North Carolina is a mid-Atlantic paradise for a lot of as you may get pleasure from gentle winters whereas avoiding the extreme summer season temps that Texas and Florida endure. The Tarheel State provides a coastal life-style within the east and extra temperate mountain climates.

With wonderful hospitals, universities and a aggressive value of residing, there are a lot of locations to reside in North Carolina for households, retirees and people trying to make a recent begin.

In the event you’re questioning the place one of the best locations to reside in North Carolina are, this information will help you discover your splendid location. We analyzed cities by pulling current information on key life-style elements equivalent to the world’s median dwelling value, private earnings per capita, and the unemployment and crime price.

8. Asheville

Asheville is probably the most outstanding metropolis in western North Carolina that balances its Appalachian historical past with an eclectic, trendy vibe emphasizing sustainable residing.

Open air fanatics will love mountain climbing within the mountains, trying to find waterfalls and driving the Blue Ridge Parkway throughout peak fall season. Town can be dwelling to the Biltmore Property and North Carolina Arboretum.

Nevertheless, this metropolis is usually a surprisingly costly North Carolina mountain city with a few of the state’s highest dwelling costs. Fortunately, North Carolina state taxes are comparatively low and assist offset the next value of residing.

7. Hickory

Hickory is an reasonably priced different to Asheville and Charlotte whereas roughly one hour from both metropolis. The city derives its title from the Hickory Tavern, an inn constructed beneath a hickory tree within the 1850s that finally had a thriving neighborhood spring up round it.

Town is the gateway to the Catawba Valley and is nestled on the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which makes it one of many state’s most budget-friendly cities to benefit from the mountains. This city can be family-friendly with its small inhabitants, low crime price and southern appeal.

6. Greenville

Residence to East Carolina College and a formidable medical heart that doubles as a educating hospital, Greenville is an exhilarating school city with thrilling social actions in the course of the 12 months for college students and residents.

For instance, the town is dwelling to the favored PirateFest, which may vary as much as eight metropolis blocks with swashbuckling enjoyable. There are a number of non-nautical cultural points of interest, too, and you will get to the Outer Banks in solely two hours for a seashore getaway.

5. Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem is without doubt one of the greatest locations to reside in North Carolina for households because the metro space has reasonably priced housing and a low value of residing. The Innovation Quarter enterprise improvement initiative additionally offers a thriving jobs market with numerous workplaces and labs.

There are additionally a number of leisure greenways for exercising open air. You’ll be able to chill out at Bailey Park or get pleasure from Wake Forest College athletics as nicely.

4. Charlotte

Charlotte is the monetary headquarters for a number of banks and is North Carolina’s largest metropolis. Healthcare and know-how are additionally thriving employment sectors.

The “Queen Metropolis” has all of it for younger professionals, households and retirees. Residents can get pleasure from skilled sports activities and a thriving nightlife, and so they even have entry to a significant worldwide airport for journey.

Nevertheless, you should be prepared to both reside in a significant metropolis or commute when you desire a quieter suburban setting. This could possibly be price it, although, as you’ll be simply over three hours away from the seashore and may get pleasure from a temperate local weather with milder winters than the remainder of North Carolina.

3. Durham

The Durham and Chapel Hill space’s declare to fame is likely to be Duke College and the College of North Carolina. These two universities are fascinating establishments to attend, and each faculties have a permanent basketball legacy.

This space additionally competes with close by Raleigh for profitable tech sector jobs. Healthcare is an important supply of employment, too, and is a fascinating amenity for residents. In actual fact, considered one of Durham’s nicknames is the “Metropolis of Drugs” because it’s dwelling to over 300 medical-related corporations, together with Duke College.

2. Wilmington

Wilmington is without doubt one of the greatest locations to reside in North Carolina close to the seashore as it’s extra reasonably priced than the Outer Banks, which is the state’s hottest coastal trip spot. There are a number of pristine seashores—equivalent to Wrightsville Seaside and Oak Island—for time within the sand and solar.

The seaport metropolis has loads of trade that may assist everlasting residents with non-tourism vocations. This city additionally has a wealthy historic district, and also you’re additionally just a few hours from most main North Carolina cities for added sightseeing and massive metropolis facilities.

1. Raleigh

There are lots of favorable elements that might make Raleigh an awesome place to quiet down, together with a top quality of life and an optimistic employment setting. The Analysis Triangle Park has additionally helped convey high-paying tech-related jobs to the world from employers like MetLife, Citrix and RedHat.

As you would possibly count on from these tailwinds, Raleigh is considered one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing cities and it’s additionally the state capital.

Our Methodology

We in contrast the assorted North Carolina metro cities utilizing information from a number of platforms to measure variable standards for dwelling affordability, wholesome employment, inhabitants development and crime price.

The comparability standards and corresponding sources embody: