10 Best Places to Live in North Carolina

Raleigh

“Raleigh simply works. It is rising quick, however nonetheless has a grounded, approachable really feel. Between the tech jobs, parks, occasions, and meals, there’s something for everybody,” Steven David Elliot of Fathom Realty tells Journey + Leisure. “Individuals come for the alternatives and keep as a result of it looks like dwelling.” House costs have additionally remained fairly steady over the previous couple of years. In keeping with Redfin, the median sale worth of a house in Raleigh was round $440,000 in April 2025, a 3.4 % enhance from the 12 months prior.

And should you’re not prepared to purchase? You’ll nonetheless probably discover a whole lot on hire; average rent within the capital metropolis is $1,888, 10 % decrease than the nationwide common. Juanita Corry Jackson of Juanita Jackson Realty recommends beginning your search within the North Hills and Oakwood neighborhoods, which she says are “gaining reputation on account of their mix of historic allure and fashionable facilities.”

Durham

Raleigh and Durham is likely to be incessantly lumped collectively, however, as any resident of both metropolis will let you know, they’re decidedly completely different. Durham is smaller—with a inhabitants of round 290,000 in comparison with about 482,000 in Raleigh—and its tradition leans extra inventive than company. Actual property in Durham can be extra reasonably priced. Whereas the market continues to be aggressive, the typical dwelling worth is simply over $410,000. Moreover, anybody working within the greater schooling, medical, or monetary fields could have stable job prospects in Durham. Duke College, the Duke College Well being System, and Constancy are a number of the largest employers in the area.

Chapel Hill

For those who’re fascinated by a small city with a larger-than-life fame, look no additional than Chapel Hill. A part of the Analysis Triangle, Chapel Hill is dwelling to the College of North Carolina—however there’s much more to it than school life. It is a vacation spot the place residents take pleasure in reside music, public artwork, a quaint historic district, breweries, and quite a lot of native eating places. Whereas the housing market is costly—the median sale worth exceeds $600,000—there are a number of charming small cities simply exterior of Chapel Hill to think about. These looking for extra reasonably priced costs ought to go searching Mebane, Hillsborough, or Pittsboro; every is lower than a 30-minute drive from downtown Chapel Hill.

Charlotte

Elliot calls Charlotte a “stable selection” for many who desire a “mixture of metropolis life and room to breathe.” It’s additionally ultimate for frequent vacationers; Charlotte Douglas Worldwide Airport is a serious hub for American Airways. “Charlotte retains pushing ahead. It is obtained critical momentum, nice job alternatives, a robust cultural scene, and neighborhoods like South Finish and NoDa that hold getting higher,” he says. After the true property increase of 2020 and 2021, the housing market hasn’t drastically modified; the average home value in Charlotte is simply over $405,000.

Cary

“Cary is a kind of locations the place every thing is simply simple. It is protected, well-planned, and persistently delivers on high quality of life. Nice faculties, clear neighborhoods, and the form of quiet confidence that makes it a no brainer for households,” says Elliot. Whereas it was as soon as thought-about a suburb of Raleigh, Cary has advanced into a definite vacation spot with its personal distinctive identification. Residents take pleasure in a dynamic arts and tradition scene and top-tier eating, and the comparatively new Downtown Cary Park serves as a central gathering house for occasions and outside actions. Contemplating these elements, it could come as no shock that the true property market is rather competitive. House costs have elevated 5.7 % from final 12 months, so count on to pay round $690,000 (the current median price) to your dwelling.

Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem is about as well-rounded a vacation spot as they arrive, but it surely’s nonetheless on the extra reasonably priced aspect. The average home value is $257,523, and the general value of dwelling is about 9 % beneath the nationwide common. When you’ve secured your lodging and made the massive transfer to the world, you can begin specializing in what else makes Winston so nice: its quite a few parks and 25 miles of greenways, a concentrate on schooling (it’s dwelling to Wake Forest College), and small-town occasions akin to film nights and festivals. Plus, you’re inside driving distance of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail, the place scenic views and mountain climbing paths await.

Wilmington

“Wilmington has been on the rise for some time now. You get the seaside, an enthralling downtown, and a tempo that’s relaxed with out being sleepy. It is an amazing possibility if you need a life-style improve with out giving up neighborhood or tradition,” says Elliot. The port metropolis is positioned between the Atlantic and the Cape Concern River, so it’s an exquisite spot for anybody who desires to spend their free time on or close to the water—boating, fishing, swimming, and so forth. With a median dwelling worth of $416,708, Wilmington provides extra reasonably priced housing choices than a number of the bigger coastal cities close by in North and South Carolina.

Greensboro

“Greensboro provides a snug life-style with a decrease value of dwelling, ample inexperienced areas, and a rising arts and tradition scene,” says Jackson, noting that the typical dwelling worth is about $300,000. Different elements to think about embody its job market—manufacturing is a major industry in Greensboro—and its family-friendly nature. “Areas like Lindley Park and Fisher Park have gotten engaging on account of their community-focused environment and greenery,” she provides. There’s additionally the Greensboro Science Center, the Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum, and Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe to maintain your complete household entertained.

Fayetteville

Inexpensive housing is without doubt one of the largest advantages of dwelling in Fayetteville, a 209,000-person metropolis that lies between Charlotte and Wilmington. As of April 2025, the median worth was simply $245,000, and hire is 33 percent lower than the nationwide common ($1,400 vs. $2,100). Given its proximity to Fort Bragg, the Division of Protection is the largest employer within the space. Fayetteville does expertise navy turnover, so these on the lookout for funding alternatives could also be within the single-family dwelling and rental market. One other perk of dwelling in Fayetteville? Its proximity to main cities. It’s a few one-hour drive to Raleigh and about 2.5 hours to Charlotte.

Mooresville

Huge-city entry meets lakeside dwelling in Mooresville. Only a 30-minute drive from Charlotte, Mooresville, or “Race Metropolis, U.S.A”— it’s the placement for a lot of NASCAR and IndyCar races—sits on the shores of Lake Norman. The average home value is $484,825, although lots of the lakefront houses promote for a lot greater. As a resident, you possibly can spend your weekends boating across the lake, grabbing groceries at Steven’s Country Store & Butcher Shop, sipping and strolling within the Downtown Mooresville Social District, or poking across the city’s numerous outlets and boutiques promoting regionally made wares.