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Whether it’s the beaches of the Coastal Plain; Piedmont, the plateau that extends from the Southeast to the Northeast; or the Appalachian Mountains; North Carolina has many desirable landscapes to choose from. Check out the best places to live in North Carolina. For more information on how we rank, read the Best Places to Live methodology.
- Raleigh & Durham, NC
This family-friendly city also has a children's museum,...
- Pictures of Asheville, NC
Browse None photos of Asheville, NC, city landmarks,...
- Pictures of Greensboro, NC
Browse None photos of Greensboro, NC, city landmarks,...
- Pictures of Hickory, NC
Browse None photos of Hickory, NC, city landmarks,...
- Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem's population is relatively young, perhaps due...
- Raleigh & Durham, NC
- Asheville. A quirky and artsy mountain city with outdoor attractions galore. 🏠 Population: 94,067 | 📍 Google Maps | Website | Where to Stay in Asheville | 👉 Browse Hotels in Asheville on Booking.
- Charlotte. North Carolina’s largest city offers rich arts, entertainment, and sports scenes. 🏠 Population: 879,709 | 📍 Google Maps | Website | Where to Stay in Charlotte | 👉 Browse Hotels in Charlotte on Booking.
- Raleigh. The capital city of North Carolina is full of museums and close to major universities. 🏠 Population: 469,124 | 📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Browse Hotels in Raleigh on Booking.
- Greensboro. A Central Piedmont city with historical sites and family-friendly attractions. 🏠 Population: 298,263 | 📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Browse Hotels in Greensboro on Booking.
- Asheville
- Hickory
- Greenville
- Winston-Salem
- Charlotte
- Durham
- Wilmington
- Raleigh
- Our Methodology
Asheville is the most prominent city in western North Carolina that balances its Appalachian history with an eclectic, modern vibe emphasizing sustainable living. Outdoors enthusiasts will love hiking in the mountains, searching for waterfalls and driving the Blue Ridge Parkway during peak fall season. The city is also home to the Biltmore Estate a...
Hickory is an affordable alternative to Asheville and Charlotte while approximately one hour from either city. The town derives its name from the Hickory Tavern, an inn built under a hickory tree in the 1850s that eventually had a thriving community spring up around it. The city is the gateway to the Catawba Valley and is nestled at the base of the...
Home to East Carolina University and an impressive medical center that doubles as a teaching hospital, Greenville is a thrilling college town with exciting social activities during the year for students and citizens. For example, the city is home to the popular PirateFest, which can range up to eight city blocks with swashbuckling fun. There are se...
Winston-Salem is one of the best places to live in North Carolina for families as the metro area has affordable housing and a low cost of living. The Innovation Quarter business development initiative also provides a thriving jobs market with various offices and labs. There are also several recreational greenways for exercising outdoors. You can re...
Charlotte is the financial headquarters for several banks and is North Carolina’s largest city. Healthcare and technology are also thriving employment sectors. The “Queen City” has it all for young professionals, families and retirees. Residents can enjoy professional sports and a thriving nightlife, and they also have access to a major internation...
The Durham and Chapel Hill area’s claim to fame might be Duke University and the University of North Carolina. These two universities are desirable institutions to attend, and both schools have an enduring basketball legacy. This area also competes with nearby Raleigh for lucrative tech sector jobs. Healthcare is a vital source of employment, too, ...
Wilmington is one of the best places to live in North Carolina near the beach as it is more affordable than the Outer Banks, which is the state’s most popular coastal vacation spot. There are several pristine beaches—such as Wrightsville Beach and Oak Island—for time in the sand and sun. The seaport city has plenty of industry that can support perm...
There are many favorable factors that could make Raleigh a great place to settle down, including a high quality of life and an optimistic employment environment. The Research Triangle Park has also helped bring high-paying tech-related jobs to the area from employers like MetLife, Citrix and RedHat. As you might expect from these tailwinds, Raleigh...
We compared the various North Carolina metro cities using data from several platforms to measure variable criteria for home affordability, healthy employment, population growth and crime rate. The comparison criteria and corresponding sources include: 1. Population: U.S. Census Bureau, July 2021 2. Median home price: Realtor.com, August 2022 3. Cos...
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May 7, 2024 · Best Places to Live in North Carolina. 2. Raleigh. Population: 469,000. Median home price: $421,000. Average age: 34 years old. Here in NC, we call it the Triangle, but it’s actually the area defined by the space between Raleigh, Durham, and Fayetteville.
- Cary. Suburb of Raleigh, NC. Rating 4.21 out of 5 518 reviews. Current Resident: I absolutely love Cary, North Carolina.
- Morrisville. Suburb of Raleigh, NC. Rating 4.28 out of 5 81 reviews. Current Resident: Morrisville is great place to live.
- Dilworth. Neighborhood in Charlotte, NC. Rating 5 out of 5 2 reviews. Current Resident: Absolutely love this community.
- Davidson. Suburb of Charlotte, NC. Rating 4.47 out of 5 38 reviews. Current Resident: Davidson is such a nice place to live.
Apr 14, 2023 · Chapel Hill. Denis Tangney Jr/Getty Images. Nicknamed the "Southern Part of Heaven," Chapel Hill is the smallest of the three major destinations in North Carolina’s Research Triangle. However ...
Oct 28, 2023 · Concord, NC City Hall. Concord is a best city in North Carolina. Concord is less than 30 miles from Charlotte, making it a part of the state’s largest city’s metropolitan area. The Charlotte Motor Speedway, a popular place for fans to watch the races, is located in Concord, as is zMAX Dragway, SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord and Great Wolf Lodge ...
