,663 4.4 Rep 44.7% 37.8% $790 33.5% 4
06 Richmond County Pop 21,864 · 43% renters · 36% on rent · $670 · 9 cities 21,864 4.3 Rep 43.1% 36.2% $670 34.0% 9
07 Pitt County Pop 119,772 · 41% renters · 35% on rent · $944 · 13 cities 119,772 4.3 Dem 40.8% 35.5% $944 21.3% 13
08 Hertford County Pop 8,950 · 42% renters · 39% on rent · $888 · 5 cities 8,950 4.3 Dem 41.6% 38.7% $888 23.0% 5
09 Jackson County Pop 12,434 · 48% renters · 30% on rent · $1,007 · 7 cities 12,434 4.3 Rep 48.2% 29.7% $1,007 25.6% 7
10 Transylvania County Pop 8,596 · 61% renters · 24% on rent · $923 · 2 cities 8,596 4.3 Rep 61.1% 24.1% $923 19.8% 2
11 Anson County Pop 10,118 · 37% renters · 30% on rent · $925 · 7 cities 10,118 4.2 IND 37.3% 29.8% $925 30.9% 7
12 Durham County Pop 293,613 · 44% renters · 31% on rent · $2,106 · 3 cities 293,613 4.2 Dem 44.0% 31.0% $2,106 14.3% 3
13 Vance County Pop 16,064 · 41% renters · 39% on rent · $917 · 4 cities 16,064 4.2 Dem 41.3% 38.9% $917 32.6% 4
14 Mitchell County Pop 3,145 · 37% renters · 34% on rent · $670 · 2 cities 3,145 4.2 Rep 36.6% 34.1% $670 17.9% 2
15 Ashe County Pop 3,465 · 49% renters · 31% on rent · $728 · 3 cities 3,465 4.1 Rep 48.7% 31.4% $728 15.5% 3
16 Warren County Pop 1,925 · 39% renters · 36% on rent · $842 · 3 cities 1,925 4.1 Dem 38.7% 35.6% $842 17.7% 3
17 Franklin County Pop 12,755 · 34% renters · 34% on rent · $1,082 · 6 cities 12,755 4.1 Rep 34.3% 33.9% $1,082 13.6% 6
18 Perquimans County Pop 2,315 · 42% renters · 26% on rent · $885 · 2 cities 2,315 4.1 Rep 41.7% 26.4% $885 19.0% 2
19 Edgecombe County Pop 15,575 · 41% renters · 35% on rent · $903 · 9 cities 15,575 4.0 Dem 41.0% 35.3% $903 22.9% 9
20 Orange County Pop 94,146 · 39% renters · 42% on rent · $1,327 · 4 cities 94,146 4.0 Dem 39.3% 41.7% $1,327 10.3% 4
21 Chowan County Pop 6,809 · 22% renters · 25% on rent · $661 · 5 cities 6,809 4.0 Rep 22.5% 24.9% $661 31.5% 5
22 Alleghany County Pop 1,928 · 42% renters · 31% on rent · $563 · 1 city 1,928 4.0 Rep 41.8% 31.1% $563 21.2% 1
23 Cherokee County Pop 4,074 · 38% renters · 22% on rent · $693 · 3 cities 4,074 4.0 Rep 38.2% 21.9% $693 17.0% 3
24 Cumberland County Pop 248,435 · 33% renters · 33% on rent · $1,088 · 9 cities 248,435 4.0 Dem 33.5% 33.4% $1,088 17.5% 9
25 Yancey County Pop 2,082 · 51% renters · 26% on rent · $862 · 1 city 2,082 4.0 Rep 51.4% 25.9% $862 25.5% 1
26 Harnett County Pop 62,198 · 33% renters · 30% on rent · $1,115 · 11 cities 62,198 4.0 Rep 33.2% 30.1% $1,115 14.2% 11
27 Montgomery County Pop 8,681 · 44% renters · 28% on rent · $804 · 5 cities 8,681 4.0 Rep 44.5% 28.4% $804 24.6% 5
28 Northampton County Pop 5,830 · 32% renters · 32% on rent · $745 · 11 cities 5,830 4.0 Dem 32.3% 31.6% $745 21.8% 11
29 Mecklenburg County Pop 1.09M · 33% renters · 30% on rent · $1,666 · 7 cities 1.09M 4.0 Dem 33.0% 29.6% $1,666 7.6% 7
