Childhood. This time in people’s lives is most often referred to as the most magical time of life.
Remember stopping by Krispy Kreme on the way home from middle school to get freshly made donuts filled with Cheerwine-flavored jelly? Or maybe you spent your long, hot summer nights chasing fireflies as the heat lightning chased across the sky. Perhaps you spent time studying with an order of Chick-fil-A waffle fries next to your textbooks. Or maybe you set up an Eno under the piers scattered along the beaches. Or, like me, your favorite summer activity was driving up to Boone in the summer for a weekened in the mountains.
If this preamble didn’t bring up fond memories, you may not be from North Carolina, a state that can make childhood truly magical. Why else is North Carolina a great state for families? North Carolina is an affordable state with lots of job prospects and amazing colleges. Vacations are diverse, cheap, and close by. You can live out in the country in North Carolina and live within 15 minutes of a city. You can have houses with a lot of land or live in downtown apartments. You can send your kids to public school, private school, charter school, or even join the NC masses in homeschooling.
No matter where you pick, North Carolina is a great choice for raising your kids. But which cities are the best of the best for the family?
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In North Carolina For 2026
We looked at 73 cities in terms of “family-friendliness,” i.e. crime levels, schools, etc. What’s the best place for families in North Carolina? Wwe had a clear winner: Davidson, North Carolina.
If you are from North Carolina, you probably would have guessed Davidson in an instant. It is one of the safest cities in America and is like one large, happy suburb packed with other happy families. The schools are great, the jobs are excellent, and the neighborhoods are safe. What more could you ask for?
If you are looking for the small-town vibe, Davidson, NC, ranks well on our list, followed by Concord, NC. These towns are close to Charlotte so you can have a night on the town without driving a few hours.
Interested in seeing how your favorite North Carolina city ranked? Read on to learn more about our methodology and to see why each of our top cities are the best for families for 2026.
More reading about North Carolina and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In North Carolina
- Cheapest Places To Live In North Carolina
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In North Carolina For 2026
/10
Population: 15,660
Median Income: $166,556
Average Home Price: $655,967
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 31
Closest Major City: Charlotte
Households with kids: 30.8%
More on Davidson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 179,306
Median Income: $134,905
Average Home Price: $626,395
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 41
Closest Major City: Raleigh
Households with kids: 34.8%
More on Cary: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,766
Median Income: $149,565
Average Home Price: $497,995
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 39
Closest Major City: Raleigh
Households with kids: 49.1%
More on Rolesville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 52,844
Median Income: $123,802
Average Home Price: $512,160
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 50
Closest Major City: Raleigh
Households with kids: 38.8%
More on Wake Forest: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 108,719
Median Income: $86,921
Average Home Price: $382,592
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 55
Closest Major City: Charlotte
Households with kids: 38.9%
More on Concord: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 22,275
Median Income: $131,894
Average Home Price: $628,812
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 35
Closest Major City: Charlotte
Households with kids: 59.4%
More on Waxhaw: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 61,607
Median Income: $85,989
Average Home Price: $631,166
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 68
Closest Major City: Durham
Households with kids: 23.8%
More on Chapel Hill: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 40,485
Median Income: $115,497
Average Home Price: $525,746
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 31
Closest Major City: Raleigh
Households with kids: 40.2%
More on Fuquay-Varina: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 31,422
Median Income: $125,396
Average Home Price: $480,925
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 54
Closest Major City: Durham
Households with kids: 36.9%
More on Morrisville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 16,886
Median Income: $115,974
Average Home Price: $461,632
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 52
Closest Major City: Charlotte
Households with kids: 31.6%
More on Stallings: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in North Carolina anyways?
To give you the places in North Carolina that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of North Carolina, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For North Carolina, that meant a total of 73 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in North Carolina.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In North Carolina
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in North Carolina ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in North Carolina are Davidson, Cary, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Concord, Waxhaw, Chapel Hill, Fuquay-Varina, Morrisville, and Stallings.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles North Carolina according to the data:
- Reidsville
- Mount Airy
- Kings Mountain
For more North Carolina reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In North Carolina
- Most Dangerous Cities In North Carolina
- Safest Cities in North Carolina
Best Places For Families In North Carolina
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davidson, NC | 15,660 | $166,556 | $655,967 | 61 |
| 2 | Cary, NC | 179,306 | $134,905 | $626,395 | 53 |
| 3 | Rolesville, NC | 10,766 | $149,565 | $497,995 | 60 |
| 4 | Wake Forest, NC | 52,844 | $123,802 | $512,160 | 45 |
| 5 | Concord, NC | 108,719 | $86,921 | $382,592 | 42 |
| 6 | Waxhaw, NC | 22,275 | $131,894 | $628,812 | 54 |
| 7 | Chapel Hill, NC | 61,607 | $85,989 | $631,166 | 70 |
| 8 | Fuquay-Varina, NC | 40,485 | $115,497 | $525,746 | 50 |
| 9 | Morrisville, NC | 31,422 | $125,396 | $480,925 | 33 |
| 10 | Stallings, NC | 16,886 | $115,974 | $461,632 | 41 |