Best Places To Live In North Carolina (NC): A Guide

If you’re looking to discover the best places to live in North Carolina, you’re not alone. North Carolina is growing, and it’s easy to see why. The Tar Heel State is at the forefront of a migration of the U.S. population, with millions of people gravitating to the southeast and western states.

One attraction is North Carolina’s economy. Once mostly agrarian, North Carolina has modernized its way of doing business greatly over the last few decades. Across multiple cities throughout the state, there are now plenty of high paying jobs in technology, research, finance and health care, as well as food production and tourism.

North Carolina is also a beautiful state with hundreds of miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline, millions of acres of forests and a mountainous west. In fact, you could go beachcombing on the Outer Banks in the morning and then, after a short drive across the state, find yourself hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the afternoon. And the weather is pleasantly temperate, featuring long, warm summers and short, mild winters.

Is North Carolina A Good Place To Live?

One of the things that makes North Carolina a great place to live is its relative newness. Where 20^th century America grew up around huge metropolises, the fastest growing states of this century, like North Carolina, are seeing the rise of more small and medium-sized cities. While these cities offer all the goods and services one can find anywhere in the country, they are also manageable enough to keep home prices and crime rates down. These places also tend to grow where there’s access to great outdoor recreation.

North Carolina has something for everyone, so whether you’re looking for the best places to live for families, young adults or retirees, the answers may be somewhat different. Before you start planning your move to North Carolina, take a brief look at the key factors to consider when trying to find the best place for you.

●      Cost of living: As a whole, North Carolina’s cost of living is slightly below the national average. This means the state residents pay less for things like food, housing, utilities, transportation and health care. Of course, this figure will be different from city to city within the state, or even within different neighborhoods of the same cities.

●      Neighborhood safety: When moving to a new place, you likely won’t have any idea of how safe it is. There are many ways to assess a community’s neighborhood safety rating if you know where to look. If a place has a crime problem or a rising crime rate, you should look elsewhere.

●      Affordability: Our data suggesting the best places to live in North Carolina takes into account a city’s home affordability index. A score of 1 or higher means that a median income family can afford a median home price. We’ve found more cities in North Carolina that meet this mark than could make our list.

●      Career opportunities: A place that you can settle down and live in for a while should have access to a wide array of jobs in multiple industries. Not only does this help you if your career plans change, but it means the city has diversity and flexibility – and is therefore healthier.

●      Recreation: North Carolina has a diverse recreation profile. If you like spending a day at the beach or going deep-sea fishing, you have the Atlantic Ocean. But if you like world-class golf courses or hiking in the mountains, you can have that too. A good way to assess the recreational opportunities of a town you’re considering is to see how many parks, trails and bodies of water you can get to on a day trip.

●      Education: Not many things about a place preserve property values like a quality education system. North Carolina offers excellent education, with 42% of North Carolina adults holding a degree. U.S. News and World Report ranks the state #9 in higher education and #18 for pre-K through 12th grade education in the U.S.

The 10 Best Places To Live In North Carolina

When deciding where to live in North Carolina, most people think first of larger cities like Charlotte and Raleigh. These are great places to live, of course, but when considering a broad array of quality-of-life factors, we’ve found that some of the best places to live in North Carolina are smaller towns that offer a perfect balance of low crime, economic opportunity and affordability.

Known for its friendly people, diverse economy and family-friendly communities, North Carolina is attracting new residents from around the country and across the world, and is now the 9^th most populous state in the U.S. Here are some of the best cities to consider.

1. Waxhaw, NC

●      Population: 21,673

●      Median household income: $116,964

●      Median home sold price: $523,000

●      Median monthly rental price: $1,409

●      Median days on market: 13

●      Housing cost-to-income ratio: 16.7%

●      Home affordability index: 1.06

Waxhaw is a small town – with a booming population – south of Charlotte near the border with South Carolina. Partly due to the growth of greater Charlotte, Waxhaw has seen its population more than double since just 2010. But even with its growth, Waxhaw remains a quiet community that has the lowest violent crime rate of all cities on our list. This is a quaint, historic town with a railroad stop that is known for its excellent antique shops and a great restaurant scene, with everything from casual fare to fine dining. Autumn Treasures, Waxhaw’s biggest annual festival, features 2 days of food, music and community events as the weather cools in October.

