What is the cost of living in Graham, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Graham has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Graham has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Graham ranks as #39 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Graham ranks as the #120 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Graham, check out:
Graham Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Graham. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Graham is 98.
The Groceries index in Graham is 103.
The Health index in Graham is 82.
The Housing index in Graham is 94.
The Transportation index in Graham is 100.
The Utilities index in Graham is 98.
| Living Expense | Graham | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 82 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Graham Cost Of Living Compared To North Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In North Carolina
- Average Rent In North Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Graham, NC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Graham is $292,521.
The Median Rent in Graham is $1,071.
The Median Income in Graham is $56,239.
The Home Value To Income in Graham is 5.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Graham is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Graham | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $292,521 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,071 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $56,239 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.2x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Graham, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Graham Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Graham | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.24 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.0 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.33 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $37.66 | $45.56 |
Detailed Graham Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Graham | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.17 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.42 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.49 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.0 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.41 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.25 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.67 | $3.7 |
Detailed Graham Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Graham | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $146.78 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $97.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Graham Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Graham | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.31 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Graham Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Graham | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $161.71 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Graham SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Graham
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Graham. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Burlington, NC has a cost of living index of 94, 1.0x Graham.
Carrboro, NC has a cost of living index of 128, 1.4x Graham.
Mebane, NC has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Graham.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Graham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NC | 59,610 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Carrboro, NC | 21,204 | 128 | 1.4x |
| Mebane, NC | 19,538 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Elon, NC | 11,032 | 114 | 1.2x |
| Hillsborough, NC | 9,724 | 114 | 1.2x |
| Gibsonville, NC | 9,467 | 98 | 1.1x |
