Most Affordable Cities in North Carolina

Cost of living rankings for 165 cities in North Carolina with uncapped home, rent, and income estimates. On average, North Carolina is near the national average with a statewide average Cost Index of 106.

1 source baseline is past its update cadence — newer official vintage not reflected

Cheapest City

Roanoke Rapids

Index: 74

Most Expensive

Weddington

Index: 189

State Average

106

National: 100

Cities Ranked

165

eligible statewide total

North Carolina Affordability Ranking

Showing 1–50 of 165 eligible cities — 50 on this page. Page 1 of 4.

#	City	Index	Home Value	Rent	Income
1	Roanoke Rapids	74	$132,688	$1,012	$53,690
2	Rockingham	74	$134,488	$1,012	$37,224
3	Hamlet	74	$131,881	$1,012	$41,590
4	Williamston	74	$133,784	$1,012	$38,738
5	Eden	76	$148,257	$969	$47,260
6	Laurinburg	76	$144,841	$1,012	$42,170
7	Clinton	77	$159,498	$1,012	$44,953
8	Kinston	78	$147,059	$1,213	$36,878
9	Lumberton	78	$152,249	$1,147	$42,877
10	Tarboro	78	$157,007	$1,113	$49,796
11	Henderson	79	$178,354	$980	$39,969
12	Forest City	81	$190,259	$1,012	$35,524
13	Half Moon	83	$182,500	$1,319	$68,946
14	Rocky Mount	84	$188,603	$1,272	$55,534
15	Shelby	84	$212,840	$1,111	$48,376
16	Mount Airy	84	$222,824	$1,012	$40,275
17	Roxboro	84	$219,895	$1,012	$36,553
18	Long View	84	$186,575	$1,147	$46,739
19	St. Stephens	85	$213,300	$1,147	$60,394
20	Goldsboro	86	$194,054	$1,424	$48,540
21	Reidsville	86	$211,582	$1,186	$42,921
22	Lenoir	87	$213,845	$1,329	$49,910
23	Ayden	87	$225,846	$1,167	$42,413
24	Sawmills	87	$228,940	$1,147	$71,067
25	Asheboro	88	$242,557	$1,105	$47,197
26	Barbecue	88	$219,800	$1,383	$79,426
27	Fayetteville	89	$224,044	$1,367	$58,407
28	Wilson	89	$216,582	$1,456	$52,485
29	Thomasville	89	$238,670	$1,221	$60,935
30	Piney Green	89	$227,600	$1,319	$72,177
31	Dunn	89	$228,215	$1,376	$46,830
32	Marion	89	$239,213	$1,251	$51,314
33	Cherryville	89	$250,712	$1,113	$70,625
34	Havelock	90	$235,371	$1,381	$58,408
35	Oxford	90	$251,806	$1,213	$43,054
36	Greenville	91	$237,040	$1,428	$49,748
37	Nashville	91	$257,195	$1,167	$61,000
38	Bessemer City	91	$238,608	$1,432	$60,300
39	High Point	92	$250,100	$1,372	$64,561
40	Burlington	92	$254,509	$1,284	$56,880
41	Albemarle	92	$263,567	$1,264	$46,881
42	Anderson Creek	92	$282,200	$1,051	$87,287
43	Archdale	92	$251,975	$1,385	$64,757
44	Butner	92	$267,826	$1,213	$74,739
45	Newton	93	$259,410	$1,358	$62,015
46	Spring Lake	93	$259,071	$1,430	$51,958
47	Washington	93	$244,866	$1,130	$40,186
48	Conover	93	$277,782	$1,147	$65,972
49	Siler City	93	$259,003	$1,367	$46,566
50	Greensboro	94	$263,264	$1,392	$61,515

2026 edition — based on ACS 2024, Zillow 2026-08, HUD FY2027, and BEA 2024 dated sources. The edition year is not the observation year.

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