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 51–100 of 165 eligible cities — 50 on this page. Page 2 of 4.

#	City	Index	Home Value	Rent	Income
51	Jacksonville	94	$263,173	$1,417	$57,697
52	Elizabeth City	94	$267,652	$1,402	$52,141
53	Morganton	94	$261,310	$1,475	$51,355
54	Kings Mountain	94	$243,701	$1,704	$49,564
55	King	94	$278,545	$1,295	$57,817
56	Walkertown	94	$270,880	$1,332	$82,615
57	Winston-Salem	95	$263,057	$1,507	$59,268
58	Salisbury	95	$281,849	$1,282	$53,716
59	Gastonia	96	$275,364	$1,501	$64,059
60	Wrightsboro	96	$255,700	$1,705	$78,450
61	Mocksville	96	$284,224	$1,332	$55,367
62	Lexington	97	$273,382	$1,578	$43,128
63	Graham	97	$291,588	$1,375	$56,239
64	Hope Mills	97	$262,834	$1,675	$65,774
65	Kannapolis	98	$279,713	$1,613	$73,836
66	New Bern	98	$283,749	$1,590	$61,031
67	Lincolnton	98	$297,866	$1,394	$46,320
68	Winterville	98	$278,709	$1,606	$83,193
69	Selma	98	$273,345	$1,689	$41,368
70	Hickory	99	$294,938	$1,531	$64,576
71	Dallas	99	$273,155	$1,785	$58,403
72	Smithfield	100	$290,708	$1,681	$43,270
73	Sanford	101	$288,740	$1,796	$57,586
74	Spout Springs	101	$358,500	$1,051	$92,402
75	Kings Grant	101	$300,700	$1,705	$62,232
76	Trinity	101	$291,110	$1,773	$82,664
77	Pleasant Garden	101	$314,972	$1,271	$88,204
78	Statesville	102	$297,476	$1,747	$52,880
79	Boiling Spring Lakes	102	$314,963	$1,574	$62,676
80	East Flat Rock	102	$291,924	$1,866	$59,583
81	Elon	103	$347,638	$1,348	$84,773
82	Northchase	103	$318,400	$1,705	$59,375
83	Locust	103	$383,271	$1,012	$76,504
84	Kernersville	104	$321,069	$1,747	$71,918
85	Murraysville	104	$320,700	$1,705	$81,167
86	Gibsonville	104	$304,282	$1,916	$95,861
87	Silver Lake	104	$325,500	$1,705	$76,756
88	Archer Lodge	104	$324,500	$1,689	$91,188
89	Mebane	105	$350,676	$1,483	$83,174
90	Cramerton	105	$306,785	$1,975	$82,160
91	Carolina Shores	105	$320,502	$1,574	$76,087
92	Cullowhee	107	$417,238	$1,039	$35,929
93	Angier	107	$331,213	$1,846	$52,214
94	Stokesdale	107	$387,090	$1,271	$121,071
95	Waynesville	108	$355,574	$1,758	$54,923
96	Aberdeen	108	$350,159	$1,775	$75,078
97	Knightdale	109	$363,989	$1,690	$103,220
98	Mount Holly	109	$358,147	$1,756	$79,385
99	Lewisville	109	$404,913	$1,332	$100,917
100	Zebulon	109	$340,654	$1,968	$79,112

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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