North Carolina · Infrastructure & Trust
Roads in Poor Condition in North Carolina
Share of public road miles rated poor based on ride quality measured by the International Roughness Index.
6.1% in 2024
#24 of 50 · Middle tier (lower is better)
North Carolina is better than the 50-state median (6.5%). That's a gap of 0.3%.
View interactive chart & trend → See full 50-state ranking →
2000 – 2024 · North Carolina only · interactive chart with US median overlay →
About roads in poor condition
What this measures: Share of public road miles rated poor based on ride quality measured by the International Roughness Index.
Why it matters: Road condition affects vehicle wear, freight costs, and how visibly capital is being maintained.
Watch out: FHWA does not survey every road. Local-government roads in rural areas are undercounted, so the true poor-condition share may be higher.
Recent trend
| Year | North Carolina | US median |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 6.1% | 7.4% |
| 2015 | 6.6% | 8.3% |
| 2016 | 7.3% | 8.9% |
| 2017 | 7.5% | 8.7% |
| 2018 | 7.1% | 7.9% |
| 2019 | 7.3% | 7.8% |
| 2020 | 6.1% | 8.4% |
| 2022 | 6.8% | 7.4% |
| 2023 | 7.0% | 7.1% |
| 2024 | 6.1% | 6.5% |
North Carolina vs. neighboring states
Same metric (roads in poor condition), latest year with full state coverage. Click any name for that state's full report.
| State | Roads in Poor Condition | National rank |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 5.1% | #16 of 50 |
| Tennessee | 5.1% | #17 of 50 |
| Georgia | 2.3% | #2 of 50 |
| South Carolina | 6.0% | #23 of 50 |
How North Carolina compares (2024)
Top 5 best
| #1 | Alabama | 210% |
| #2 | Georgia | 232% |
| #3 | North Dakota | 243% |
| #4 | Wyoming | 281% |
| #5 | Nevada | 310% |
Bottom 5
| #46 | New Jersey | 1348% |
| #47 | Hawaiʻi | 1537% |
| #48 | California | 1761% |
| #49 | Massachusetts | 1846% |
| #50 | Rhode Island | 2446% |
Source and methodology
Source: FHWA Highway Statistics, Table HM-64 · Direction: lower is better · Unit: %
Download raw CSV (all 50 states, all years)