If you’re interested in learning more, research homes for sale in Waxhaw or check out current Waxhaw real estate trends.

2. Davidson, NC

●      Population: 15,132

●      Median household income: $131,144

●      Median home sold price: $589,133

●      Median monthly rental price: $1,297

●      Median days on market: 20

●      Housing cost-to-income ratio: 13.5%

●      Home affordability index: 1.05

Davidson has a history as a small railroad town north of Charlotte that was a shipping point for cotton supplying local textile mills. Now a pleasant suburb of its neighboring city, Davidson’s western border runs along the shores of Lake Norman, a reservoir of the Catawba River. Davidson is known for its small-town feel, independently owned shops and quaint downtown. It’s considered one of the best places to live in North Carolina for families. The private Davidson College is a highly regarded liberal arts school and the alma mater of NBA great Stephen Curry. The industrial technology company Ingersoll Rand has its headquarters in Davidson and is a major employer. Statistically, the town ranks #1 on our list for housing cost-to-income ratio.

To further research living in Davidson, check out current Davidson real estate trends or search through homes for sale in Davidson.

3. Cary, NC

●      Population: 176,987

●      Median household income: $107,463

●      Median home sold price: $550,000

●      Median monthly rental price: $1,312

●      Median days on market: 13

●      Housing cost-to-income ratio: 16.4%

●      Home affordability index: .92

Located just outside of Durham, Cary is a 15-minute commute to Research Triangle Park, the largest research park in North America with more than 50,000 jobs. And residents aren’t just traveling to work and other destinations by car. The city is a National Walk-Friendly Community thanks to its trail systems and pedestrian safety. Ranking #1 on our list for well-being, Cary has several preserved open spaces known as greenways that provide recreational space and link neighborhoods to community centers, schools and parks. The city is sports-oriented, particularly for softball and baseball, and is home of the USA Baseball National Training Complex.

Explore more about the city by researching current Cary real estate trends or looking at homes for sale in Cary.

4. Huntersville, NC

●      Population: 61,839

●      Median household income: $100,789

●      Median home sold price: $458,630

●      Median monthly rental price: $1,363

●      Median days on market: 18

●      Housing cost-to-income ratio: 17.9% 

●      Home affordability index: 1.04

Located 14 miles north of Charlotte, Huntersville is another town that has grown up alongside that burgeoning southeast city. In fact, in just the last 30 years, the population of Huntersville has more than quadrupled. Huntersville shares part of the extensive Lake Norman shoreline with boat access to its 50 square miles of fresh water. Tied with Cary for #1 on our list for well-being, Huntersville is part of the Emerald Necklace, a 13-mile loop of greenways and multiuse pathways linking three communities. Huntersville has roots as a mill town, but since much of it has been built in the last 2 decades, it has several neighborhoods of new-construction homes. Joe Gibbs Racing, one of the most successful organizations in the NASCAR Cup Series stock car race circuit, is based in Huntersville.

For more on living here, look at homes for sale in Huntersville or check out current Huntersville real estate trends.

5. Pinehurst, NC

●      Population: 18,019

●      Median household income: $87,609

●      Median home sold price: $435,000

●      Median monthly rental price: $1,554

●      Median days on market: 22

●      Housing cost-to-income ratio: 16.4%

●      Home affordability index: 0.95

A great place to live for anyone, Pinehurst is regularly cited as one of the best places to retire in the U.S. Known worldwide for its massive, outstanding golf resort, Pinehurst was the invention of early 20^th century developer James Walker Tufts. Tufts purchased 6,000 acres of land in the Carolina Sandhills with the dream of building a “health resort for people of modest means,” and he hired the famous American architect and Central Park designer Frederick Law Olmsted to design it. The village that grew up around Pinehurst became an incorporated municipality in 1980 and is now a thriving town with an average household income well above the state average. It also rates #1 on our list for the lowest property crime rate. Aside from the golf and all the shopping and dining that this resort town can offer, the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens are a top attraction.

To discover more about living in Pinehurst, check out homes for sale in Pinehurst or research current Pinehurst real estate trends.

