Best places to live in North Carolina
CityLedger tracks 13 North Carolina metros, led by Raleigh. Cost of living runs from about 88 to 98 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 13 metros in North Carolina, the largest being the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metro Area (around 2,883,370 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $57,031 in Greenville to $102,144 in Raleigh, and typical rent from $934 a month in Hickory upward — a reminder that "North Carolina" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
Rocky Mount has the lowest overall price level in the state (about 88 versus a U.S. average of 100), but the cheapest metro isn't always where money goes furthest. Adjusting income for local prices, Raleigh delivers the best real buying power — a cost-adjusted median of about $104,062.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: North Carolina levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 7.0% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and North Carolina state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Raleigh earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 85/100; Raleigh is the fastest-growing, up 12.3% over the latest population estimate; Asheville carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $10 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 85 | 98 | $102,144 | $1,674/mo |
| Durham, NC | 70 | 98 | $83,542 | $1,598/mo |
| Wilmington, NC | 65 | 96 | $78,890 | $1,578/mo |
| Charlotte, NC | 64 | 97 | $85,938 | $1,594/mo |
| Asheville, NC | 57 | 97 | $76,275 | $1,396/mo |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 46 | 92 | $65,903 | $1,102/mo |
| Greensboro, NC | 43 | 93 | $66,072 | $1,171/mo |
| Jacksonville, NC | 39 | 92 | $73,004 | $1,389/mo |
| Hickory, NC | 38 | 88 | $64,059 | $934/mo |
| Burlington, NC | 37 | 93 | $65,966 | $1,218/mo |
| Greenville, NC | 29 | 88 | $57,031 | $986/mo |
| Fayetteville, NC | 28 | 92 | $61,379 | $1,334/mo |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 18 | 88 | $57,802 | $1,000/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in North Carolina — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in North Carolina?
- By overall price level, Rocky Mount is the most affordable metro in North Carolina, at about 88 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in North Carolina?
- Raleigh has the highest cost-adjusted income in North Carolina — a median of about $104,062 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does North Carolina have a state income tax?
- Yes. North Carolina levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 7.0%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which North Carolina metro has the highest livability score?
- Raleigh, at 85/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.