Are you looking to move to the southeastern region of the United States? Then there are the ten best places to live in North Carolina. Tar heel state, better known as North Carolina, is one of the best states to move into, with fantastic weather, the best career opportunities, and breathtaking landscapes.
The geographical area of North Carolina is of three kinds, including the coastlines in the East, the Piedmont region in the central area, and the Blue Ridge mountains in the west. The north state has the best cities that offer plenty of career opportunities for working people with the rapidly growing finance, energy, information technology, aerospace, and education industries.
Suppose you are looking for an exciting retired life. In that case, the cities including Breward, Asheville, New Bern, outer banks, and Davidson have the perfect spots, from majestic mountains to incredible vistas, to make your retirement life unforgettable.
North Carolina’s cities have the best places to move into with their low cost of living with all the amenities, breathtaking sceneries, friendly community of diverse people, and lots of outdoor activities.
Here are the ten best places to live in North Carolina.
- Raleigh
- Charlotte
- Durham
- Chapel Hill
- Asheville
- Greensboro
- Hickory
- Fayetteville
- Winston Salem
- Wilmington
Best Places to live in North Carolina
1. Raleigh
Raleigh is one of the best places to live in North Carolina or the best place to live in the entire country. Being the state capital, the city of oaks has a population of 1.4 million people of all ages.
The city of Raleigh is the second highest paying city and one among the three cities that are famous for scientific research. Raleigh is one of the best places for families seeking quality education for their children, young professionals searching for employment opportunities, and aged people looking for excellent retirement life.
The median price for purchasing a home is $419,900 and $1,454 for rent. The best places to live in North Carolina near Raleigh for families include the suburbs of Morrisville and Cary. Raleigh is home to some of the best educational opportunities, such as North Carolina State University.
Delicious cuisines, music festivals like Hopscotch, the state’s largest craft beer festival, incredible art galleries, well-maintained parks, and local museums make the city desirable to people. It makes it one of the best places to live in North Carolina.
Raleigh, otherwise known as Smithsonian of the South, has family-friendly suburbs to live in, significant employers for job opportunities, including apple, museums galore, and natural and historic cities to visit and enjoy for people of all ages.
2. Charlotte
Charlotte is the biggest city and one of the best places to live in North Carolina. The city of Charlotte was named after the British queen consort who reigned when the city was built.

Being in the central region, Charlotte has lots of rivers and lakes for water lovers and diverse and vibrant neighbourhoods. The city is nestled between Lake Norman and Lake Wylie, where you can go boating, fishing, and swimming.
The national whitewater centre has a great list of things to do, such as rafting, hiking, biking, running, and ropes courses.
An extensive range of colleges that exceed forty, including the University of NorthCarolina, makes the city one of the best places to live in North Carolina. The queen city has plenty to offer for people with stunning natural beauty along with the economic diversity of large companies like Bank of America, Trust Bank, Lowe’s, atrium health, and Honeywell. and the economic diversity of
Outside the work, you have games of hornets and Carolina panthers or an extensive museum inventory to check out. The city has a population of 2.6 million, mixed from students, and professionals, to working adults. The cost of living in Charlotte is low compared to other major cities, making it one of the places to live in North Carolina.
Finding a great home for your family, knowing that you can afford it, makes it simply the best place to live in North Carolina. The geographical location, temperate weather, affordability, and the local cultural scene draw people and make the city one of the best places to live in North Carolina.
According to the locals, Ballantyne East, Ballantyne West, and Providence Crossing are some of the best places to live in North Carolina for families. The average cost for purchasing a home in Charlotte is $395,000 and $1,279 for renting a house.
3. Durham
The city of medicine, Durham, is one of the best places to live in North Carolina. Formerly known for its tobacco industry in the twentieth century, the city is always a hub for activities. With a growing population of 644,367, the city’s associated with medicine, technology, and innovation.
The city excites professionals seeking job opportunities in smaller cities to escape the big smoke. The city has plenty of opportunities, including the engineering hub of the tech giant Google.