6. Harrisburg, NC

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●      Population: 19,463

●      Median household income: $112,757

●      Median home sold price: $438,400

●      Median monthly rental price: $1,678

●      Median days on market: 10

●      Housing cost-to-income ratio: 17.2%

●      Home affordability index: 1.22

Like many of the communities that surround Charlotte, which is one of the fastest growing urban areas in the U.S., Harrisburg maintains its small-town identity while enjoying all the diverse experiences and variety that a big city provides. The town is an easy commute to some of Charlotte’s largest employers. The parks are outstanding, and all summer the Rockin’ the Burg concert series attracts thousands to enjoy music, food trucks and a beer hall in Harrisburg Park. The Harrisburg Citizens Academy course provides residents the opportunity to speak to department managers, ask questions and learn more about what each department does within the local government.

Learn more about living in Harrisburg by searching homes for sale in Harrisburg or researching current Harrisburg real estate trends.

7. Havelock, NC

●      Population: 17,052

●      Median household income: $49,893

●      Median home sold price: $199,450

●      Median monthly rental price: $1,057

●      Median days on market: 12

●      Housing cost-to-income ratio: 24.3%

●      Home affordability index: 1.18

Havelock is a military town, with many of its residents employed by Cherry Point, the largest Marine Corps air station in the world. The city also borders the Croatan National Forest, the only true coastal forest on the East Coast. Among its 160,000 acres, visitors will find swamps, salt-water estuaries, lakes and pine forests and enjoy such experiences as horseback riding, hiking, boating and fishing. Residents enjoy easy access to the protected waters of Pamlico Sound and the beaches of the Outer Banks.

If this sounds like the place for you, take a look at homes for sale in Havelock or check out current Havelock real estate trends.

8. Clayton, NC

●      Population: 28,306

●      Median household income: $61,954

●      Median home sold price: $355,373

●      Median monthly rental price: $1,060

●      Median days on market: 16

●      Housing cost-to-income ratio: 21.8%

●      Home affordability index: 0.82

Clayton is considered a satellite town of Raleigh and ranks #1 on our list for the lowest unemployment rate. It has an active central downtown that has a weekly farmers market, arts and music festivals, restaurants, pubs and a downtown sculpture trail. The Clayton River Walk is a 4-mile trail that runs alongside the tree-lined Neuse River and is part of the 1,000-mile-long Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

Explore more about the city by searching homes for sale in Clayton, or check out current Clayton real estate trends.

9. Eden, NC

●      Population: 15,319

●      Median household income: $39,083

●      Median home sold price: $145,000

●      Median monthly rental price: $649

●      Median days on market: 51

●      Housing cost-to-income ratio: 19.1%

●      Home affordability index: 1.27

As a railroad town situated at the confluence of the Smith and Dan rivers in north-central North Carolina, Eden rose in popularity due to its ability to manufacture and ship textiles. Though it sits just outside of Greensboro, Eden remains a small town rather than a suburb. This may explain how it's able to rank #1 on our list for home affordability. Key annual community events in Eden include the fall RiverFest and the Charlie Poole Music Festival. A very popular attraction for residents and visitors is the Eden Drive-In Twin movie theater that embraces the nostalgia of a bygone era.

 To get further information on living here, look at homes for sale in Eden or check out current Eden real estate trends.

10. Leland, NC

●      Population: 25,974

●      Median household income: $73,125

●      Median home sold price: $399,028

●      Median monthly rental price: $1,194

●      Median days on market: 19

●      Housing cost-to-income ratio: 19.4%

●      Home affordability index: 0.87

With its gift shops and restaurants, Leland is in many ways a resort town, with easy access to city amenities and historic sites. The land-and-sea geography of the entire region makes Leland a place to experience nature and the outdoors, whether it’s at one of the many nature preserves, waterways, beaches or excellent golf courses. The largest community event of the year, Leland Founders Day, takes place on the second Saturday of September.

If you’re interested in living here, review the homes for sale in Leland, or check out current Leland real estate trends.

7 More Great Places To Live In North Carolina

Some people still love to live in a big city. While our metrics favored smaller towns and suburbs, North Carolina is home to several fantastic larger towns and cities that have experienced rapid growth in the last 2 – 3 decades. Many of the people flocking to North Carolina’s urban centers are coming from different parts of the country or from other countries altogether. This influx brings diversity, energy and new ideas to increasingly cosmopolitan modern cities that still retain plenty of southern charm. The following list of North Carolina’s large metro areas are not based on our study but are included for those who are drawn to big-city life.

