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The loudest cities in North Carolina, ranked by noise exposure
Among North Carolina's 9 cities of 100,000 or more residents, Wilmington is the noisiest: 6.3% of its people live with average-day transportation noise of 60 dB or louder, ranking it #67 of 297 US cities. The typical North Carolina city in the list sits at 4%.
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| North Carolina # | City | US # | ≥60 dB | ≥70 dB | 45–60 dB | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmington | 67 | 6.3% | 0.5% | 30.5% | 120,932 |
| 2 | Durham | 176 | 4.2% | 0.7% | 13.2% | 242,539 |
| 3 | Raleigh | 181 | 4.2% | 0.7% | 14.8% | 440,404 |
| 4 | Cary | 188 | 4.1% | 0.6% | 27.3% | 150,549 |
| 5 | Charlotte | 191 | 4% | 0.9% | 25% | 866,545 |
| 6 | Winston-Salem | 198 | 3.9% | 0.8% | 14.1% | 228,399 |
| 7 | High Point | 204 | 3.8% | 0.6% | 17.8% | 101,591 |
| 8 | Greensboro | 210 | 3.7% | 0.9% | 20.4% | 256,593 |
| 9 | Fayetteville | 252 | 3% | 0.5% | 8% | 217,168 |
Across North Carolina, 9 cities of 100,000+ make the measured ranking — 2,624,720 people combined. In order of residents above 60 dB: Wilmington (6.3%), Durham (4.2%), Raleigh (4.2%), Cary (4.1%), Charlotte (4%), Winston-Salem (3.9%), High Point (3.8%), Greensboro (3.7%), then 1 more, down to Fayetteville at 3%. The midpoint sits at 4%, with 0 cities clearing 10%. Charlotte leads the state for residents in the severe 70 dB+ band at 0.9%. Charlotte, the biggest of the 9 with 866,545 residents, sits at 4% (national #191). Behind Wilmington's headline 6.3%, 0.5% of its residents are in the severe 70 dB+ band and 30.5% in the moderate 45–60 dB range.
Every share is rolled up from per-city tract data: the 2020 BTS noise map paired with ACS population, road plus rail plus aviation, nothing modeled by us. Open any North Carolina city below for its full census-tract map, then measure your own street with the free live meter.
Which North Carolina cities are the noisiest?
By this federal data the noisiest North Carolina cities are the same as the loudest, since "noisiest" here means measured road, rail and aviation exposure: Wilmington, Durham, Raleigh top the list, led by Wilmington at 6.3%. The full ranking is in the table above.
North Carolina noise: the numbers
- 9 North Carolina cities of 100,000+ residents are in the ranking — 7th-most of any state.
- Loudest: Wilmington at 6.3% of residents above 60 dB (national #67 of 297).
- Highest severe exposure: Charlotte, 0.9% of residents above 70 dB.
- Median North Carolina city: 4% above 60 dB; 0 of 9 clear 10%.
- Combined population of the 9: 2,624,720 (ACS 2016–2020).
How this ranking is measured
These are the same federal measurements behind the national ranking of all 297 US cities — the BTS 2020 National Transportation Noise Map (road + rail + aviation) overlaid with Census ACS 2016–2020 population at census-tract level, with no estimation by us. Full methodology and the free CSV/JSON are on that page. It counts transportation noise only: sirens, construction and nightlife are outside the model.
How loud is your street?
Rankings describe city averages — your block is its own story. Check it with the free online decibel meter, or open any city above for its full census-tract noise map.