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Towns across North Carolina

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552 towns across North Carolina, from the mountains to the coast. 60 have a Ray Arts Index grade so far: a report card on the town’s arts life, across all eight art forms. Ray Arts Index v1.2, published 2026-10-15.

Zebulon: Not yet ratedWinterville: Not yet ratedWilson: Not yet ratedWendell: Not yet ratedWeddington: Not yet ratedWaxhaw: Not yet ratedWashington: Not yet ratedSummerfield: Not yet ratedStallings: Not yet ratedSpring Lake: Not yet ratedRoanoke Rapids: Not yet ratedReidsville: Not yet ratedPineville: Not yet ratedNew Bern: Not yet ratedMorrisville: Not yet ratedMorganton: Not yet ratedMorehead City: Not yet ratedMint Hill: Not yet ratedMebane: Not yet ratedMatthews: Not yet ratedLumberton: Not yet ratedLexington: Not yet ratedLaurinburg: Not yet ratedKernersville: Not yet ratedIndian Trail: Not yet ratedHuntersville: Not yet ratedHolly Springs: Not yet ratedHillsborough: Not yet ratedHendersonville: Not yet ratedHenderson: Not yet ratedGraham: Not yet ratedGibsonville: Not yet ratedGarner: Not yet ratedElon: Not yet ratedEden: Not yet ratedDavidson: Not yet ratedClemmons: Not yet ratedApex: Not yet ratedAngier: Not yet ratedAlbemarle: Not yet ratedArchdale: grade FFWesley Chapel: grade FFHavelock: grade FFHope Mills: grade FFThomasville: grade FFLeland: grade FFOak Island: grade FFRolesville: grade FFBurlington: grade FFJacksonville: grade DDGastonia: grade DDLewisville: grade DDClayton: grade DDLincolnton: grade DDMount Holly: grade DDAberdeen: grade DDKnightdale: grade DDFayetteville: grade DDKings Mountain: grade DDKinston: grade DDGreenville: grade DDKannapolis: grade DDConcord: grade DDTarboro: grade DDRocky Mount: grade DDMonroe: grade DDLenoir: grade DDShelby: grade DDBelmont: grade DDGoldsboro: grade DDHarrisburg: grade CCElizabeth City: grade CCWake Forest: grade CCMooresville: grade CCWinston-Salem: grade CCHigh Point: grade CCFuquay-Varina: grade CCPinehurst: grade CCAsheboro: grade CCCharlotte: grade CCHickory: grade CCSalisbury: grade CCOxford: grade CCSanford: grade CCSmithfield: grade CCSouthern Pines: grade CCCary: grade CCStatesville: grade CCWilmington: grade BBNewton: grade BBGreensboro: grade BBRaleigh: grade BBCornelius: grade BBWaynesville: grade BBDurham: grade BBChapel Hill: grade BBCarrboro: grade BBMount Airy: grade BBAsheville: grade AABoone: grade AABooneAshevilleMount AiryDurhamWaynesvilleWilmingtonStatesvilleSanfordOxfordAsheboroPinehurstElizabeth CityShelbyLenoirMonroeRocky MountTarboroGreenvilleKinstonFayettevilleAberdeenLewisvilleJacksonvilleOak IslandLelandHope MillsHavelockWesley Chapel
Map: towns placed at their US Census Gazetteer coordinates; letters are grades, hollow dots are not yet rated. State outline: US Census cartographic boundary file.

By region

Towns by region

Each town’s grade, marked in red ink as on its report card. A town is graded once at least 80% of the information is found; until then it shows “Not yet rated”. Missing information never counts as zero.

