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Acclaimed North Carolina entrepreneur Neal Hunter recently spoke to Tar Heel business school students and urged these future leaders: “Empower your people, give them a vision, and they’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

They might not want to go too far, though. There’s rising optimism about North Carolina as a place to do business. A Wells Fargo report says the state’s economy “has clearly shifted into high gear.”

Amid the upbeat outlook, a NerdWallet analysis has determined the best places in the state to start a business.

A few key takeaways from the NerdWallet survey:

Technology is crucial

Ted Zoller, director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, points to Research Triangle Park. Created in 1959, it’s one of the country’s top high-tech research-and-development centers.

The park, Zoller tells NerdWallet, is giving rise to a “robust and deep entrepreneurial stack.”

“We’re on a roll. We definitely are,” Zoller tells NerdWallet. “There’s an emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem that’s just supercharging.”

Tourism and seniors give the state a boost

“A lot of retirement communities are springing up all around the place,” says Moses Acquaah, director of the MBA program at the Bryan School of Business and Economics at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

And North Carolina’s mountains and beach communities, he tells NerdWallet, are a potent draw for tourists.

Small doesn’t necessarily mean small time

Half of the top 10 places on the NerdWallet list are towns and cities with fewer than 10,000 residents. Except for the city of Hickory, all of them have fewer than 20,000. Catawba County stands out in the survey, with two cities — Hickory and Conover — in the top 10.

By the way, Wilmington ranked second in a previous NerdWallet study of the best places to start a business in the country. But we’ve ranked it 51st in this North Carolina survey. That’s because the national survey focused specifically on 183 metropolitan areas with a large population.

How NerdWallet created these rankings

The survey was based on U.S. Census data covering 121,462 businesses in 115 communities in North Carolina and ranked the communities based on two key metrics.

One was business climate, which made up 65% of the overall score and included the average annual revenue of businesses, the percentage of companies with paid employees and the number of companies per 100 people.

The other metric takes into account the health of the local economy, which made up 35% of the total score. It covered such factors as median annual income, median annual housing costs and the unemployment rate.

1. Pineville

The town of Pineville, with just over 7,700 residents, bills itself as the “biggest small town” in the region. The community has its own telecommunications and electric company, as well as recreational facilities and venues, led by Jack Hughes Park. Pineville tops the NerdWallet list with roughly 1,200 businesses recording an impressive average revenue per business of $2.2 million.

2. Morrisville

Morrisville is in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, a vibrant economic hub where Research Triangle Park, home to many high-tech companies, is located. That’s no doubt a factor in the town’s high ranking in the NerdWallet survey, which shows Morrisville posting an average per-business revenue of $4.6 million, the highest among the communities surveyed. The town has been “a very attractive business address for companies that are growing,” Joan Siefert Rose, president of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development, tells NerdWallet. The Morrisville Chamber of Commerce, which touts the city as the “Heart of the Triangle,” offers a range of services and aid to businesses, including those run through the Morrisville Innovation Foundation.

3. Mount Airy

Nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Mount Airy became famous for its granite quarry and its furniture and textile industries. You get a sense of how the city’s business leaders take pride in their community from the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce website, which features a live webcam feed of downtown and a weather cam from a local TV station. The city of 10,400, which was the hometown of TV star Andy Griffith, has roughly 1,200 businesses that posted average revenue of $1.4 million per company.

4. Hickory

Visitors to the city of Hickory’s official website will find the greeting “Welcome to a life well crafted,” a reference to Hickory’s history as a major furniture-making center. At the site for the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce, which covers the city of about 40,000, there’s a special section on furniture shopping. Hickory has more than 5,400 businesses, the highest among the top 10 cities and towns on the NerdWallet survey.

5. Morehead City

Morehead City is a port town that’s done well by banking on its beautiful beaches and picturesque waterfront district. The town of nearly 9,000 residents in Carteret County bills itself as the “gateway to North Carolina’s Crystal Coast.” Also called the Outer Banks, that 85-mile stretch of coastline includes beaches protected as national parks. The county Chamber of Commerce says its vision is to become “the most desirable location for business and leisure in North Carolina.” Morehead has about 1,400 businesses with a total of nearly $667,000 in average revenue per company.

6. Conover

Fifty miles northwest of Charlotte, Conover has steadily shifted from a heavy focus on manufacturing to more services-oriented industries. In the wake of the 2008 recession, the city got a boost from the Manufacturing Solutions Center, a 30,000-square-foot research, development and testing laboratory, which opened in November 2012. Conover has only 900 businesses, but they boast average revenue per firm of about $1.9 million.