Durham, nicknamed the bull city, is home to the prestigious Duke University. They run much of Durham’s medical system and family-friendly nature centres like Duke forest and Duke Lemur centre, protecting endangered animals. Centrally located, the city has a population of 644,367.
The city hosts the Food & Beer Experience, Rumble motorcycle rally, and several arts, film, and holiday festivals. Durham has plenty to offer its residents through live sports, live entertainment, and performance arts, making it one of the best places to live in North Carolina.
Root for the Duke Blue Devils, run or bike the 22-mile American Tobacco Trail, or head to the galleries that make Durham a creative haven can make your days and nights in the city beautiful, which is why Durham is one of the best places to live in North Carolina. The average cost of purchasing a home is $465,991, and $1,362 for renting a house.
4. Chapel hill
Chapel hill is a young and lively small town built around the University of North Carolina Chapel hill. The town is family-friendly and safe, with education as a top priority, making Chapel hill one of the best places to live in North Carolina.
The town’s atmosphere falls quiet when the summer break arrives, and it becomes lively once the semester begins. With a population of 644,367, Chapel Hill has plenty of excellent schools, including the top-ranked public school district in the state.

This quintessential college town is close to UNC Hospitals and health systems that provide high-quality healthcare for you. The cost of living and the housing market is higher than most of the cities in the state, but worth it for the quality of life and various outdoors in the city, making Chapel hill one of the best places to live in North Carolina.
The median annual income in Chapel Hill is $73,614, whereas the median price for purchasing a house is $465,991. You can rent a house with an average price of $1,362 for a month.
The smaller metro area, high yearly salaries, robust educational community, and eco-friendly transportation invites people to the town and makes it one of the best places to live in North Carolina.
5. Asheville
Asheville is one of the best places to live in North Carolina, with its most beautiful sceneries and mountain views. The city located in the Blue Ridge Mountains is one of the popular destinations for retired life. Beer City USA is a beautiful town for nature lovers and enthusiasts.

The town opens to mountain trails, including the Appalachian mountains trail; people can enjoy scenic landscapes and amazing views of waterfalls and wildlife. The city’s population of 462,680 has been blooming, a popular tourist attraction. Asheville has lots of people working remotely while enjoying the beauty of nature.
The town is a hub of creatives, explorers, foodies, and musicians. It is well known for its awesome breweries and draft beers, making it one of the best places to live in North Carolina. The housing price in Asheville is high compared to other cities.
The median household income here is $49,930, whereas the median price for purchasing a home is $479,985. But the monthly rent is a comparatively low price of $1,174.
Asheville has stunning natural areas for wildlife lovers, skiers, and outdoor enthusiasts, making it one of the best places to live in North Carolina.
6. Greensboro
Greensboro is the third-largest city in the state featuring five colleges and a vibrant local art scene. The city is a short jaunt to and from the major cities in North Carolina, so it’s called Gate City. It has a population of just under 300,000.
Greensboro is one of the Greenest Cities in America. Blue ridge mountains and beautiful coastlines of the Atlantic Ocean are just a few hours’ drive away from Greensboro. College towns are among the best places to live in North Carolina with their quality of life and job market.

