Best counties to live in North Carolina
Written by:
February 18, 2021
Bryan Pollard // Shutterstock
Best counties to live in North Carolina
What makes a particular county the best? Oftentimes, it's a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in North Carolina using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by a variety of factors including: public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.
Many counties on the list are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or home values. Others are adored for their historic or well-designed value, or devotion to cultural opportunities. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.
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Ceh2624 // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Davie County
- Population: 42,257
- Median home value: $172,600 (80% own)
- Median rent: $740 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $60,434
- Median home value: $172,600 (80% own)
- Median rent: $740 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $60,434
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Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Lee County
- Population: 60,481
- Median home value: $144,200 (67% own)
- Median rent: $775 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $49,994
- Median home value: $144,200 (67% own)
- Median rent: $775 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $49,994
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Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Transylvania County
- Population: 33,775
- Median home value: $221,900 (76% own)
- Median rent: $756 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $50,212
- Median home value: $221,900 (76% own)
- Median rent: $756 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $50,212
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Canva
#22. Craven County
- Population: 102,491
- Median home value: $157,900 (63% own)
- Median rent: $910 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $52,687
- Median home value: $157,900 (63% own)
- Median rent: $910 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $52,687
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Nikola Spasic Photography // Shutterstock
#21. Pitt County
- Population: 178,433
- Median home value: $148,600 (52% own)
- Median rent: $794 (48% rent)
- Median household income: $47,437
- Median home value: $148,600 (52% own)
- Median rent: $794 (48% rent)
- Median household income: $47,437
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AbeEzekowitz // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Jackson County
- Population: 42,938
- Median home value: $196,100 (64% own)
- Median rent: $739 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $47,252
- Median home value: $196,100 (64% own)
- Median rent: $739 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $47,252
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Canva
#19. Cumberland County
- Population: 332,861
- Median home value: $135,300 (51% own)
- Median rent: $941 (49% rent)
- Median household income: $46,875
- Median home value: $135,300 (51% own)
- Median rent: $941 (49% rent)
- Median household income: $46,875
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Limozine // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Polk County
- Population: 20,557
- Median home value: $225,700 (74% own)
- Median rent: $851 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $48,787
- Median home value: $225,700 (74% own)
- Median rent: $851 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $48,787
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Canva
#17. Carteret County
- Population: 69,070
- Median home value: $214,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $902 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $57,194
- Median home value: $214,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $902 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $57,194
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Nolichuckyjake // Shutterstock
#16. Catawba County
- Population: 157,613
- Median home value: $143,600 (69% own)
- Median rent: $738 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $52,056
- Median home value: $143,600 (69% own)
- Median rent: $738 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $52,056
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Travis K. Witt // Wikimedia Commons
#15. Iredell County
- Population: 175,538
- Median home value: $190,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $868 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $60,955
- Median home value: $190,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $868 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $60,955
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Anthony Ricci // Shutterstock
#14. Henderson County
- Population: 114,913
- Median home value: $214,000 (73% own)
- Median rent: $853 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $55,945
- Median home value: $214,000 (73% own)
- Median rent: $853 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $55,945
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G Keith Hall // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Watauga County
- Population: 54,925
- Median home value: $238,000 (60% own)
- Median rent: $870 (40% rent)
- Median household income: $47,526
- Median home value: $238,000 (60% own)
- Median rent: $870 (40% rent)
- Median household income: $47,526
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PHHI // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Cabarrus County
- Population: 206,615
- Median home value: $203,100 (71% own)
- Median rent: $925 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $67,328
- Median home value: $203,100 (71% own)
- Median rent: $925 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $67,328
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Beckycafferylepage // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Union County
- Population: 231,053
- Median home value: $241,400 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,030 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $80,033
- Median home value: $241,400 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,030 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $80,033
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KAD Photo // Shutterstock
#10. Moore County
- Population: 97,294
- Median home value: $216,500 (76% own)
- Median rent: $879 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $59,963
- Median home value: $216,500 (76% own)
- Median rent: $879 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $59,963
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PatGallery // Shutterstock
#9. New Hanover County
- Population: 227,938
- Median home value: $243,600 (58% own)
- Median rent: $1,031 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $54,891
- Median home value: $243,600 (58% own)
- Median rent: $1,031 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $54,891
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Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#8. Forsyth County
- Population: 375,195
- Median home value: $159,300 (62% own)
- Median rent: $812 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $51,569
- Median home value: $159,300 (62% own)
- Median rent: $812 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $51,569
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Nagel Photography // Shutterstock
#7. Buncombe County
- Population: 256,886
- Median home value: $238,200 (63% own)
- Median rent: $975 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $52,207
- Median home value: $238,200 (63% own)
- Median rent: $975 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $52,207
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KAD Photo // Shutterstock
#6. Chatham County
- Population: 71,338
- Median home value: $281,700 (76% own)
- Median rent: $845 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $67,031
- Median home value: $281,700 (76% own)
- Median rent: $845 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $67,031
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Canva
#5. Guilford County
- Population: 527,868
- Median home value: $167,000 (59% own)
- Median rent: $878 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $53,261
- Median home value: $167,000 (59% own)
- Median rent: $878 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $53,261
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Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#4. Durham County
- Population: 311,848
- Median home value: $223,000 (54% own)
- Median rent: $1,067 (46% rent)
- Median household income: $60,958
- Median home value: $223,000 (54% own)
- Median rent: $1,067 (46% rent)
- Median household income: $60,958
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digidreamgrafix // Shutterstock
#3. Mecklenburg County
- Population: 1,074,475
- Median home value: $238,000 (56% own)
- Median rent: $1,146 (44% rent)
- Median household income: $66,641
- Median home value: $238,000 (56% own)
- Median rent: $1,146 (44% rent)
- Median household income: $66,641
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Bryan Pollard // Shutterstock
#2. Orange County
- Population: 144,836
- Median home value: $308,800 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,093 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $71,723
- Median home value: $308,800 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,093 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $71,723
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Bz3rk // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Wake County
- Population: 1,069,079
- Median home value: $281,700 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,150 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $80,591
- Median home value: $281,700 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,150 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $80,591