7. Brevard

Brevard, with a population of about 7,600, is known for its Land of Waterfalls, a major attraction in Transylvania County. Not surprisingly, tourism and summer camps are big economic drivers, although city and business leaders say they’re pushing for a more diversified economy. Brevard has a little over 1,800 businesses, with average revenue per business of about $288,000.

8. Aberdeen

Aberdeen bills itself as a “quaint little railroad town steeped in history” and is famous for the Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway, the largest privately held regional freight railroad in North Carolina. The community of about 6,500 residents recently got news that Reliance Packaging, which makes printed bags and rollstock, is expanding its operations in Aberdeen, bringing several dozen new jobs to the small town. Aberdeen has 540 businesses and roughly $1.5 million in average revenue per business, according to the NerdWallet survey. The Moore County Partner in Progress, the region’s economic development organization, has extensive information on Aberdeen’s business community.

9. Reidsville

Reidsville embraced the slogan “Live simply, think big” to highlight the city’s efforts to diversify its formerly tobacco-dominated economy. It seems the city of 14,360 is succeeding in this as it makes it to the top 10 of the NerdWallet survey. There are a little over 1,000 businesses in Reidsville with average revenue per business of $2.1 million. The Reidsville website has a variety of information on the city’s tourist attractions and its business community.

10. Hendersonville

Wineries, breweries and other tourist attractions draw visitors to Hendersonville. The city, which has a population of 13,233, has a supportive business community, highlighted by the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development. The partnership is based in the city and offers a range of services, including support for small companies. Hendersonville has about 2,300 businesses, with almost $914,000 in average revenue per business.