30 Johnston County Pop 67,195 · 37% renters · 33% on rent · $1,020 · 10 cities 67,195 4.0 Rep 36.8% 32.5% $1,020 19.9% 10
31 Martin County Pop 8,130 · 44% renters · 27% on rent · $763 · 9 cities 8,130 4.0 IND 43.8% 26.6% $763 17.9% 9
32 Duplin County Pop 13,468 · 40% renters · 31% on rent · $701 · 12 cities 13,468 4.0 Rep 39.6% 30.9% $701 23.2% 12
33 Beaufort County Pop 18,788 · 28% renters · 34% on rent · $935 · 11 cities 18,788 3.9 Rep 28.2% 34.2% $935 17.6% 11
34 Wilson County Pop 57,575 · 37% renters · 31% on rent · $903 · 10 cities 57,575 3.9 IND 37.0% 30.7% $903 19.3% 10
35 Bertie County Pop 5,014 · 26% renters · 37% on rent · $749 · 6 cities 5,014 3.9 Dem 25.8% 37.4% $749 19.8% 6
36 Macon County Pop 5,342 · 37% renters · 21% on rent · $687 · 2 cities 5,342 3.9 Rep 37.3% 21.3% $687 17.2% 2
37 Madison County Pop 4,553 · 43% renters · 30% on rent · $765 · 3 cities 4,553 3.9 Rep 43.0% 30.4% $765 14.3% 3
38 Rockingham County Pop 38,793 · 35% renters · 27% on rent · $785 · 7 cities 38,793 3.9 Rep 34.6% 27.0% $785 16.4% 7
39 Wayne County Pop 55,047 · 33% renters · 29% on rent · $965 · 12 cities 55,047 3.9 Rep 33.0% 29.5% $965 22.4% 12
40 Polk County Pop 3,686 · 35% renters · 28% on rent · $1,239 · 4 cities 3,686 3.9 Rep 35.0% 28.5% $1,239 20.0% 4
41 Wake County Pop 988,194 · 31% renters · 29% on rent · $1,606 · 12 cities 988,194 3.9 Dem 30.9% 29.2% $1,606 5.9% 12
42 Lenoir County Pop 24,271 · 44% renters · 24% on rent · $750 · 6 cities 24,271 3.9 IND 43.6% 23.6% $750 24.1% 6
43 Watauga County Pop 25,108 · 29% renters · 37% on rent · $1,199 · 6 cities 25,108 3.9 Dem 28.5% 37.0% $1,199 21.3% 6
44 Granville County Pop 23,460 · 27% renters · 25% on rent · $1,096 · 5 cities 23,460 3.9 Rep 27.2% 25.0% $1,096 13.3% 5
45 Caswell County Pop 2,348 · 33% renters · 35% on rent · $801 · 2 cities 2,348 3.9 Rep 33.1% 35.5% $801 30.4% 2
46 Iredell County Pop 99,890 · 32% renters · 29% on rent · $1,185 · 6 cities 99,890 3.9 Rep 32.5% 28.9% $1,185 12.7% 6
47 Jones County Pop 2,308 · 38% renters · 30% on rent · $864 · 4 cities 2,308 3.9 Rep 38.3% 30.3% $864 19.0% 4
48 Columbus County Pop 14,809 · 39% renters · 28% on rent · $853 · 11 cities 14,809 3.8 Rep 38.7% 27.8% $853 24.1% 11
49 Randolph County Pop 58,248 · 37% renters · 30% on rent · $848 · 9 cities 58,248 3.8 Rep 37.3% 29.6% $848 19.5% 9
50 Robeson County Pop 37,829 · 36% renters · 35% on rent · $828 · 23 cities 37,829 3.8 Rep 36.2% 34.7% $828 25.2% 23
51 Surry County Pop 23,293 · 37% renters · 28% on rent · $782 · 8 cities 23,293 3.8 Rep 36.7% 28.5% $782 15.2% 8
52 Catawba County Pop 101,255 · 32% renters · 29% on rent · $983 · 11 cities 101,255 3.8 Rep 32.1% 29.3% $983 14.5% 11
53 Bladen County Pop 9,668 · 34% renters · 37% on rent · $759 · 10 cities 9,668 3.8 Rep 34.2% 37.0% $759 22.1% 10
