What county in North Carolina has the lowest cost of living?
The county in North Carolina with the lowest cost of living is Durham County. The average living wage in Durham County is $100,799 according to MIT data. Durham County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to North Carolina as a whole. Childcare costs $24,296 a year in Durham County for two children compared to the North Carolina average of $18,399. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $13,608 per year in Durham County compared to $11,412 on average in North Carolina.
The average home value in Durham County is $241,800 and the average income is $62,812 per year. Part of the reason this county has the lowest cost of living in North Carolina is a relatively high level of poverty for North Carolina and higher than average crime rates. These factors make a place less desirable to live, but also push down the cost of living.
People Also Ask About North Carolina
Is North Carolina a dangerous state?
Yes, North Carolina is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #17 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in North Carolina ranks 2most dangerous in the United States -- 13.39% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Tar Heel State ranks 16th most dangerous in the United States -- 13.92% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.
Is Raleigh, NC a dangerous city?
No, Raleigh is not a dangerous city. Raleigh ranks as the #148 safest out of 328 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Raleigh might be considered safe you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Glenwood is the safest in Raleigh, while Central is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Raleigh ranks 156th highest in America -- 9.71% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 188th highest in the United States -- 14.44% better than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is "dangerous". Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
What is the cost of living in North Carolina?
The cost of living in North Carolina is 2.0% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in North Carolina is $91,578 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a North Carolina household is $56,642.
What is the cheapest housing market in North Carolina?
The cheapest housing market in North Carolina is Roxboro. The average home value in Roxboro is $79,000, the lowest in the state. The average home value in North Carolina is $182,100, almost 2.3 times higher than Roxboro.