Best places to open a business in North Carolina

Rank City Population Number of businesses Average revenue per business Percentage of businesses with paid employees Businesses per 100 people Unemployment rate Overall score 1 Pineville 7,708 1,210 $2,209,935 58.51% 15.70 7.4% 63.40 2 Morrisville 19,720 1,661 $4,552,571 33.71% 8.42 4.0% 60.34 3 Mount Airy 10,427 1,257 $1,376,742 50.60% 12.06 6.9% 54.65 4 Hickory 40,178 5,420 $2,051,271 39.19% 13.49 6.1% 53.88 5 Morehead City 8,899 1,434 $666,925 45.40% 16.11 6.2% 53.18 6 Conover 8,188 900 $1,905,303 44.89% 10.99 6.4% 52.49 7 Brevard 7,629 1,816 $288,479 24.12% 23.80 4.1% 52.43 8 Aberdeen 6,520 540 $1,506,089 57.41% 8.28 8.0% 51.31 9 Reidsville 14,360 1,118 $2,122,621 45.97% 7.79 7.4% 50.22 10 Hendersonville 13,233 2,346 $913,873 35.81% 17.73 6.9% 49.71 11 Southern Pines 12,592 1,545 $620,231 44.92% 12.27 5.6% 49.57 12 Kernersville 23,311 2,703 $1,617,612 35.44% 11.60 5.1% 49.51 13 Waynesville 9,794 1,379 $633,335 35.82% 14.08 4.9% 48.68 14 Mocksville 5,082 803 $1,319,884 28.77% 15.80 5.9% 48.06 15 Hillsborough 6,195 1,123 $529,573 26.71% 18.13 5.0% 47.86 16 Whiteville 5,437 906 $796,628 38.19% 16.66 9.4% 47.13 17 Lumberton 21,701 2,581 $986,234 33.13% 11.89 4.3% 46.72 18 King 6,730 703 $1,319,595 34.85% 10.45 4.6% 46.71 19 Oxford 8,568 918 $1,770,662 40.31% 10.71 8.4% 46.68 20 Clinton 8,706 1,061 $1,287,510 36.10% 12.19 7.1% 46.55 21 Forest City 7,455 800 $1,357,533 45.63% 10.73 9.9% 46.16 22 Washington 9,751 1,742 $665,761 31.69% 17.86 7.7% 45.97 23 Marion 7,962 939 $934,021 41.00% 11.79 9.0% 45.52 24 Dunn 9,473 1,349 $705,689 39.66% 14.24 8.6% 45.47 25 Smithfield 11,234 1,397 $1,108,964 38.80% 12.44 7.8% 45.12 26 Asheboro 25,432 2,138 $2,079,825 36.11% 8.41 7.6% 45.03 27 Roanoke Rapids 15,742 1,300 $912,640 44.31% 8.26 6.9% 44.93 28 Asheville 84,883 12,773 $841,268 27.38% 15.05 5.8% 43.50 29 Roxboro 8,365 1,161 $1,179,699 34.71% 13.88 9.1% 43.31 30 Williamston 5,453 522 $1,191,904 41.57% 9.57 8.9% 43.28 31 Wilson 49,347 4,356 $2,905,159 29.64% 8.83 9.1% 43.23 32 Monroe 33,343 3,000 $1,819,077 38.70% 9.00 8.4% 43.17 33 Tarboro 11,375 909 $2,779,171 33.77% 7.99 10.5% 43.04 34 Greensboro 273,228 24,061 $2,341,666 27.91% 8.81 7.0% 42.85 35 Concord 80,715 7,072 $3,005,686 26.44% 8.76 8.5% 42.82 36 Lexington 18,981 1,790 $1,238,844 45.31% 9.43 10.3% 42.72 37 Cary 141,292 12,247 $1,258,664 27.44% 8.67 3.9% 42.62 38 Huntersville 48,024 4,722 $2,037,452 26.77% 9.83 5.9% 42.56 39 Statesville 24,932 2,996 $1,651,165 36.45% 12.02 10.8% 42.40 40 Salisbury 33,543 2,867 $1,337,927 35.44% 8.55 6.7% 42.22 41 Goldsboro 36,110 3,427 $1,390,619 40.21% 9.49 9.3% 42.17 42 Sanford 28,593 1,929 $1,500,533 38.72% 6.75 7.6% 41.76 43 Black Mountain 7,916 1,640 $239,652 13.84% 20.72 4.9% 41.63 44 Mebane 11,835 1,339 $1,482,423 23.30% 11.31 5.3% 41.59 45 Cornelius 25,583 3,236 $704,519 29.48% 12.65 5.6% 41.36 46 Chapel Hill 58,058 5,713 $891,527 25.89% 9.84 4.1% 41.33 47 Burlington 51,128 4,556 $1,159,416 35.34% 8.91 7.1% 41.26 48 Eden 15,593 1,079 $1,566,479 41.33% 6.92 9.5% 41.20 49 Clemmons 18,884 2,269 $476,317 22.92% 12.02 3.7% 41.10 50 Wilmington 108,530 13,192 $1,022,466 31.92% 12.16 7.7% 40.95 51 Henderson 15,393 1,603 $1,141,188 34.87% 10.41 8.6% 40.91 52 Morganton 16,903 2,306 $1,185,986 24.46% 13.64 7.1% 40.76 53 Kinston 21,693 1,795 $1,433,038 39.78% 8.27 9.5% 40.66 54 Boone 17,579 2,449 $734,878 32.01% 13.93 8.6% 40.56 55 Belmont 10,249 1,258 $638,122 27.66% 12.27 6.4% 40.26 56 Kill Devil Hills 6,776 1,124 $365,293 27.40% 16.59 6.4% 40.19 57 Matthews 28,079 3,578 $739,024 27.11% 12.74 6.4% 40.18 58 Pinehurst 14,548 1,238 $820,378 22.94% 8.51 2.2% 39.85 59 Jacksonville 69,415 3,439 $955,213 38.18% 4.95 4.3% 39.75 60 Clayton 16,648 1,464 $937,249 29.58% 8.79 4.9% 39.70 61 Mills River 6,853 613 $939,496 19.41% 8.94 2.6% 39.61 62 Davidson 11,159 1,379 $526,838 19.87% 12.36 4.3% 39.60 63 Newton 12,983 1,297 $1,613,887 26.37% 9.99 7.7% 39.35 64 Archdale 11,299 844 $949,319 33.41% 7.47 6.1% 39.01 65 Rockingham 9,530 866 $1,094,498 37.64% 9.09 10.7% 38.95 66 Shelby 20,335 2,170 $1,085,446 35.58% 10.67 10.4% 38.72 67 Raleigh 414,530 39,440 $1,206,123 26.90% 9.51 6.2% 38.71 68 Albemarle 15,937 1,212 $937,580 35.97% 7.60 8.3% 38.57 69 Durham 234,922 18,147 $1,489,874 26.00% 