The attractions of the city include the ACC Hall of Champions, the Greensboro Science Center, the Greensboro History Museum, and the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. The International Civil Rights Center & Museum is perhaps the metro area’s most famous attraction. Several trails for hiking, biking, and walking are available for outdoor enthusiasts.
Greensboro’s favourite activities, golf, water parks, art galleries, antique shops, breweries, lounges, nightclubs, and bars make the city desirable and one of the best places to live in North Carolina.
The housing market and the cost of living are much lower than in other major cities. The students are centrally located and professionals, whereas families reside in the broader metro area.
7. Hickory
Hickory gives a small-town feel that is one of the best places to live in North Carolina for families and retirees. Hickory is home to the famous Hickory Motor Speedway, the Birthplace of NASCAR legends like Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.
Once the furniture-making capital of the world now has a population of around 40,000. Hickory, sometimes known as Catawba Valley, has a moderate climate and sweeping mountain views, which attracts people to the small town, which is one of the best places to live in North Carolina.
The city offers several career opportunities for young professionals in the growing technology and data industries. Tech giants like Google and Apple have their data centres in Hickory. The city has hiking, mountain biking, walking, and running trails through mountains like Bakers Mountain and Table Rock.
The city has several historical museums in Caldwell, Burke, and Catawba counties and an art museum, science museum, and library which combines science, arts, and literature.
The city is home to Lenoir-Rhyne University and has a quality local school system and a vast range of recreational activities. Hickory is one of the cheapest and best places to live in North Carolina for young families. The price for renting and purchasing a home is way lower than in other major cities and the national median sale price for homes is.
8. Fayetteville
Fayetteville is the historic, second-largest city in the southeast region of North Carolina. The city is home to one of the largest army bases in the world, Fort Bragg, which makes it one of the best places to live in North Carolina.
The city is vibrant and lively, featuring a very diverse and youthful population, including the military, which exceeds over 200,000. This region is otherwise called the sandhills. The natural sceneries, Southern hospitality, and mild weather make Fayetteville one of the best places to live in North Carolina.
The city offers several recreational activities such as walking and relaxing on the banks of the Cape Fear River, enjoying some fresh air along the Cape Fear River Trail, biking through Cape Fear Mountain Bike Trail and relaxing in the 80-acre Cape Fear Botanical Garden, which has unique longleaf pine ecosystem. The garden is home to the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.
Fayetteville has a few nightclubs, sports events, musical concerts, and festivals such as the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival and the International Folk Festival.
There are several museums like the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum, Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Armory and Museum, and the JFK Special Warfare Museum. Fayetteville is an affordable place to live in, with $136,600 as the price for purchasing a home and $940 for monthly rent prices.
9. Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is one of the best places to live in North Carolina, with a low cost of living. The city is the fourth large city in the state, conveniently located in the Piedmont region; it has plenty of cultural attractions and natural sceneries to offer, which makes it one of the best places to live in North Carolina.
Winston Salem is made by combining two cities and is home to the well-known wake forest University. The town’s known for its furniture making and tobacco production, but is mainly famous for its wine production. It’s an excellent place for wine lovers, with almost 40 wineries in the area.

The city’s suburban feel, dedication to arts and culture, and family-friendly vibes make it one of the best places to live in North Carolina. Winston Salem has multiple local hiking trails, 75 parks,12 golf courses, the scenic Piedmont Quarry, historic cities such as West End Historic District and Historic Bethabara Park, and museums such as the children’s museum, art museums, and Winston Cup Museum.
The growing population of 676,008 includes college students, young professionals, and families alike. The city is one of the best places to live in North Carolina.
Though the median household income of its residents is less than the national average, the housing costs are also less as well.
10. Wilmington
Located in the southeast part of the state, next to the Atlantic Ocean, Wilmington is one of the best places to live in North Carolina. It’s a historic port city with a growing population of 297,533. Along the Cape fear river arts district, the city nicknamed Hollywood East stands out with its fantastic scenery and coastal plain.

The beach town has the largest student population at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, and Cape Fear Community College, combined with the influx of recent grads. Beautiful beaches and the 15-mile Gary Shell Cross-City Trail make Wilmington stand among the best places to live in North Carolina.
The city has several colonial cities, including the U.S.S North Carolina battleship. Different sceneries such as the aquarium, beaches, locally-owned shops and central location restaurants, and the view of the coastal plains make it one of the best places to live in North Carolina.
Closing Thought
North Carolina’s cities offer many things such as outdoor recreation activities, historical places, local restaurants, natural sceneries, performing arts, public schools with quality education, career opportunities, and a fantastic mix of culture and history.
The Southern charm and geographical features make the city one of the best places to live in North Carolina. The state has the best cities nestled into the mountains and Atlantic coast, which can give your life serenity and peace.
If you want to know more about the best places to live in North Carolina, click here. City’s centrally located Cityhall and visitor center is here to help any moves trying to settle down in this great town in your new north carolina home. It not only houses many historic downtown area but a thriving hot job market.
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Last Updated on by Pragya Chakrapani