54 New Hanover County Pop 214,390 · 24% renters · 31% on rent · $1,523 · 17 cities 214,390 3.8 IND 24.0% 31.5% $1,523 11.7% 17
55 Craven County Pop 74,699 · 26% renters · 32% on rent · $1,217 · 12 cities 74,699 3.8 Rep 25.7% 32.3% $1,217 15.5% 12
56 Person County Pop 8,885 · 33% renters · 41% on rent · $1,026 · 2 cities 8,885 3.8 Rep 32.5% 41.3% $1,026 18.0% 2
57 Rowan County Pop 60,960 · 28% renters · 28% on rent · $927 · 11 cities 60,960 3.7 Rep 27.8% 28.1% $927 15.6% 11
58 Buncombe County Pop 136,599 · 25% renters · 34% on rent · $1,422 · 12 cities 136,599 3.7 Dem 25.2% 33.6% $1,422 8.8% 12
59 Lee County Pop 33,313 · 38% renters · 37% on rent · $1,021 · 3 cities 33,313 3.7 Rep 37.6% 36.9% $1,021 19.9% 3
60 Nash County Pop 67,910 · 33% renters · 27% on rent · $847 · 9 cities 67,910 3.7 IND 32.7% 26.6% $847 19.5% 9
61 Wilkes County Pop 18,687 · 35% renters · 27% on rent · $712 · 9 cities 18,687 3.7 Rep 34.6% 27.2% $712 16.5% 9
62 Yadkin County Pop 9,176 · 37% renters · 31% on rent · $730 · 6 cities 9,176 3.7 Rep 36.9% 30.7% $730 24.9% 6
63 Onslow County Pop 111,036 · 24% renters · 27% on rent · $1,253 · 10 cities 111,036 3.7 Rep 24.4% 26.7% $1,253 9.5% 10
64 Clay County Pop 1,208 · 41% renters · 20% on rent · $499 · 1 city 1,208 3.7 Rep 40.9% 20.0% $499 24.2% 1
65 Gaston County Pop 155,706 · 33% renters · 27% on rent · $1,173 · 15 cities 155,706 3.7 Rep 32.8% 27.4% $1,173 11.3% 15
66 Haywood County Pop 22,979 · 31% renters · 34% on rent · $1,053 · 6 cities 22,979 3.7 Rep 30.9% 33.8% $1,053 10.3% 6
67 Hyde County Pop 1,436 · 31% renters · 36% on rent · $1,169 · 4 cities 1,436 3.7 Rep 30.5% 36.2% $1,169 20.4% 4
68 McDowell County Pop 11,096 · 37% renters · 30% on rent · $819 · 5 cities 11,096 3.7 Rep 36.7% 30.3% $819 18.4% 5
69 Pasquotank County Pop 18,871 · 56% renters · 31% on rent · $1,117 · 1 city 18,871 3.7 IND 55.9% 31.4% $1,117 10.3% 1
70 Burke County Pop 37,025 · 30% renters · 26% on rent · $812 · 9 cities 37,025 3.7 Rep 30.1% 25.7% $812 16.0% 9
71 Graham County Pop 670 · 27% renters · 38% on rent · $620 · 3 cities 670 3.7 Rep 26.8% 37.9% $620 23.4% 3
72 Stanly County Pop 29,369 · 26% renters · 30% on rent · $893 · 11 cities 29,369 3.7 Rep 25.9% 30.4% $893 11.4% 11
73 Cleveland County Pop 45,399 · 27% renters · 31% on rent · $897 · 17 cities 45,399 3.7 Rep 26.6% 31.1% $897 18.9% 17
74 Forsyth County Pop 328,012 · 28% renters · 27% on rent · $1,184 · 8 cities 328,012 3.7 Dem 28.3% 27.2% $1,184 11.6% 8
75 Davie County Pop 12,084 · 24% renters · 27% on rent · $955 · 5 cities 12,084 3.6 Rep 24.0% 26.5% $955 12.5% 5
76 Stokes County Pop 11,347 · 25% renters · 35% on rent · $845 · 5 cities 11,347 3.6 Rep 25.2% 34.6% $845 13.5% 5
