Asheville, NC cityscape

a landable guide

Best cities to live in North Carolina

Mountains in the west, coast in the east, and a fast-growing middle. North Carolina packs a lot of range into one state, and these cities make the most of it.

By Karol Gajda

photo: Ken Jacobsen / pexels

Few states pack as much range into their borders as North Carolina. The Appalachians rise in the west, the Atlantic runs along the east, and a fast-growing Piedmont fills the middle with the jobs and universities that have made the state one of the country's steadiest magnets for movers. You can pick your landscape and still stay in-state, which is a rarer thing than it sounds.

That growth has pushed up prices in the busiest metros, but much of North Carolina remains at or below the national average on rent, and the smaller cities stay well under it. This list ranks the state's cities on cost, climate, parks, and things to do. It is a North Carolina-only cut, distinct from our Carolinas guide, because best cities in North Carolina is a search worth answering on its own terms.

the ranking

how we ranked

Filtered to North Carolina, then ranked 30% affordability, 25% weather, 20% activity, 15% parks, 10% walkability.

common questions

Is North Carolina still affordable?
The fast-growing Piedmont metros have climbed, but much of the state remains at or below the national average on rent, and the smaller cities in the mountains and along the coast stay notably cheaper. This list weights cost heavily, so the better values rise.
How is this different from the Carolinas guide?
The Carolinas guide ranks North and South Carolina together. This one focuses on North Carolina alone, so every city on the list is in-state, which matches how people actually search when they have settled on the state.

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