North Carolina county rankings
Best counties in North Carolina to live
We scored 98 counties with 5,000+ residents on home affordability, unemployment, education, population growth and total crime per 100,000 people.
| # | County | Score | Home value | Income | Unemployment | Crime /100k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Currituck County | 79 | $351,200 | $91,548 | 2.9% | 681 |
| 2 | Johnston County | 77 | $267,600 | $79,838 | 3.9% | 1,166 |
| 3 | Lincoln County | 76 | $279,500 | $78,490 | 3.6% | 950 |
| 4 | Chatham County | 75 | $397,800 | $88,534 | 3.0% | 973 |
| 5 | Union County | 74 | $374,400 | $99,243 | 4.2% | 1,058 |
| 6 | Camden County | 73 | $289,800 | $87,781 | 4.9% | 555 |
| 7 | Madison County | 73 | $263,500 | $58,628 | 2.6% | 474 |
| 8 | Cabarrus County | 72 | $318,600 | $86,084 | 4.5% | 1,061 |
| 9 | Moore County | 70 | $315,300 | $82,837 | 4.6% | 1,127 |
| 10 | Clay County | 68 | $263,300 | $53,645 | 4.2% | 888 |
| 11 | Davidson County | 67 | $200,100 | $62,426 | 4.0% | 1,150 |
| 12 | Davie County | 66 | $235,300 | $73,234 | 4.5% | 1,356 |
| 13 | Franklin County | 66 | $240,900 | $71,386 | 5.5% | 1,034 |
| 14 | Henderson County | 66 | $317,800 | $67,623 | 3.3% | 1,150 |
| 15 | Iredell County | 66 | $292,300 | $78,678 | 4.4% | 1,560 |
Also see: Where to move in North Carolina
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023); FBI Crime Data Explorer county agency totals. "—" means no reporting data.
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See the full Smart Movers Club report on North Carolina