See the ranking

Mountains6 towns

Piedmont69 towns

Coastal Plain25 towns

Ranked

Ranked on the Ray Arts Index

60 towns graded so far

Graded towns in rank order, then the towns not yet rated, A to Z. Towns can correct their data and add what’s missing, and grades are recalculated. How it’s calculated

Back to regions
  1. #1BooneMountainsGrade A
  2. #2AshevilleMountainsGrade A
  3. #3Mount AiryPiedmontGrade B
  4. #4CarrboroPiedmontGrade B
  5. #5Chapel HillPiedmontGrade B
  6. #6DurhamPiedmontGrade B
  7. #7WaynesvilleMountainsGrade B
  8. #8CorneliusPiedmontGrade B
  9. #9RaleighPiedmontGrade B
  10. #10GreensboroPiedmontGrade B
  11. #11NewtonPiedmontGrade B
  12. #12WilmingtonCoastal PlainGrade B
  13. #13StatesvillePiedmontGrade C
  14. #14CaryPiedmontGrade C
  15. #15Southern PinesPiedmontGrade C
  16. #16SmithfieldCoastal PlainGrade C
  17. #17SanfordPiedmontGrade C
  18. #18OxfordPiedmontGrade C
  19. #19SalisburyPiedmontGrade C
  20. #20HickoryPiedmontGrade C
  21. #21CharlottePiedmontGrade C
  22. #22AsheboroPiedmontGrade C
  23. #23PinehurstPiedmontGrade C
  24. #24Fuquay-VarinaPiedmontGrade C
  25. #25High PointPiedmontGrade C
  26. #26Winston-SalemPiedmontGrade C
  27. #27MooresvillePiedmontGrade C
  28. #28Wake ForestPiedmontGrade C
  29. #29Elizabeth CityCoastal PlainGrade C
  30. #30HarrisburgPiedmontGrade C
  31. #31GoldsboroCoastal PlainGrade D
  32. #32BelmontPiedmontGrade D
  33. #33ShelbyPiedmontGrade D
  34. #34LenoirMountainsGrade D
  35. #35MonroePiedmontGrade D
  36. #36Rocky MountCoastal PlainGrade D
  37. #37TarboroCoastal PlainGrade D
  38. #38ConcordPiedmontGrade D
  39. #39KannapolisPiedmontGrade D
  40. #40GreenvilleCoastal PlainGrade D
  41. #41KinstonCoastal PlainGrade D
  42. #42Kings MountainPiedmontGrade D
  43. #43FayettevilleCoastal PlainGrade D
  44. #44KnightdalePiedmontGrade D
  45. #45AberdeenPiedmontGrade D
  46. #46Mount HollyPiedmontGrade D
  47. #47LincolntonPiedmontGrade D
  48. #48ClaytonCoastal PlainGrade D
  49. #49LewisvillePiedmontGrade D
  50. #50GastoniaPiedmontGrade D
  51. #51JacksonvilleCoastal PlainGrade D
  52. #52BurlingtonPiedmontGrade F
  53. #53RolesvillePiedmontGrade F
  54. #54Oak IslandCoastal PlainGrade F
  55. #55LelandCoastal PlainGrade F
  56. #56ThomasvillePiedmontGrade F
  57. #57Hope MillsCoastal PlainGrade F
  58. #58HavelockCoastal PlainGrade F
  59. #59Wesley ChapelPiedmontGrade F
  60. #60ArchdalePiedmontGrade F
  61. –AlbemarlePiedmontNot yet rated
  62. –AngierCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  63. –ApexPiedmontNot yet rated
  64. –ClemmonsPiedmontNot yet rated
  65. –DavidsonPiedmontNot yet rated
  66. –EdenPiedmontNot yet rated
  67. –ElonPiedmontNot yet rated
  68. –GarnerPiedmontNot yet rated
  69. –GibsonvillePiedmontNot yet rated
  70. –GrahamPiedmontNot yet rated
  71. –HendersonPiedmontNot yet rated
  72. –HendersonvilleMountainsNot yet rated
  73. –HillsboroughPiedmontNot yet rated
  74. –Holly SpringsPiedmontNot yet rated
  75. –HuntersvillePiedmontNot yet rated
  76. –Indian TrailPiedmontNot yet rated
  77. –KernersvillePiedmontNot yet rated
  78. –LaurinburgCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  79. –LexingtonPiedmontNot yet rated
  80. –LumbertonCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  81. –MatthewsPiedmontNot yet rated
  82. –MebanePiedmontNot yet rated
  83. –Mint HillPiedmontNot yet rated
  84. –Morehead CityCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  85. –MorgantonMountainsNot yet rated
  86. –MorrisvillePiedmontNot yet rated
  87. –New BernCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  88. –PinevillePiedmontNot yet rated
  89. –ReidsvillePiedmontNot yet rated
  90. –Roanoke RapidsCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  91. –Spring LakeCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  92. –StallingsPiedmontNot yet rated
  93. –SummerfieldPiedmontNot yet rated
  94. –WashingtonCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  95. –WaxhawPiedmontNot yet rated
  96. –WeddingtonPiedmontNot yet rated
