Stem leans heavily Republican by roughly 32 points: about 34% of voters vote Democratic and 66% Republican.
About 85% of adults in Stem typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Stem, ~29% vote Democratic, ~56% Republican, and ~15% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Stem compares
Among cities within 25 miles, Stem leans more Republican than 40 of 45 neighbors.
Stem runs about 29 points more Republican than North Carolina as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by neighborhood within Stem. The northwest side is the most Republican-leaning (R+47) and the southeast side is the least Republican-leaning (R+21), a spread of about 26 points.
Why Stem leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Stem. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Park access and Republican lean
Places with low park coverage tend to lean Republican; Stem, NC sits in the bottom quarter nationally on this measure. Park access does not change how people vote; it tends to track denser, higher-income areas.
Why turnout in Stem looks the way it does
Turnout in Stem sits close to the national pattern. Routine healthcare access, homeownership, education, and food security all land near their national averages here. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Cities
- Shoofly, NC R+45
- Tar River, NC R+16
- Culbreth, NC R+56
- Butner, NC D+4
- Creedmoor, NC R+9
- Wilton, NC R+31
- North Side, NC R+7
- Moriah, NC R+44
- Berea, NC R+24
- Oxford, NC D+10
Cities with Similar Populations
- Port Byron, NY R+38
- Union City, MI R+41
- Brookfield, MA R+15
- Como, MS D+31
- West Juneau, AK D+39
- Mechanicsburg, OH R+54
- Virden, IL R+39
- Vernonia, OR R+37
- Osseo, MN D+8
- Grape Creek, TX R+71
All Local Stats
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Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from North Carolina State Board of Elections, distributed by the Voting and Election Science Team. Demographic inputs come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 Decennial Census). Health and environmental inputs come from the CDC (PLACES and the Environmental Justice Index). Land cover comes from the USGS and EPA. Election-day and lead-up weather come from PRISM 4km daily grids and the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network. Mail-voting and election-administration patterns come from the MIT Election Lab's Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Block-group crime detail comes from CrimeGrade. Internet data and modeling support provided by ISPreports.org.
Modeling and analysis by the BestNeighborhood data science team. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.