Cost of Living in North Carolina
43 cities • 4,420,230 total population • 2026 Data
$78,225
Avg. Median Income
+1% vs national
$1,308
Avg. Median Rent
-3% vs national
$311,914
Avg. Home Value
-8% vs national
4.8%
Avg. Unemployment
Overview
North Carolina has 43 cities with populations over 25,000, totaling 4,420,230 residents. The average median household income across these cities is $78,225, which is 1% above the national median.
Rent averages $1,308 per month, and the average home value is $311,914. The largest city is Charlotte, while Thomasville offers the lowest rent and Indian Trail has the highest.
Most Affordable Cities in North Carolina
| # | City | Median Rent | Median Income | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomasville | $853 | $58,246 | $163,200 |
| 2 | Asheboro | $855 | $48,628 | $162,800 |
| 3 | Rocky Mount | $919 | $52,927 | $148,300 |
| 4 | Wilson | $925 | $47,294 | $192,000 |
| 5 | Statesville | $935 | $55,492 | $226,100 |
Most Expensive Cities in North Carolina
| # | City | Median Rent | Median Income | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Trail | $1,916 | $99,073 | $343,500 |
| 2 | Holly Springs | $1,858 | $132,435 | $485,500 |
| 3 | Morrisville | $1,785 | $125,404 | $481,800 |
| 4 | Apex | $1,784 | $138,442 | $514,800 |
| 5 | Huntersville | $1,742 | $119,951 | $439,300 |
Highest Income Cities in North Carolina
| # | City | Median Income | Median Rent | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apex | $138,442 | $1,784 | 67,765 |
| 2 | Holly Springs | $132,435 | $1,858 | 43,429 |
| 3 | Cary | $129,399 | $1,621 | 176,686 |
| 4 | Morrisville | $125,404 | $1,785 | 30,471 |
| 5 | Wake Forest | $120,777 | $1,458 | 51,199 |
All Cities in North Carolina
| City | Population | Income | Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 886,283 | $78,438 | $1,504 | $351,500 |
| Raleigh | 470,763 | $82,424 | $1,468 | $377,800 |
| Greensboro | 298,564 | $58,884 | $1,114 | $221,300 |
| Durham | 288,465 | $79,234 | $1,412 | $355,300 |
| Winston-Salem | 250,887 | $57,673 | $1,033 | $208,200 |
| Fayetteville | 209,692 | $56,395 | $1,179 | $171,900 |
| Cary | 176,686 | $129,399 | $1,621 | $525,200 |
| Wilmington | 118,578 | $63,900 | $1,311 | $350,300 |
| High Point | 115,263 | $61,228 | $1,062 | $212,400 |
| Concord | 106,518 | $84,752 | $1,365 | $327,600 |
| Asheville | 94,369 | $67,221 | $1,303 | $411,000 |
| Greenville | 88,540 | $50,564 | $983 | $213,100 |
| Gastonia | 81,632 | $60,554 | $1,145 | $250,000 |
| Jacksonville | 73,507 | $54,069 | $1,268 | $191,700 |
| Apex | 67,765 | $138,442 | $1,784 | $514,800 |
| Huntersville | 62,458 | $119,951 | $1,742 | $439,300 |
| Chapel Hill | 59,889 | $85,825 | $1,483 | $576,500 |
| Burlington | 58,599 | $54,941 | $1,030 | $188,700 |
| Kannapolis | 56,470 | $70,691 | $1,168 | $245,500 |
| Rocky Mount | 54,175 | $52,927 | $919 | $148,300 |
| Mooresville | 51,447 | $88,592 | $1,505 | $348,500 |
| Wake Forest | 51,199 | $120,777 | $1,458 | $435,000 |
| Wilson | 47,740 | $47,294 | $925 | $192,000 |
| Hickory | 43,747 | $63,361 | $975 | $248,300 |
| Holly Springs | 43,429 | $132,435 | $1,858 | $485,500 |
| Indian Trail | 41,146 | $99,073 | $1,916 | $343,500 |
| Fuquay-Varina | 37,749 | $111,447 | $1,646 | $410,600 |
| Salisbury | 35,730 | $51,058 | $1,030 | $215,200 |
| Monroe | 35,596 | $67,265 | $1,216 | $270,600 |
| Goldsboro | 33,448 | $47,005 | $956 | $173,700 |
| Garner | 32,543 | $77,496 | $1,452 | $320,300 |
| Cornelius | 32,009 | $114,688 | $1,571 | $512,400 |
| New Bern | 31,563 | $56,893 | $1,068 | $211,500 |
| Sanford | 30,833 | $54,294 | $965 | $222,000 |
| Morrisville | 30,471 | $125,404 | $1,785 | $481,800 |
| Matthews | 29,959 | $105,579 | $1,670 | $406,800 |
| Statesville | 29,161 | $55,492 | $935 | $226,100 |
| Clayton | 28,043 | $73,348 | $1,542 | $292,400 |
| Kernersville | 27,439 | $69,923 | $1,052 | $264,000 |
| Asheboro | 27,353 | $48,628 | $855 | $162,800 |
| Thomasville | 27,261 | $58,246 | $853 | $163,200 |
| Mint Hill | 26,954 | $99,272 | $1,498 | $386,900 |
| Leland | 26,307 | $88,576 | $1,603 | $358,800 |
Data Sources
All data from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. State averages calculated from cities with population over 25,000.