Best places to live in North Carolina

The top 3 in North Carolina

1. 

   1

   Greensboro

   Score 74 of 100

   Median home

   $327,000

   Per month

   $1,797

   Prices

   7% cheaper

   • Prices 7% below the US average
   • Homes list 22% below the US median
   • Nonstop flights to New York

   Cost of living in Greensboro

   The numbers behind it↓

   • Prices 7% below the US average. Everyday prices, rent included, index at 92.9 against a US average of 100. (BEA regional price parities, 2024)
   • Homes list 22% below the US median. $327,000 median listing against $419,250 nationally. (Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026)
   • Nonstop flights to New York. From GSO to LGA, EWR. (Airport route page, May 5, 2026)

   Price level 92.9 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

2. 

   2

   Charlotte

   Score 66 of 100

   Median home

   $424,950

   Per month

   $2,335

   Prices

   3% cheaper

   • Prices 3% below the US average
   • Mild winters
   • Nonstop flights to New York

   Trade-offHot summers. July highs average 90.3°F.

   Cost of living in CharlotteCharlotte vs NashvilleCharlotte vs Raleigh

   The numbers behind it↓

   • Prices 3% below the US average. Everyday prices, rent included, index at 97.3 against a US average of 100. (BEA regional price parities, 2024)
   • Mild winters. January lows average 31.8°F with 3.5 inches of snow a year. (NOAA 1991-2020 normals)
   • Nonstop flights to New York. From CLT to JFK, LGA, EWR. (Airport route page, accessed October 14, 2026)
   • Hot summers. July highs average 90.3°F. (NOAA 1991-2020 normals)

   Price level 97.3 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

3. 

   3

   Wilmington

   Score 64 of 100

   Median home

   $471,489

   Per month

   $2,591

   Prices

   4% cheaper

   • Prices 4% below the US average
   • Mild winters
   • Nonstop flights to New York

   Trade-offHomes list 12% above the US median. $471,489 median listing against $419,250 nationally.

   Cost of living in Wilmington

   The numbers behind it↓

   • Prices 4% below the US average. Everyday prices, rent included, index at 96.4 against a US average of 100. (BEA regional price parities, 2024)
   • Mild winters. January lows average 36.3°F with 0.9 inches of snow a year. (NOAA 1991-2020 normals)
   • Nonstop flights to New York. From ILM to LGA, EWR. (Airport route page, accessed October 14, 2026)
   • Homes list 12% above the US median. $471,489 median listing against $419,250 nationally. (Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026)

   Price level 96.4 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

Ranks 4 to 6

1. 

   4

   Raleigh

   Score 63 of 100

   Median home

   $445,000

   Per month

   $2,445

   Prices

   2% cheaper

   Trade-offHomes list 6% above the US median. $445,000 median listing against $419,250 nationally.

   Why it ranks here ↓

   • Prices 2% below the US average
   • Mild winters
   • Nonstop flights to New York

   • Prices 2% below the US average. Everyday prices, rent included, index at 98.2 against a US average of 100. (BEA regional price parities, 2024)
   • Mild winters. January lows average 31.8°F with 5.2 inches of snow a year. (NOAA 1991-2020 normals)
   • Nonstop flights to New York. From RDU to JFK, LGA, EWR. (Airport route page, October 13, 2026)

   Cost of living in RaleighRaleigh vs CharlotteRaleigh vs Durham

   Price level 98.2 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

2. 

   5

   Durham

   Score 46 of 100

   Median home

   $460,135

   Per month

   $2,529

   Prices

   2% cheaper

   Trade-offHomes list 10% above the US median. $460,135 median listing against $419,250 nationally.

   Why it ranks here ↓

   • Prices 2% below the US average
   • Mild winters
   • Nonstop flights to New York

   • Prices 2% below the US average. Everyday prices, rent included, index at 97.6 against a US average of 100. (BEA regional price parities, 2024)
   • Mild winters. January lows average 31.8°F with 5.2 inches of snow a year. (NOAA 1991-2020 normals)
   • Nonstop flights to New York. From RDU to JFK, LGA, EWR. (Airport route page, October 13, 2026)

   Cost of living in DurhamDurham vs Raleigh

   Price level 97.6 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

3. 

   6

   Asheville

   Score 10 of 100

   Median home

   $575,000

   Per month

   $3,160

   Prices

   3% cheaper

   Trade-offHomes list 37% above the US median. $575,000 median listing against $419,250 nationally.

   Why it ranks here ↓

   • Prices 3% below the US average
   • Nonstop flights to New York
   • Mountains and trails close by

   • Prices 3% below the US average. Everyday prices, rent included, index at 96.5 against a US average of 100. (BEA regional price parities, 2024)
   • Nonstop flights to New York. From AVL to LGA, EWR. (Airport route page, accessed October 14, 2026)
   • Mountains and trails close by. Blue Ridge Mountains (Slower Sundays city profile)

   Cost of living in AshevilleAsheville vs KnoxvilleAsheville vs Chattanooga

   Price level 96.5 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

How we ranked them

1. Lower home prices40%Lowest median listing in the state gets full points, the highest gets none. Source: Realtor.com via FRED.
2. More space for the money (price per square foot)20%Lowest price per square foot gets full points, the highest gets none. Source: Realtor.com via FRED.
3. Milder winters (January low)20%Warmest January low gets full points, the coldest gets none. Source: NOAA 1991-2020 normals.
4. Nonstop flights to New York10%Full points for a year-round nonstop to New York. Seasonal, none or no figure scores zero. Source: Airport route pages.
5. More people moving in than leaving10%Full points if more people moved in from other US metros than left, July 2024 to July 2025. Source: US Census Bureau, Vintage 2025.

Points on each measure run from none to full, then the weights above add up to a score out of 100. A city with no figure for home price, price per square foot or January low gets half points on that measure. No flight or migration figure scores zero.

Weigh things differently? The quiz ranks every city on your own priorities.

Questions people ask