Lenoir, NC Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Lenoir, NC Summary

Cost of living in Lenoir research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Lenoir is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in North Carolina, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Lenoir is 85, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Lenoir is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • Lenoir ranks as the #8 cheapest in North Carolina out of 157.

  • Lenoir ranks as the #511 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Lenoir is $209,041.

  • The median income in Lenoir is $48,889.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
85
Lenoir's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Lenoir, NC?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lenoir has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to North Carolina, Lenoir has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than North Carolina's index of 92.

The standard of living in Lenoir ranks as #8 most affordable out of the 157 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Lenoir ranks as the #149 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.

For more reading on life in Lenoir, check out:

8 out of 157
In North Carolina
511 out of 6,489
In America

Lenoir Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lenoir. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Lenoir is 93.

  • The Groceries index in Lenoir is 98.

  • The Health index in Lenoir is 94.

  • The Housing index in Lenoir is 59.

  • The Transportation index in Lenoir is 103.

  • The Utilities index in Lenoir is 101.

Living Expense Lenoir North Carolina National Average
Overall 85 92 100
Services 93 100 100
Groceries 98 99 100
Health 94 106 100
Housing 59 86 100
Transportation 103 93 100
Utilities 101 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
Lenoir Cost of Living Vs. NC

Lenoir, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Lenoir is $209,041.

  • The Median Rent in Lenoir is $671.

  • The Median Income in Lenoir is $48,889.

  • The Home Value To Income in Lenoir is 4.3x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Lenoir is 0.16x.

Statistic Lenoir North Carolina United States
Median Home Value $209,041 $332,681 $303,400
Median Rent $671 $1,162 $1,348
Median Income $48,889 $69,904 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.3x 4.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.16x 0.2x 0.21x
$209,041
Median Home Value
$671
Median Rent
$48,889
Median Income

Lenoir, NC Costs By Category

Detailed Lenoir Services Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Lenoir North Carolina
Shampoo $1.34 $1.28
Movie $13.67 $12.13
Bowling $18.63 $18
Haircut $30.02 $24.26
Beauty Salon $39.6 $45.56

Detailed Lenoir Groceries Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Lenoir North Carolina
Ground Beef $6.12 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.55 $1.57
Milk $4.66 $4.67
Potatoes $5.3 $4.93
Pizza $11.64 $12.09
Beer $10.31 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.75 $3.7

Detailed Lenoir Health Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Lenoir North Carolina
Optometrist $131.75 $125.68
Doctor $157.27 $135.78
Dentist $130.26 $113.29

Detailed Lenoir Transportation Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Lenoir North Carolina
Gasoline $3.19 $3.46
Tire Balancing $57.92 $59.92

Detailed Lenoir Utilities Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Lenoir North Carolina
All Electricity $160.96 $193.99
Phone $187.97 $192.25

Lenoir SnackAbility

3
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
4
Affordability
8
Diversity
8
Safety
5
Amenities
8
Education
5
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lenoir

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lenoir. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Mooresville, NC has a cost of living index of 107, 1.3x Lenoir.

  • Hickory, NC has a cost of living index of 99, 1.2x Lenoir.

  • Cornelius, NC has a cost of living index of 122, 1.4x Lenoir.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Lenoir
Mooresville, NC 51,447 107 1.3x
Hickory, NC 43,747 99 1.2x
Cornelius, NC 32,009 122 1.4x
Boone, NC 19,534 111 1.3x
Davidson, NC 14,852 133 1.6x
Lincolnton, NC 11,503 94 1.1x
St. Stephens, NC 9,409 90 1.1x
Lake Norman of Catawba, NC 9,308 121 1.4x
Conover, NC 8,491 92 1.1x
Black Mountain, NC 8,462 109 1.3x

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