  97. –WendellPiedmontNot yet rated
  98. –WilsonCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  99. –WintervilleCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  100. –ZebulonPiedmontNot yet rated
  1. #60ArchdalePiedmontGrade F
  2. #59Wesley ChapelPiedmontGrade F
  3. #58HavelockCoastal PlainGrade F
  4. #57Hope MillsCoastal PlainGrade F
  5. #56ThomasvillePiedmontGrade F
  6. #55LelandCoastal PlainGrade F
  7. #54Oak IslandCoastal PlainGrade F
  8. #53RolesvillePiedmontGrade F
  9. #52BurlingtonPiedmontGrade F
  10. #51JacksonvilleCoastal PlainGrade D
  11. #50GastoniaPiedmontGrade D
  12. #49LewisvillePiedmontGrade D
  13. #48ClaytonCoastal PlainGrade D
  14. #47LincolntonPiedmontGrade D
  15. #46Mount HollyPiedmontGrade D
  16. #45AberdeenPiedmontGrade D
  17. #44KnightdalePiedmontGrade D
  18. #43FayettevilleCoastal PlainGrade D
  19. #42Kings MountainPiedmontGrade D
  20. #41KinstonCoastal PlainGrade D
  21. #40GreenvilleCoastal PlainGrade D
  22. #39KannapolisPiedmontGrade D
  23. #38ConcordPiedmontGrade D
  24. #37TarboroCoastal PlainGrade D
  25. #36Rocky MountCoastal PlainGrade D
  26. #35MonroePiedmontGrade D
  27. #34LenoirMountainsGrade D
  28. #33ShelbyPiedmontGrade D
  29. #32BelmontPiedmontGrade D
  30. #31GoldsboroCoastal PlainGrade D
  31. #30HarrisburgPiedmontGrade C
  32. #29Elizabeth CityCoastal PlainGrade C
  33. #28Wake ForestPiedmontGrade C
  34. #27MooresvillePiedmontGrade C
  35. #26Winston-SalemPiedmontGrade C
  36. #25High PointPiedmontGrade C
  37. #24Fuquay-VarinaPiedmontGrade C
  38. #23PinehurstPiedmontGrade C
  39. #22AsheboroPiedmontGrade C
  40. #21CharlottePiedmontGrade C
  41. #20HickoryPiedmontGrade C
  42. #19SalisburyPiedmontGrade C
  43. #18OxfordPiedmontGrade C
  44. #17SanfordPiedmontGrade C
  45. #16SmithfieldCoastal PlainGrade C
  46. #15Southern PinesPiedmontGrade C
  47. #14CaryPiedmontGrade C
  48. #13StatesvillePiedmontGrade C
  49. #12WilmingtonCoastal PlainGrade B
  50. #11NewtonPiedmontGrade B
  51. #10GreensboroPiedmontGrade B
  52. #9RaleighPiedmontGrade B
  53. #8CorneliusPiedmontGrade B
  54. #7WaynesvilleMountainsGrade B
  55. #6DurhamPiedmontGrade B
  56. #5Chapel HillPiedmontGrade B
  57. #4CarrboroPiedmontGrade B
  58. #3Mount AiryPiedmontGrade B
  59. #2AshevilleMountainsGrade A
  60. #1BooneMountainsGrade A
  61. –AlbemarlePiedmontNot yet rated
  62. –AngierCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  63. –ApexPiedmontNot yet rated
  64. –ClemmonsPiedmontNot yet rated
  65. –DavidsonPiedmontNot yet rated
  66. –EdenPiedmontNot yet rated
  67. –ElonPiedmontNot yet rated
  68. –GarnerPiedmontNot yet rated
  69. –GibsonvillePiedmontNot yet rated
  70. –GrahamPiedmontNot yet rated
  71. –HendersonPiedmontNot yet rated
  72. –HendersonvilleMountainsNot yet rated
  73. –HillsboroughPiedmontNot yet rated
  74. –Holly SpringsPiedmontNot yet rated
  75. –HuntersvillePiedmontNot yet rated
  76. –Indian TrailPiedmontNot yet rated
  77. –KernersvillePiedmontNot yet rated
  78. –LaurinburgCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  79. –LexingtonPiedmontNot yet rated
  80. –LumbertonCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  81. –MatthewsPiedmontNot yet rated
  82. –MebanePiedmontNot yet rated
  83. –Mint HillPiedmontNot yet rated
  84. –Morehead CityCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  85. –MorgantonMountainsNot yet rated
  86. –MorrisvillePiedmontNot yet rated
  87. –New BernCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  88. –PinevillePiedmontNot yet rated
  89. –ReidsvillePiedmontNot yet rated
  90. –Roanoke RapidsCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  91. –Spring LakeCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  92. –StallingsPiedmontNot yet rated
  93. –SummerfieldPiedmontNot yet rated
  94. –WashingtonCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  95. –WaxhawPiedmontNot yet rated
  96. –WeddingtonPiedmontNot yet rated
  97. –WendellPiedmontNot yet rated
