What is the cost of living in Henderson, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Henderson has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Henderson has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Henderson ranks as #1 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Henderson ranks as the #158 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Henderson, check out:
Henderson Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Henderson. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Henderson is 98.
The Groceries index in Henderson is 97.
The Health index in Henderson is 57.
The Housing index in Henderson is 99.
The Transportation index in Henderson is 97.
The Utilities index in Henderson is 103.
| Living Expense | Henderson | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 57 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 101 | 100 |
Henderson 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
Henderson, 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 Henderson is $179,609.
The Median Rent in Henderson is $848.
The Median Income in Henderson is $39,969.
The Home Value To Income in Henderson is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Henderson is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Henderson | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $179,609 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $848 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $39,969 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Henderson, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Henderson Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Henderson | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.67 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.2 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.1 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $53.19 | $45.56 |
Detailed Henderson Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Henderson | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.13 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.5 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.05 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.79 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.35 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Henderson Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Henderson | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $113.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $146.11 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Henderson Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Henderson | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.36 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Henderson Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Henderson | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $191.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.28 | $192.25 |
Henderson SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Henderson
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Henderson. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Raleigh, NC has a cost of living index of 116, 1.3x Henderson.
Durham, NC has a cost of living index of 111, 1.3x Henderson.
Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 123, 1.4x Henderson.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Henderson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 1.3x |
| Durham, NC | 291,467 | 111 | 1.3x |
| Cary, NC | 179,306 | 123 | 1.4x |
| Apex, NC | 70,630 | 121 | 1.4x |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 61,607 | 133 | 1.5x |
| Wake Forest, NC | 52,844 | 117 | 1.4x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Morrisville, NC | 31,422 | 121 | 1.4x |
| Carrboro, NC | 21,204 | 128 | 1.5x |
| Knightdale, NC | 20,214 | 107 | 1.2x |
