Nestlyzer
Open the map

Best places to live in North Carolina

580 places and 6,174,907 residents in North Carolina, United States, ranked for 29 household profiles. Local data: official statistics on affordability, green space, education and family, health and elderly, jobs and economy, lifestyle and amenities, mobility and connectivity and safety and community (local or regional figures, sources on every place page) plus population and geography.

10#10 Rolesville9#9 Morrisville (North Carolina)8#8 Wake Forest7#7 Garner (North Carolina)6#6 Raleigh (North Carolina)5#5 Indian Trail4#4 Fuquay-Varina3#3 Apex2#2 Holly Springs (North Carolina)1#1 Cary (North Carolina)
Young family fit across North Carolina, one dot per place; numbers mark the top 10.weakerbest fit not ranked

Rank North Carolina for your household

Open the map

For young families

  1. 1Cary (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 159,769 residents    70
  2. 2Holly Springs (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 31,377 residents    68
  3. 3Apex
    North Carolina, 45,585 residents    67
  4. 4Fuquay-Varina
    North Carolina, 23,907 residents    66
  5. 5Indian Trail
    North Carolina, 37,073 residents    66
  6. 6Raleigh (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 482,295 residents    66
  7. 7Garner (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 28,053 residents    65
  8. 8Wake Forest
    North Carolina, 38,199 residents    65
  9. 9Morrisville (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 23,820 residents    65
  10. 10Rolesville
    North Carolina, 6,289 residents    64

See all on the map

For retired couples

  1. 1Chapel Hill (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 59,568 residents    73
  2. 2Carrboro
    North Carolina, 21,156 residents    73
  3. 3Holly Springs (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 31,377 residents    72
  4. 4Cary (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 159,769 residents    72
  5. 5Fuquay-Varina
    North Carolina, 23,907 residents    71
  6. 6Green Level (North Carolina, 2,158 residents)
    North Carolina, 2,158 residents    70
  7. 7Apex
    North Carolina, 45,585 residents    69
  8. 8Davidson
    North Carolina, 12,207 residents    69
  9. 9Wake Forest
    North Carolina, 38,199 residents    69
  10. 10Concord (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 87,696 residents    69

See all on the map

For remote workers

  1. 1Holly Springs (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 31,377 residents    70
  2. 2Cary (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 159,769 residents    70
  3. 3Fuquay-Varina
    North Carolina, 23,907 residents    70
  4. 4High Point (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 110,268 residents    69
  5. 5Wake Forest
    North Carolina, 38,199 residents    68
  6. 6Garner (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 28,053 residents    68
  7. 7Elon
    North Carolina, 10,024 residents    68
  8. 8Apex
    North Carolina, 45,585 residents    68
  9. 9Indian Trail
    North Carolina, 37,073 residents    67
  10. 10Clayton (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 19,304 residents    67

See all on the map

For commuters

  1. 1Cary (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 159,769 residents    85
  2. 2Raleigh (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 482,295 residents    84
  3. 3Charlotte (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 911,311 residents    81
  4. 4Durham (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 257,636 residents    79
  5. 5Apex
    North Carolina, 45,585 residents    79
  6. 6Morrisville (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 23,820 residents    78
  7. 7Garner (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 28,053 residents    77
  8. 8Winston-Salem
    North Carolina, 241,218 residents    76
  9. 9Wilmington (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 115,933 residents    75
  10. 10Greensboro (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 285,342 residents    74

See all on the map

For single professionals

  1. 1Raleigh (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 482,295 residents    80
  2. 2Cary (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 159,769 residents    78
  3. 3Charlotte (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 911,311 residents    76
  4. 4Apex
    North Carolina, 45,585 residents    70
  5. 5Durham (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 257,636 residents    69
  6. 6Garner (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 28,053 residents    69
  7. 7Morrisville (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 23,820 residents    64
  8. 8Wilmington (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 115,933 residents    63
  9. 9Winston-Salem
    North Carolina, 241,218 residents    62
  10. 10Greensboro (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 285,342 residents    62

See all on the map

For movers on a budget

  1. 1Archdale
    North Carolina, 11,564 residents    63
  2. 2Lenoir
    North Carolina, 17,888 residents    61
  3. 3Hickory (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 40,374 residents    61
  4. 4Hudson (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 3,721 residents    60
  5. 5Trinity (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 6,669 residents    60
  6. 6King (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 7,059 residents    59
  7. 7Saint Stephens
    North Carolina, 8,759 residents    59
  8. 8Thomasville (North Carolina)
    North Carolina, 27,061 residents    58
  9. 9Sawmills
    North Carolina, 5,104 residents    58
  10. 10Gamewell
    North Carolina, 3,957 residents    58

See all on the map

All profiles in North Carolina

ProfileTop placeScorePlaces that pass
Young familyCary (North Carolina)70324
Low-income householdArchdale68253
Low-income familyIndian Trail64199
Single parentCary (North Carolina)69124
Pensioner coupleChapel Hill (North Carolina)73256
Single pensionerHolly Springs (North Carolina)72256
Early retireeFuquay-Varina72283
Single professionalRaleigh (North Carolina)8075
Young professionalRaleigh (North Carolina)8374
DINKSRaleigh (North Carolina)8546
Remote workerHolly Springs (North Carolina)70150
CommuterCary (North Carolina)85122
Car-free householdCharlotte (North Carolina)8660
StudentRaleigh (North Carolina)8627
First-home buyerArchdale65199
Budget-constrained moverArchdale63328
Urban lifestyle seekerRaleigh (North Carolina)8366
Expat professionalRaleigh (North Carolina)81150
Healthcare-first moverCary (North Carolina)73256
Nature-focused householdSpruce Pine65491
Cross-border commuter–0
Outdoor and mountain loverBryson City64446
Rural value seekerSpruce Pine65491
High-net-worth moverCary (North Carolina)78446
Lottery winnerRaleigh (North Carolina)85580
Climate-resilient relocationCary (North Carolina)70328
Coastal livingMasonboro74157
Business ownerCary (North Carolina)83328
Digital nativeRaleigh (North Carolina)7879

Towns of 30,000+ in North Carolina