  98. –WilsonCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  99. –WintervilleCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  100. –ZebulonPiedmontNot yet rated
  1. #45AberdeenPiedmontGrade D
  2. –AlbemarlePiedmontNot yet rated
  3. –AngierCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  4. –ApexPiedmontNot yet rated
  5. #60ArchdalePiedmontGrade F
  6. #22AsheboroPiedmontGrade C
  7. #2AshevilleMountainsGrade A
  8. #32BelmontPiedmontGrade D
  9. #1BooneMountainsGrade A
  10. #52BurlingtonPiedmontGrade F
  11. #4CarrboroPiedmontGrade B
  12. #14CaryPiedmontGrade C
  13. #5Chapel HillPiedmontGrade B
  14. #21CharlottePiedmontGrade C
  15. #48ClaytonCoastal PlainGrade D
  16. –ClemmonsPiedmontNot yet rated
  17. #38ConcordPiedmontGrade D
  18. #8CorneliusPiedmontGrade B
  19. –DavidsonPiedmontNot yet rated
  20. #6DurhamPiedmontGrade B
  21. –EdenPiedmontNot yet rated
  22. #29Elizabeth CityCoastal PlainGrade C
  23. –ElonPiedmontNot yet rated
  24. #43FayettevilleCoastal PlainGrade D
  25. #24Fuquay-VarinaPiedmontGrade C
  26. –GarnerPiedmontNot yet rated
  27. #50GastoniaPiedmontGrade D
  28. –GibsonvillePiedmontNot yet rated
  29. #31GoldsboroCoastal PlainGrade D
  30. –GrahamPiedmontNot yet rated
  31. #10GreensboroPiedmontGrade B
  32. #40GreenvilleCoastal PlainGrade D
  33. #30HarrisburgPiedmontGrade C
  34. #58HavelockCoastal PlainGrade F
  35. –HendersonPiedmontNot yet rated
  36. –HendersonvilleMountainsNot yet rated
  37. #20HickoryPiedmontGrade C
  38. #25High PointPiedmontGrade C
  39. –HillsboroughPiedmontNot yet rated
  40. –Holly SpringsPiedmontNot yet rated
  41. #57Hope MillsCoastal PlainGrade F
  42. –HuntersvillePiedmontNot yet rated
  43. –Indian TrailPiedmontNot yet rated
  44. #51JacksonvilleCoastal PlainGrade D
  45. #39KannapolisPiedmontGrade D
  46. –KernersvillePiedmontNot yet rated
  47. #42Kings MountainPiedmontGrade D
  48. #41KinstonCoastal PlainGrade D
  49. #44KnightdalePiedmontGrade D
  50. –LaurinburgCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  51. #55LelandCoastal PlainGrade F
  52. #34LenoirMountainsGrade D
  53. #49LewisvillePiedmontGrade D
  54. –LexingtonPiedmontNot yet rated
  55. #47LincolntonPiedmontGrade D
  56. –LumbertonCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  57. –MatthewsPiedmontNot yet rated
  58. –MebanePiedmontNot yet rated
  59. –Mint HillPiedmontNot yet rated
  60. #35MonroePiedmontGrade D
  61. #27MooresvillePiedmontGrade C
  62. –Morehead CityCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  63. –MorgantonMountainsNot yet rated
  64. –MorrisvillePiedmontNot yet rated
  65. #3Mount AiryPiedmontGrade B
  66. #46Mount HollyPiedmontGrade D
  67. –New BernCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  68. #11NewtonPiedmontGrade B
  69. #54Oak IslandCoastal PlainGrade F
  70. #18OxfordPiedmontGrade C
  71. #23PinehurstPiedmontGrade C
  72. –PinevillePiedmontNot yet rated
  73. #9RaleighPiedmontGrade B
  74. –ReidsvillePiedmontNot yet rated
  75. –Roanoke RapidsCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  76. #36Rocky MountCoastal PlainGrade D
  77. #53RolesvillePiedmontGrade F
  78. #19SalisburyPiedmontGrade C
  79. #17SanfordPiedmontGrade C
  80. #33ShelbyPiedmontGrade D
  81. #16SmithfieldCoastal PlainGrade C
  82. #15Southern PinesPiedmontGrade C
  83. –Spring LakeCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  84. –StallingsPiedmontNot yet rated
  85. #13StatesvillePiedmontGrade C
  86. –SummerfieldPiedmontNot yet rated
  87. #37TarboroCoastal PlainGrade D
  88. #56ThomasvillePiedmontGrade F
  89. #28Wake ForestPiedmontGrade C
  90. –WashingtonCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  91. –WaxhawPiedmontNot yet rated
  92. #7WaynesvilleMountainsGrade B
  93. –WeddingtonPiedmontNot yet rated
  94. –WendellPiedmontNot yet rated
  95. #59Wesley ChapelPiedmontGrade F
  96. #12WilmingtonCoastal PlainGrade B
  97. –WilsonCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  98. #26Winston-SalemPiedmontGrade C
  99. –WintervilleCoastal PlainNot yet rated
  100. –ZebulonPiedmontNot yet rated