7.72 6.0% 38.47 70 Garner 26,213 2,338 $1,231,963 27.80% 8.92 6.2% 38.46 71 Winston-Salem 232,219 18,081 $1,812,813 25.57% 7.79 7.4% 38.17 72 Carrboro 20,085 1,705 $285,409 29.85% 8.49 4.4% 38.10 73 New Bern 29,889 3,049 $1,166,246 34.47% 10.20 9.6% 38.08 74 Graham 14,190 1,078 $832,160 33.21% 7.60 7.0% 38.07 75 Charlotte 757,278 68,545 $2,099,092 23.98% 9.05 8.1% 37.99 76 Mooresville 33,812 4,432 $868,009 26.44% 13.11 8.6% 37.29 77 Wadesboro 5,765 872 $746,192 33.26% 15.13 13.0% 37.03 78 Lenoir 18,126 2,087 $1,148,383 28.17% 11.51 10.1% 37.02 79 Lincolnton 10,595 1,551 $1,096,320 30.30% 14.64 12.5% 36.89 80 Kings Grant 8,520 947 $631,961 30.41% 11.12 7.6% 36.82 81 Trinity 6,645 916 $373,606 13.43% 13.78 3.9% 36.43 82 Laurinburg 15,909 1,172 $953,965 34.30% 7.37 9.0% 36.34 83 Summerfield 10,348 1,004 $343,378 24.50% 9.70 3.5% 36.15 84 Knightdale 12,133 1,181 $542,770 24.89% 9.73 5.4% 35.84 85 Apex 39,134 3,854 $1,076,117 18.45% 9.85 5.3% 35.41 86 Cherryville 5,803 620 $645,592 26.29% 10.68 8.5% 35.40 87 High Point 105,723 9,435 $1,317,253 25.88% 8.92 8.4% 35.38 88 Mint Hill 23,383 2,126 $339,278 24.55% 9.09 4.4% 35.22 89 Oak Island 6,970 1,126 $156,186 17.94% 16.15 7.2% 34.69 90 Siler City 8,020 799 $967,648 34.54% 9.96 11.4% 34.63 91 Wake Forest 31,632 3,007 $357,671 20.98% 9.51 4.1% 34.43 92 Rocky Mount 57,417 3,995 $1,531,764 33.14% 6.96 10.8% 34.38 93 Gastonia 72,300 5,910 $1,098,657 27.95% 8.17 8.8% 34.22 94 Elizabeth City 18,508 1,540 $695,745 41.30% 8.32 11.5% 34.19 95 Mount Holly 13,675 1,094 $1,467,419 22.12% 8.00 8.6% 34.14 96 Greenville 86,249 6,219 $978,198 27.96% 7.21 8.3% 33.65 97 Kings Mountain 10,803 844 $1,128,481 27.49% 7.81 9.7% 33.27 98 Harrisburg 12,955 1,045 $683,565 21.82% 8.07 4.8% 32.86 99 Carolina Beach 5,817 699 $215,133 27.18% 12.02 8.1% 32.85 100 Fayetteville 201,755 12,937 $764,561 28.95% 6.41 7.6% 32.37 101 Silver Lake 5,929 601 $462,562 25.96% 10.14 7.8% 32.19 102 Hope Mills 15,717 1,024 $379,256 24.80% 6.52 5.5% 32.09 103 Weddington 9,735 715 $182,481 23.08% 7.34 5.7% 31.61 104 Havelock 20,892 1,062 $300,027 31.07% 5.08 5.7% 31.60 105 Indian Trail 34,146 3,429 $678,874 20.59% 10.04 7.5% 30.90 106 Myrtle Grove 8,539 1,010 $173,762 16.44% 11.83 6.0% 30.74 107 Spring Lake 12,737 511 $511,798 35.81% 4.01 8.2% 30.20 108 Thomasville 26,983 2,171 $930,480 26.76% 8.05 11.0% 30.09 109 Holly Springs 26,035 1,745 $212,948 22.35% 6.70 4.6% 30.07 110 Fuquay-Varina 19,164 1,365 $874,026 27.33% 7.12 9.2% 29.82 111 Ogden 7,027 699 $126,413 19.46% 9.95 6.6% 28.59 112 Kannapolis 43,322 2,450 $736,831 20.37% 5.66 8.5% 26.76 113 Hamlet 6,572 563 $615,661 17.23% 8.57 10.3% 26.05 114 St. Stephens 8,568 607 $197,909 13.01% 7.08 6.3% 25.50 115 Murraysville 14,171 978 $64,131 7.67% 6.90 5.6% 21.38

Methodology

NerdWallet analyzed communities with a population of more than 5,000 and with 500 or more businesses; we excluded places that lacked data. We calculated the score for each location using the following criteria:

Business climate, 65% of the overall score, is based on three metrics from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Business Owners.

Average revenue of businesses is 20% of the score. A higher average contributed to a higher score.

Percentage of businesses with paid employees is 25% of the score. A higher percentage contributed to a higher score.

Businesses per 100 people is 20% of the score. A higher number contributed to a higher score.

Local economic health, 35% of the overall score, is based on three metrics from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Median annual income is 10% of the score. A higher median income contributed to a higher score.

Median annual housing costs are 10% of the score. Lower median costs contributed to a higher score.

Unemployment rate for residents over 16 years old is 15% of the score. A lower rate contributed to a higher score.

For more related information, visit NerdWallet’s resources on how to start a business. For free, personalized answers to questions about starting and financing your business, visit the Small Business section of NerdWallet’s Ask an Advisor page.

Update: A link in earlier versions of the methodology has been changed.

Image of Pineville Commercial Historic District via Wikimedia Commons.