77 Moore County Pop 65,192 · 26% renters · 30% on rent · $1,244 · 13 cities 65,192 3.6 Rep 25.6% 30.0% $1,244 10.0% 13
78 Camden County Pop 1,345 · 39% renters · 20% on rent · $1,165 · 2 cities 1,345 3.6 Rep 39.5% 20.2% $1,165 2.9% 2
79 Davidson County Pop 65,843 · 23% renters · 27% on rent · $789 · 9 cities 65,843 3.6 Rep 23.4% 26.5% $789 14.7% 9
80 Gates County Pop 767 · 25% renters · 22% on rent · $1,058 · 3 cities 767 3.6 Rep 24.7% 22.3% $1,058 15.3% 3
81 Sampson County Pop 17,451 · 29% renters · 32% on rent · $842 · 17 cities 17,451 3.6 Rep 29.5% 31.7% $842 19.4% 17
82 Dare County Pop 26,262 · 27% renters · 33% on rent · $1,261 · 14 cities 26,262 3.6 Rep 26.7% 33.5% $1,261 9.2% 14
83 Rutherford County Pop 19,312 · 34% renters · 26% on rent · $755 · 10 cities 19,312 3.6 Rep 34.4% 25.8% $755 16.8% 10
84 Henderson County Pop 68,350 · 26% renters · 26% on rent · $1,153 · 16 cities 68,350 3.6 Rep 26.0% 25.6% $1,153 14.0% 16
85 Alamance County Pop 134,711 · 27% renters · 31% on rent · $1,096 · 14 cities 134,711 3.6 Rep 26.7% 30.9% $1,096 11.8% 14
86 Avery County Pop 4,283 · 24% renters · 29% on rent · $935 · 8 cities 4,283 3.5 Rep 24.2% 29.1% $935 11.8% 8
87 Brunswick County Pop 82,666 · 15% renters · 34% on rent · $1,259 · 20 cities 82,666 3.5 Rep 14.6% 34.0% $1,259 9.2% 20
88 Caldwell County Pop 41,623 · 26% renters · 29% on rent · $831 · 9 cities 41,623 3.5 Rep 26.1% 29.3% $831 12.3% 9
89 Union County Pop 174,712 · 18% renters · 31% on rent · $1,595 · 15 cities 174,712 3.5 Rep 18.1% 31.2% $1,595 10.4% 15
90 Carteret County Pop 36,394 · 22% renters · 33% on rent · $1,235 · 17 cities 36,394 3.5 Rep 22.5% 32.7% $1,235 10.2% 17
91 Currituck County Pop 9,141 · 20% renters · 38% on rent · $1,483 · 4 cities 9,141 3.5 Rep 20.0% 37.5% $1,483 8.9% 4
92 Hoke County Pop 10,191 · 26% renters · 37% on rent · $996 · 8 cities 10,191 3.5 Dem 26.2% 37.2% $996 31.1% 8
93 Pender County Pop 21,367 · 19% renters · 32% on rent · $1,205 · 10 cities 21,367 3.5 Rep 19.0% 32.1% $1,205 17.0% 10
94 Cabarrus County Pop 199,172 · 22% renters · 29% on rent · $1,483 · 6 cities 199,172 3.5 Rep 22.1% 29.2% $1,483 7.4% 6
95 Chatham County Pop 26,914 · 22% renters · 25% on rent · $1,547 · 9 cities 26,914 3.5 Dem 21.9% 25.3% $1,547 7.1% 9
96 Swain County Pop 3,986 · 44% renters · 24% on rent · $977 · 3 cities 3,986 3.5 Rep 44.0% 24.5% $977 23.4% 3
97 Pamlico County Pop 5,033 · 24% renters · 32% on rent · $1,028 · 10 cities 5,033 3.5 Rep 24.2% 32.0% $1,028 15.4% 10
98 Lincoln County Pop 25,411 · 24% renters · 32% on rent · $1,157 · 6 cities 25,411 3.4 Rep 24.4% 31.5% $1,157 7.3% 6
99 Alexander County Pop 7,964 · 18% renters · 24% on rent · $719 · 4 cities 7,964 3.4 Rep 18.3% 24.3% $719 18.2% 4
100 Guilford County Pop 457,397 · 16% renters · 28% on rent · $1,463 · 11 cities 457,397 3.3 Dem 16.1% 27.5% $1,463 9.4% 11

