The 10 Best Places To Live In North Carolina For 2022

The 10 Best Places To Live In North Carolina For 2022

If you don’t have a job in North Carolina’s best place to live, Cary, you’re most likely not trying very hard. The unemployment rate here is well below the national average. In fact, Cary is also one of the wealthiest cities in North Carolina, so there are probably enough butler and pool maintenance jobs available to give every single unemployed resident a job.

But what really makes Cary great is that it has one of the best school districts in the state, it’s super close to Raleigh and Durham, and it has been able to maintain its small city charm in the midst of its rapid growth.

Now, if you love playing disc golf and just being outside, Apex has some of the best parks and outdoor activities. One of the best weekends in the Peak City could be spent “chasing chains” at the Apex Nature Park after your kids soccer game, only to be followed by some serious nightlife on Salem Street. So, we are not surprised that it’s the 2nd best place in North Carolina.

But, that’s not all that makes Apex a constant on this top ten list, you can get a home in Apex for $348,500, the unemployment rate here is below the national average, and it’s close to The Triangle. It, like Cary, also boasts some of the best schools in the state.

Home of the Davidson College Wildcats, Lake Norman, and great prices on real estate, the #3 best place to live in North Carolina, Davidson, is one of the Tar Heel State’s best kept secrets. But, with only 12,920 full time residents, there aren’t a lot of people to get the word out. But, this just adds to Davidson’s appeal. That, and the fact that it’s the 4th safest cities on the list.

And, if you guessed that the people who live here are pretty smart–it’s a college town after all–you guessed right. Forty percent of Davidson’s residents have a Bachelor’s Degree and 23% have a Masters. These numbers are both well below the state and national level.

So, if you’re looking for “[A] College Town. [A] Lake Town. Your Town,” this city in this western pocket of the Piedmont has it all.

We’re heading to Morrisville, a town of 27,582 situated between Raleigh and Durham, for our 4th best place to live in North Carolina.

For starters, Morrisville is family-friendly. 40.26% of Morrisville households have kids, and there’s a reason for that. Most public schools are in the top 5% statewide, and the local elementary school received a National Blue Ribbon Award. Not to mention that Morrisville has the 12th lowest high school dropout rate statewide.

There are also plenty of
family-friendly activities, like the miles of trails and endless water-sports fun available at Lake Crabtree County Park. Or the RDU Observation Park for those who like watching planes land and take off. And every September brings the East Meets West Festival, a celebration of the town’s cultural diversity complete with food and live music.

You don’t have to worry about crime in Morrisville because the town achieved the 11th lowest violent crime rate in North Carolina over 2020. Homes here are the 16th priciest statewide, with a median home value of $333,500.

The median household income here is $100,495. While the cost of living in Morrisville is higher than the statewide average, it’s mostly due to housing — things like groceries, utilities, and health costs are right on level or below average prices.

Situated just several miles southwest of Downtown Durham, Chapel Hill ranks as the 5th best place to live in North Carolina for 2022. Home to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill has a young median age of 25.

There’s also plenty to keep you occupied in Chapel Hill — from The Carolina Basketball Museum to the Ackland Art Museumto the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, there’s something for everyone here.

Not to mention that downtown Chapel Hill is positively hopping with fun things to do. Chapel Hill public schools also spend roughly 20% more per student than the statewide average, so you know your kids will have all the resources they need to succeed. Additionally, 77% of adults in Chapel Hill are highly educated.

And just because Chapel Hill is the 4th most densely populated spot in the Tarheel State, doesn’t mean it’s dangerous — in fact, Chapel Hill has some of the safest streets around.

Home prices in Chapel Hill are the 5th most expensive in North Carolina, with a median price tag of $435,500. Residents enjoy a median household income of $75,249.

This is the first time Carolina Beach has made our top ten list of best places to live in North Carolina and we are as happy as an intracoastal clam. Matter of fact, if you haven’t been to this coastal city, you’re missing out. It’s one of the coolest, most eclectic beach towns on North Carolina’s coast.