1. Charlotte, NC

·      Population: 879,709

·      Median household income: $65,359

·      Median home sold price: $385,011

·      Median monthly rental price: $1,185

We’d be remiss not to mention the Queen City, the largest in all of North Carolina. Whether your interests lie in museums, theater, sports, concerts or even pimento cheese, Charlotte can provide. As home to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte – part of the UNC system – Charlotte draws many young professionals to its financial hub. An excellent public transportation system includes an 18-mile-long light rail called the LYNX, which runs from the university all the way through the city.

Auto racing is in your blood if you’re from North Carolina, since it’s the natural home of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. For those who enjoy the fresh air, Charlotte also has plenty of parks, trails and playgrounds. If you’re looking for a home outside of the cookie-cutter, many Charlotte houses and neighborhoods have maintained their historic charm.

Explore homes for sale in Charlotte today or check out Charlotte real estate trends with our housing market report.

2. Asheville, NC

·      Population: 94,067

·      Median household income: $53,621

·      Median home sold price: $450,138

·      Median monthly rental price: $1,084

Tucked between the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains lies Asheville, the Land of the Sky. Aside from being a fantastic restaurant town, Asheville is also home to some of the best craft breweries in the nation.

Spend the morning hiking to Craggy Pinnacle for an epic sunrise – Asheville is known as a great city for hikers – and then head downtown for drinks or dinner. Another plus? According to Census.gov, Asheville’s average commute time is about 10 minutes less than the national average of 27.6 minutes – that means getting where you need to be, faster.

Check out homes for sale in Asheville today or learn more about Asheville real estate trends.

3. Raleigh, NC

·      Population: 469,124

·      Median household income: $69,720

·      Median home sold price: $399,989

·      Median monthly rental price: $1,175

Like many other state capitals, Raleigh is one of the largest cities in the state, second only to Charlotte. With approximately 1,200 restaurants and an assortment of free museums and historic attractions, the City of Oaks is a great way to get that metropolitan feel without big-city costs. It’s also one of the best places to raise a family in the U.S.

Explore homes for sale in Raleigh today or check out Raleigh real estate trends with our housing market report. 

4. Durham, NC

·      Population: 285,527

·      Median household income: $61,962

·      Median home sold price: $387,649

·      Median monthly rental price: $1,098

Durham was once best known for its banking and tobacco industries, but the health care industry has taken over. Known as “The City of Medicine,” Durham houses over 300 health care companies, plus prominent tech giants like Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions.

Besides the thriving job market, Durham is also highly regarded for its incredible food scene. From locally sourced coffee to craft beer and freshly farmed food, this city is sure to satisfy any foodie’s cravings.

If this sounds like the place you want to put down roots, review homes for sale in Durham and check out Durham real estate trends.

5. Chapel Hill, NC

·      Population: 61,128

·      Median household income: $77,037

·      Median home sold price: $747,000

·      Median monthly rental price: $1,879

Any discussion of Chapel Hill must include its cultural center and largest employer, the University of North Carolina. UNC is well-known in the sports world for its legendary Tar Heels basketball program, but it’s also regarded as one of the top public universities in the United States and, indeed, the world. Since Chapel Hill and its sister community of Carrboro are designated Silver-Level Bicycle Friendly Communities, you can pedal off a pub crawl of the six distinct craft breweries that lie between them. Chapel Hill was also named “America’s Foodiest Small Town” by “Bon Appetit.” The annual late-summer Forest Theater Summer Giant Puppet Show draws international visitors to the UNC campus.

Contemplating a move to Chapel Hill? Check out homes for sale in Chapel Hill and research Chapel Hill housing market trends.

6. Winston-Salem, NC

·      Population: 250,320

·      Median household income: $47,269

·      Median home sold price: $249,884

·      Median monthly rental price: $827

As the name might suggest, the cities were originally founded independently, just 1 mile apart, before merging in the late 19^th century. Winston-Salem is often referred to as the Camel City for its history of housing the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and its famous Camel cigarettes.

Industry aside, Winston-Salem has affordable housing – with median monthly rent below $1,000 – and a downtown area that includes 120 restaurants, shops and breweries. Winston-Salem is the birthplace of Krispy Kreme donuts. Need we say more? 