How the Index works

Eight subjects, one grade

The Ray Arts Index grades the arts life of a town across all eight art forms. Every subject is measured per resident against fixed national reference points, so a town’s size never changes its grade, and a C means the national typical level. Local government support and arts education carry extra weight: 30% of the grade together.

  • 18% of the gradeLocal government support Extra weight

    The town’s own arts budget per resident, an arts office, a city arts grant program and arts in parks and recreation.

  • 12% of the gradeArts education Extra weight

    Arts leadership and arts magnets or residencies in the school district, plus arts schools, college arts programs and camps.

  • 18% of the gradeArts places

    Active venues, museums and galleries per resident.

  • 13.5% of the gradeActivity

    Arts events a month across the town’s calendars, and city performance series.

  • 13.5% of the gradeFestivals

    Active arts festivals per resident.

  • 13.5% of the gradeArts organizations

    Arts nonprofits per resident and the money they bring in.

  • 7% of the gradeCreative economy

    Arts businesses and self-employed creative workers in the county.

  • 4.5% of the gradeHeritage

    Long-standing arts institutions, and museum and history nonprofits.

Bonus honorsA state arts-community program (Come Hear NC or SmART), A+ Schools and a NAMM Best Communities for Music Education award add bonus points. A town without them loses nothing.

Marking scaleA 80+ · B 65+ · C 50+ (national typical) · D 35+ · F below 35 · Not yet rated: under 80% of the information found yet

How it’s calculated

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The Ray Arts Foundation

More than a directory

The NC Arts Directory is a project of the Ray Arts Foundation, co-founded in memory of Eddie Ray. We work for North Carolina’s arts in two ways:

Learn about the Foundation