North Carolina doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 27 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 27 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Chapel Hill came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In North Carolina For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where North Carolina's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 20,752 (34 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 61,607 |
| Median rent | $1,613 |
| Graduation rate | 90% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $26,055 |
Chapel Hill is home to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There are 34 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,613 a month, and the average cost to attend is $26,055 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 27 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | East Carolina University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 19,896 (21 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 92,857 |
| Median rent | $1,007 |
| Graduation rate | 67% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $23,867 |
Greenville is home to East Carolina University. There are 21 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,007 a month, and the average cost to attend is $23,867 a year. It ranks 18th for crime among the 27 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Appalachian State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 19,444 (97 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 20,032 |
| Median rent | $1,111 |
| Graduation rate | 74% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $23,169 |
Boone is home to Appalachian State University. There are 97 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,111 a month, and the average cost to attend is $23,169 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 27 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | North Carolina State University at Raleigh, Meredith College, Shaw University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 30,272 (6 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 481,031 |
| Median rent | $1,572 |
| Graduation rate | 59% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $39,428 |
Raleigh is home to North Carolina State University at Raleigh, Meredith College, Shaw University. There are 6 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,572 a month, and the average cost to attend is $39,428 a year. It ranks 17th for crime among the 27 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of North Carolina Wilmington |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 14,922 (12 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 120,805 |
| Median rent | $1,395 |
| Graduation rate | 74% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $26,547 |
Wilmington is home to University of North Carolina Wilmington. There are 12 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,395 a month, and the average cost to attend is $26,547 a year. It ranks 21st for crime among the 27 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Duke University, North Carolina Central University, Watts College of Nursing |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 12,647 (4 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 291,467 |
| Median rent | $1,508 |
| Graduation rate | 75% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $56,814 |
Durham is home to Duke University, North Carolina Central University, Watts College of Nursing. There are 4 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,508 a month, and the average cost to attend is $56,814 a year. It ranks 23rd for crime among the 27 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Shepherds Theological Seminary |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 0 (0 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 179,306 |
| Median rent | $1,738 |
| Graduation rate | 59% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $39,275 |
Cary is home to Shepherds Theological Seminary. There are 0 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,738 a month, and the average cost to attend is $39,275 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 27 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Elizabeth City State University, Mid-Atlantic Christian University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,107 (11 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 18,871 |
| Median rent | $1,117 |
| Graduation rate | 59% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $25,356 |
Elizabeth City is home to Elizabeth City State University, Mid-Atlantic Christian University. There are 11 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,117 a month, and the average cost to attend is $25,356 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 27 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Western Carolina University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 10,024 (126 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 7,973 |
| Median rent | $869 |
| Graduation rate | 66% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $19,992 |
Cullowhee is home to Western Carolina University. There are 126 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $869 a month, and the average cost to attend is $19,992 a year. It ranks 12th for crime among the 27 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina A & T State University, Strayer University-North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 30,802 (10 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 301,198 |
| Median rent | $1,172 |
| Graduation rate | 50% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $34,790 |
Greensboro is home to University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina A & T State University, Strayer University-North Carolina. There are 10 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,172 a month, and the average cost to attend is $34,790 a year. It ranks 22nd for crime among the 27 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in North Carolina
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 27 towns in North Carolina that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in North Carolina.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in North Carolina.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In North Carolina
If you're looking for the best college towns in North Carolina, Chapel Hill is where to start.
The best college towns in North Carolina are Chapel Hill, Greenville, Boone, Raleigh, Wilmington, Durham, Cary, Elizabeth City, Cullowhee, and Greensboro.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in North Carolina for 2026?
Chapel Hill is the best college town in North Carolina for 2026, followed by Greenville and Boone.
How did you rank the best college towns in North Carolina?
We looked at every town in North Carolina with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in North Carolina?
Swannanoa ranks last of the 27 college towns we ranked in North Carolina for 2026.
Best College Towns In North Carolina For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chapel Hill, NC | 61,607 | 20,752 | $1,613 |
| 2 | Greenville, NC | 92,857 | 19,896 | $1,007 |
| 3 | Boone, NC | 20,032 | 19,444 | $1,111 |
| 4 | Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 30,272 | $1,572 |
| 5 | Wilmington, NC | 120,805 | 14,922 | $1,395 |
| 6 | Durham, NC | 291,467 | 12,647 | $1,508 |
| 7 | Cary, NC | 179,306 | 0 | $1,738 |
| 8 | Elizabeth City, NC | 18,871 | 2,107 | $1,117 |
| 9 | Cullowhee, NC | 7,973 | 10,024 | $869 |
| 10 | Greensboro, NC | 301,198 | 30,802 | $1,172 |
| 11 | Brevard, NC | 7,897 | 815 | $979 |
| 12 | Charlotte, NC | 903,844 | 28,851 | $1,612 |
| 13 | Winston-Salem, NC | 252,037 | 10,538 | $1,087 |
| 14 | High Point, NC | 116,245 | 5,196 | $1,116 |
| 15 | Hickory, NC | 44,258 | 1,359 | $1,063 |
| 16 | Asheville, NC | 94,535 | 2,910 | $1,402 |
| 17 | Elon, NC | 11,032 | 6,452 | $2,080 |
| 18 | Davidson, NC | 15,660 | 1,867 | $1,652 |
| 19 | Concord, NC | 108,719 | 712 | $1,451 |
| 20 | Salisbury, NC | 35,825 | 2,159 | $1,071 |
| 21 | Wilson, NC | 48,370 | 982 | $971 |
| 22 | Wake Forest, NC | 52,844 | 585 | $1,596 |
| 23 | Rocky Mount, NC | 54,297 | 1,214 | $957 |
| 24 | Belmont, NC | 15,546 | 1,276 | $1,365 |
| 25 | Fayetteville, NC | 210,815 | 7,552 | $1,250 |
| 26 | Wendell, NC | 13,064 | 64 | $1,457 |
| 27 | Swannanoa, NC | 6,901 | 707 | $788 |
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