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- Wake County. Rating 4.27 out of 5 55 reviews. Current Resident: I appreciate the development of communal areas for shopping, dinning, and group activities; however, much of the residential construction is removing environmental staples to the community and reducing access to green spaces....
- Orange County. Rating 4.13 out of 5 8 reviews. Current Resident: I'm originally from New Jersey so moving to Orange county was definitely a culture shock, but I really enjoy it here.
- Mecklenburg County. Rating 4.03 out of 5 32 reviews. Current Resident: Nice community, friendly, lots to do and see.
- Durham County. Rating 4 out of 5 106 reviews. Current Resident: Living in North Durham County has all the advantages of the city, without the crime or crowding!
Jan 11, 2024 · Living in North Carolina can vary from one part of the state to the next — who woulda thought? The best counties in North Carolina are Wake County, Orange County, Chatham County, Union County, Moore County, Cabarrus County, Currituck County, Brunswick County, Lincoln County, and Camden County.
RankCountyPopulationMedian Income11,132,103$96,7342145,919$85,785376,754$84,2224240,109$95,533Apr 8, 2024 · Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in North Carolina using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.
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- Chatham County
- Henderson County
- Dare County
- Currituck County
- Mecklenburg County
- Watauga County
- Union County
- Orange County
Chatham County is located to the south of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. Chatham county has the third lowest unemployment rate at 4.1% in North Carolina, and the fifth highest median income at $57,140. Pittsboro is a fairly small community with a rich history and is the home of the Carolina Tiger Rescue.
Henderson County is located in the mountainous western part of North Carolina, south of Asheville. Henderson County has a promising real estate market along with having a one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state at 4.2%. Henderson county is known for its famous Apple Festival and apple orchards. The county seat Hendersonville is a quaint t...
Dare County is the eastern most county in North Carolina and a great place to find a home near the ocean. Dare County has one of the highest median incomes in North Carolina, at $55,520 along with having one of the lowest property tax rates. Dare County also ranks in the top ten North Carolina counties for health outcomes. Dare County was named aft...
Currituck County is the northeastern-most county in North Carolina, and another great choice for beach lovers! Currituck County has a low unemployment rate at 5.2 percent, a high median income at $58,676 and ranks in the top ten for health outcomes in North Carolina. Currituck County includes the northern-most islands of North Carolina's Outer Bank...
Mecklenburg County is home to North Carolina's largest city, Charlotte. The county has a high median income at $56,472, excellent school districts and ranks fifth highest in the state for health outcomes. Charlotte also has a great real estate outlook. Charlotte is a thriving city with all of the attractions of big-city life and is also the home of...
Watauga County is located high in the mountains of northwestern North Carolina. Watauga County is surrounded by much natural beauty, and benefits residents with a low unemployment rate at 4.4 percent, an excellent school system and healthcare outcome rating along with a low property tax. The county seat Boone is a unique mountain town that usually ...
Union County lies to the southeast of Charlotte, making it a very good option for suburban living. Union county residents benefit from excellent school systems, high health outcome rankings and a high median income of $53,482. Union County's real estate market is on the upswing, making it a very attractive option for potential home buyers. The Unio...
Chapel Hill is Orange County's largest city and the home of the University of North Carolina. Chapel Hill is a thriving college city, full of passionate Tar Heels. Orange County ranks high on several quality of life lists including the lowest unemployment rate at 3.9 percent, some of the best public schools, and healthcare outcomes. Orange County a...
- WNCT
- Wake County. – Population: 1,069,079. – Median home value: $281,700 (64% own) – Median rent: $1,150 (36% rent) – Median household income: $80,591. – Top public schools: Raleigh Charter High School (A+), Green Hope High School (A+), Wake NC State University STEM Early College High School (A+)
- Orange County. – Population: 144,836. – Median home value: $308,800 (63% own) – Median rent: $1,093 (37% rent) – Median household income: $71,723. – Top public schools: East Chapel Hill High School (A+), Carrboro High School (A+), Chapel Hill High School (A+)
- Mecklenburg County. – Population: 1,074,475. – Median home value: $238,000 (56% own) – Median rent: $1,146 (44% rent) – Median household income: $66,641. – Top public schools: Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy (A+), Ardrey Kell High School (A+), Community School of Davidson (A+)
- Durham County. – Population: 311,848. – Median home value: $223,000 (54% own) – Median rent: $1,067 (46% rent) – Median household income: $60,958. – Top public schools: North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (A+), Research Triangle High School (A+), Durham School of the Arts (A)
Best counties. Most diverse. Best to buy a house. View on map. Public schools grade. A. B. C. D. Cost of living. $$$$ 1-25 of 100 results. #1 Best Counties for Families in North Carolina. Wake County. County in North Carolina. •. 55 reviews.
Ranking of best North Carolina counties for retirees based on weather, livability for the retirement population, and access to amenities.
