These 6 NC cities rank among the friendliest in the South. ‘You won’t meet a stranger’
North Carolina is brimming with smiling people and charming towns — but which are the most welcoming?
Six destinations across the state now rank among the friendliest places to visit in the South. Here’s where the locations landed on lists from Southern Living magazine:
- Wilmington at No. 6 among cities
- Asheville at No. 7 among cities
- Cary at No. 15 among cities
- Southport at No. 6 among small towns
- Carolina Beach at No. 11 among small towns
- Hendersonville at No. 14 among small towns
“You won’t meet a stranger in these Southern communities,” the magazine wrote in its May 21 cities report, which published the day after the small-town rankings.
To create the lists, Southern Living said it teamed with research company Proof Insights to conduct a survey from July 12 to Aug. 23, 2023. More than 20,000 magazine readers were asked “to name the friendliest people and places in the South,” resulting in “thousands of comments about their hometowns and places they’ve visited.”
What makes the NC cities friendly?
The highest ranking of the North Carolina cities — defined as places with more than 40,000 residents — was Wilmington. Southern Living raved about the destination’s scenery, food scene and proximity to popular beaches.
But what makes Wilmington “truly special is the way it effortlessly blends big city attractions with smaller town charm,” the magazine wrote.
Also ranking among the top 15 most friendly cities was the mountain travel hot spot of Asheville, which voters praised for its laid-back vibe and community spirit. Rounding out the list was Cary, a city just west of Raleigh that “has exploded into a major cultural hub while retaining its small-town character.”
When it comes to places that are actually smaller in size, readers’ favorite North Carolina destination was Southport. The town south of Wilmington received several nods for being a “fun” place where people relax along the waterfront or gather to celebrate Independence Day.
“It’s easy to be friendly when you’re having a good time,” Southern Living wrote.
Other North Carolina destinations ranking among the top 20 friendliest towns were the popular coastal destination of Carolina Beach and Hendersonville, which is nestled in the mountains. Both received praise for their welcoming people.
In all, results show the South’s friendliest city was Charleston, South Carolina. Meanwhile, the No. 1 small town was Covington, Louisiana, a roughly 40-mile drive north from New Orleans.
Readers considered cities in the following states: “Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia,” Washington, D.C., and West Virginia, a magazine spokesperson told McClatchy News in an email.
This story was originally published May 22, 2024 at 9:46 AM with the headline "These 6 NC cities rank among the friendliest in the South. ‘You won’t meet a stranger’."