View the homes for sale in Winston-Salem or check out Winston-Salem real estate trends to learn more about the area.

7. Wilmington, NC

·      Population: 117,643

·      Median household income: $54,056

·      Median home sold price: $447,500

·      Median monthly rental price: $1,630

Wilmington is North Carolina’s largest port city. It’s situated on an Atlantic Coastal Plain where the Cape Fear River empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Wilmington’s Riverwalk features the city’s Historic District and the moored Battleship North Carolina museum. Living in Wilmington means easy access to beach fun, including Wrightsville Beach for water sports and excellent surfing, Kure Beach for Civil War historic sites and the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. The Carolina Beach Music Festival takes place right on the oceanfront each June and the North Carolina Azalea Festival takes place throughout Wilmington every April.

If you’re thinking of moving to Wilmington, check out homes for sale in Wilmington and Wilmington housing market trends.

FAQs For The Best Places To Live In NC

What are the pros and cons of living in North Carolina?

Some of the best things about living in North Carolina include the friendly people and communities, the mild winters and the diverse geography from the western mountains to the coastal beaches. Downsides can be the high taxes, high crime rates in certain communities and sometimes oppressively hot and humid summer weather.

Is it worth moving to North Carolina?

It must be because more people are moving there than are leaving. If you’re looking for a diverse economy, affordable housing, excellent K through college education and friendly people, North Carolina may have a place for you.

Where is the healthiest place to live in North Carolina?

After assessing 500 communities across America with an exhaustive list of factors concerning health, U.S. News & World Report ranked Wake County as the healthiest in North Carolina and 215^th in the country. Wake County includes three of our best cities to live in North Carolina – Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.

Where do most people move to North Carolina from?

The 2021 U.S. Census found that the top five states of North Carolina-bound in-migrants were Florida, New York, Virginia, South Carolina and California. The top five foreign countries having people migrate to North Carolina were Mexico, Honduras, India, South Korea and China.

The Bottom Line

North Carolina’s population grew by 8.51% in 2022, 15^th highest among U.S. states. Most of our best places to live in North Carolina are also some of the fastest growing, and this reflects a wider trend in America of people moving to small and midsize towns and cities. These are places with low cost of living, affordable housing and access to good jobs and outdoor recreation.

If you’ve done your research and think you’re ready to put down roots in the Tar Heel State, get started today with a home loan from Rocket Mortgage^®.

Methodology: Finding The Best Places To Live In North Carolina

Rocket Homes^SM collected and analyzed the most recent data on 12 key local and countywide metrics to give us insight into the top cities best for living. We analyzed the 70 most populated cities in North Carolina, which have Rocket Homes listings. These cities are home to 46.05% of the state’s residents. The metrics used in this study include the violent crime rate, property crime rate, unemployment rate, google search volume, median rent, well-being index, median monthly income, median monthly housing costs, median days on market for homes, median home list price, and Freddie Mac primary mortgage market survey interest rates. Some of these metrics were then used to calculate housing cost-to-income ratio and home affordability index. These metrics were chosen based on public data availability and topical relevance. Metrics from the U.S. Census are based on 2020 ACS 5-year estimates. In one case, county-level data was used because data isn’t recorded at the local level.

The housing cost-to-income ratio was calculated by taking the median monthly housing costs divided by the median monthly income to get the average percentage of income spent on housing costs in a household. The home affordability index was calculated using median listing price for homes in that city, interest rate from the Freddie Mac primary mortgage market survey, and median yearly income. To interpret the indices, a value equal to or greater than 1 means the average person has enough income to qualify for a mortgage in that area. The calculation assumes a down payment of 20% of the home price and a qualifying ratio of 25%.

Each data category was normalized and transformed into a range of points for scoring and comparison. Cities with violent crime rates greater than or equal to 55 and property crime rates greater than or equal to 65 were removed from the ranking. Weights were then applied to each metric depending on its individual importance in the study. The weighted scores for each metric were summed to create the overall Best Places To Live Score for each city. The final scores are sorted to produce the final rankings. If multiple cities ranked within the same county, only the top city or two cities were chosen to be represented in order to showcase the diversity of the state and offer a wider representation of the state.