Most Affordable Cities in North Carolina

The cheapest cities to live in North Carolina ranked by median rent, home values, and more.

# City Median Rent Median Income Home Value Population
1 Thomasville, NC $853 $58,246 $163,200 27,261
2 Asheboro, NC $855 $48,628 $162,800 27,353
3 Rocky Mount, NC $919 $52,927 $148,300 54,175
4 Wilson, NC $925 $47,294 $192,000 47,740
5 Statesville, NC $935 $55,492 $226,100 29,161
6 Goldsboro, NC $956 $47,005 $173,700 33,448
7 Sanford, NC $965 $54,294 $222,000 30,833
8 Hickory, NC $975 $63,361 $248,300 43,747
9 Greenville, NC $983 $50,564 $213,100 88,540
10 Burlington, NC $1,030 $54,941 $188,700 58,599
11 Salisbury, NC $1,030 $51,058 $215,200 35,730
12 Winston-Salem, NC $1,033 $57,673 $208,200 250,887
13 Kernersville, NC $1,052 $69,923 $264,000 27,439
14 High Point, NC $1,062 $61,228 $212,400 115,263
15 New Bern, NC $1,068 $56,893 $211,500 31,563
16 Greensboro, NC $1,114 $58,884 $221,300 298,564
17 Gastonia, NC $1,145 $60,554 $250,000 81,632
18 Kannapolis, NC $1,168 $70,691 $245,500 56,470
19 Fayetteville, NC $1,179 $56,395 $171,900 209,692
20 Monroe, NC $1,216 $67,265 $270,600 35,596
21 Jacksonville, NC $1,268 $54,069 $191,700 73,507
22 Asheville, NC $1,303 $67,221 $411,000 94,369
23 Wilmington, NC $1,311 $63,900 $350,300 118,578
24 Concord, NC $1,365 $84,752 $327,600 106,518
25 Durham, NC $1,412 $79,234 $355,300 288,465
26 Garner, NC $1,452 $77,496 $320,300 32,543
27 Wake Forest, NC $1,458 $120,777 $435,000 51,199
28 Raleigh, NC $1,468 $82,424 $377,800 470,763
29 Chapel Hill, NC $1,483 $85,825 $576,500 59,889
30 Mint Hill, NC $1,498 $99,272 $386,900 26,954
31 Charlotte, NC $1,504 $78,438 $351,500 886,283
32 Mooresville, NC $1,505 $88,592 $348,500 51,447
33 Clayton, NC $1,542 $73,348 $292,400 28,043
34 Cornelius, NC $1,571 $114,688 $512,400 32,009
35 Leland, NC $1,603 $88,576 $358,800 26,307
36 Cary, NC $1,621 $129,399 $525,200 176,686
37 Fuquay-Varina, NC $1,646 $111,447 $410,600 37,749
38 Matthews, NC $1,670 $105,579 $406,800 29,959
39 Huntersville, NC $1,742 $119,951 $439,300 62,458
40 Apex, NC $1,784 $138,442 $514,800 67,765
41 Morrisville, NC $1,785 $125,404 $481,800 30,471
42 Holly Springs, NC $1,858 $132,435 $485,500 43,429
43 Indian Trail, NC $1,916 $99,073 $343,500 41,146

Key Takeaways

  • Thomasville, NC ranks #1 with a median rent of $853.
  • The top 5 cities are: Thomasville, NC; Asheboro, NC; Rocky Mount, NC; Wilson, NC; Statesville, NC.
  • Median household income in the #1 city is $58,246, with a population of 27,261.

Methodology

Rankings based on US Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Only cities with population over 50,000 are included in national rankings. State rankings include all cities over 25,000. Data reflects the most recent available estimates.

Read our full methodologyVerify at data.census.gov