But, all pristine beaches, safe communities, and bicycle friendly lanes aside, Carolina Beach has the 6th lowest unemployment rate on this list–well below the national average. Keep in mind, however, that most of these are second homes and that many of the people who keep this beach town in operation commute from the greater Wilmington area.

If you do decide to become a Carolina Beach local, be prepared to pay around $354,500 for a home and make sure that you have a job that pays at least $110,758/year before you make the big move.

“The Home of American Golf” and the infamous Pinehurst Resort, might seem out of reach for most bank accounts, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that you can score a home in North Carolina’s 7th best place to live, Pinehurst, for $316,800. The yin to that yang, however, is that if you don’t already have a job lined up in healthcare or hospitality, you’re going to need to rethink your career path if you move here. While the unemployment rate is 4.0%, there aren’t a lot of options for people who don’t hold a degree.

But, don’t let this deter you: it’s worth it. This city of 16,382 residents is one of the safest places in the Tar Heel State. So, if affordability and safety are at the top of your “must have” list, Pinehurst checks all of the boxes.

North Carolina’s 8th best place to live, Wake Forest, is kind of a big deal. Located just East of Falls Lake and slightly northeast of the Raleigh, Wake Forest is the quintessential North Carolina city. Here, old oak tree lined streets protect homes with large yards and porches with white rocking chairs. However, all of this does come at a price: the cost of living in Wake Forest is well above the national average. Basically, you’re going to have to make at least $100,162/year to afford the average home price of $314,200.

But, the benefits of living in Wake Forest definitely outweighs the costs.
So, if you’re looking for a place with super nice people, super safe communities, and high performing schools don’t wait because you might lose your spot in one of North Carolina’s fastest growing cities.

A southeast suburb of Charlotte, Stallings has continued to climb our lists year after year as a great place to live in North Carolina. Stallings offer a ton of family friendly things to do including Stallings Park or grabbing a pizza at Athen’s Pizza or New York Pizza express with friends. And you know you’ll be safe the whole time as the city ranks 10th for property crime and 5th for violent crime.

Homes and rents in Stallings are higher than the North Carolina average, an indication that people will pay more to live here. To make up for it, people in Stallings make 90,012 to afford said housing costs. But it’s worth it as the city has seen continued population growth over the past 10 years plus.

Welcome to Elon, home to Elon University and the 10th best place to live in North Carolina. With such a large student population, it’s no surprise that Elon has an incredibly young median age of 21.

These kids know to make a town that works for everyone. The streets are safe, the local economy is steady, and the school system produces great results. Residents also get to enjoy the 12th shortest average commute time in North Carolina. The median home price in Elon is $297,300 and the median income is $69,085.

Elon’s overall cost of living score is about 107, compared to a national average of 100, so living here won’t break the bank. And with Elon University around, you’ll always have a local sports team to cheer on, whether you’re going to basketball games at Schar Center or football games at Rhodes Stadium.

Greensboro is just a half-hour west of Elon, but you don’t have to make the trip to get your nightlife on. The Fat Frogg is a local favorite that always has live music.

Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In North Carolina

Now that we had our set of cities, it was time to rank them.

We ranked each place in North Carolina across a number of criteria from one to 132, with one being the best.

We then took the average rank across all criteria, with the city posting the lowest overall score being crowned the winner of the title “Best Place To Live In North Carolina”.

The criteria we looked at were:

• Median Home Values
• Median Income
• Population Density (Higher better)
• Unemployment Rate
• Commute Time
• Crime
• Education Levels
• Health Insurance Coverage
• Poverty rates

Sources of criteria include the New Census Data and FBI Crime Data. You can download the data here.

After the dust settled, what was the best place to live in North Carolina? That would be Cary.

If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in North Carolina.

Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Cary at the end of the cul-de-sac.