Understanding county eviction risk in North Carolina

North Carolina's 100 counties span eviction-risk scores from 3.3 in Guilford County to 5.3 in Washington County , a 2.0-point gap that captures how unevenly rent burdens, renter populations, and local tenant politics are distributed across the state. The statewide average sits at 3.8/10 (Low), but that single figure hides far more than it reveals, the table above scores every county on the same 1–10 scale so you can see exactly where landlord exposure concentrates.

The counties carrying the most eviction risk, Washington County, Scotland County, Tyrrell County, are North Carolina's denser, higher-cost markets. In Washington County, renters spend an average of 45% of household income on rent, and 50% of its homes are renter-occupied, the cost pressure that pushes filings up and pulls tenant-protection ordinances into local politics. Larger metros also concentrate the legal-aid networks and renter-organizing capacity that lift a county's score above the rural baseline.

At the other end of the table, Guilford County, Alexander County, Lincoln County score lowest. These tend to be smaller, more rural counties where homeownership is the norm, rent-to-income ratios run lower, and local rent-control or just-cause ordinances are rare or state-preempted. Evictions still happen there, but the structural pressure that drives a high score (heavy rent burden, a large renter majority, organized tenant advocacy) is simply weaker.

Each county score is a population-weighted aggregate of every city scored inside it, so a county with one expensive urban core and a dozen quiet suburbs lands somewhere in between. Click any county row to drill into its cities ranked one by one, a zoomed heat map, and a full breakdown of rent burden, renter share, poverty rate, and political margin. For the statutes that apply statewide regardless of county, notice periods, security-deposit caps, just-cause and rent-control rules, see the North Carolina state overview.

Landlord guides for North Carolina

State-specific playbooks
North Carolina Eviction Costs →
Filing fees, attorney fees, lost rent, sheriff lockout
North Carolina Eviction Process →
Step-by-step timeline, notices, statute cites
North Carolina Rent Control →
Statewide caps, local ordinances, just-cause
North Carolina Tenant Screening →
Five-point protocol, legal rules, protected classes
North Carolina Tenant Protections →
Just cause, retaliation, habitability, entry

Explore related resources

National Eviction Risk Map North Carolina Overview All States Worst Cities for Landlords 2026 Best Cities for Landlords 2026 Least Affordable Cities for Renters Rent Control Cities 2026