State rankings

Best Counties to Live in North Carolina

Compare counties in North Carolina by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.

Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.

County size

County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.

Showing all 100 North Carolina counties

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All sizesLarge counties: 500k+ residentsMid-size counties: 100k-500k residentsSmall counties: 25k-100k residentsRural / very small: under 25k residents

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Compare counties in North Carolina

Put North Carolina counties side by side.

Estimate moving costs

Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.

Open North Carolina rankings

Open the full North Carolina ranking table with filters.

Explore on the map

Scan county scores geographically across the country.

North Carolina county rankings at a glance

Compact winners for common county-search priorities.

View full North Carolina rankings

Top counties by category

Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.

National rankings

Popular North Carolina county comparisons

Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.

Compare Union County vs Camden CountyCompare Union County vs Jones CountyCompare Orange County vs Bertie CountyCompare Avery County vs Jones CountyCompare Camden County vs Orange CountyCompare Yancey County vs Camden County

Read more about North Carolina

Best and Worst City in Every North Carolina County

An opinionated guide to the best and hardest-sell cities, towns, and places across all 100 North Carolina counties.

Best and Worst Counties in North Carolina

Compare North Carolina counties by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.

How to choose a county in North Carolina

The best county in North Carolina depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.

Best family rankingsAffordable county rankingsLow-tax county rankingsCompare countiesEstimate moving costs

Best for different needs

What to watch before moving to North Carolina

North Carolina has different tradeoffs across the Triangle, Charlotte-area counties, mountain counties, coastal counties, and rural areas.

Fast-growing counties may offer job access and amenities, but affordability and commute patterns can change quickly.

Mountain and coastal lifestyle counties may appeal for quality of life, but buyers should compare jobs, healthcare access, and local services.

Frequently asked questions about the best counties in North Carolina

What is the best county to live in North Carolina?

The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Union County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.

What is the best county in North Carolina for families?

Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Camden County stands out in this model.

What is the most affordable county in North Carolina?

Bertie County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.

How should I compare large and small counties?

Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.

Are these rankings based on reviews?

No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.

Which North Carolina counties score well for schools or taxes?

Orange County currently leads the school-score view, while Avery County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.

All North Carolina counties

Showing all 100 North Carolina counties ranked by the default generated overall score.

RankCountyOverallEconomyAfford.SchoolsSafetyTaxesPeace & QuietTypical homeIncome
1Union County
FIPS 37179
76.887.75098.681.175.659.5$451,672$102,900
2Camden County
FIPS 37029
76.179.852.392.283.678.386.2$393,333$91,078
3Davie County
FIPS 37059
72.770.55590.277.678.576.2$321,975$75,057
4Johnston County
FIPS 37101
71.682.756.466.18674.764.4$343,005$83,384
5Lincoln County
FIPS 37109
71.377.541.994.276.478.965.3$401,881$80,016
6Iredell County
FIPS 37097
70.474.343.184.588.276.465.2$386,377$81,419
7Moore County
FIPS 37125
70.177.2427687.780.677.1$413,086$86,080
8Polk County
FIPS 37149
69.866.747.598.568.374.377.7$316,133$67,758
9Stokes County
FIPS 37169
69.368.158.17373.481.878.6$258,748$62,969
10Jones County
FIPS 37103
69.158.99054.463.771.485.6$136,422$59,641
11Surry County
FIPS 37171
68.457.357.689.863.681.280.8$231,798$55,656
12Person County
FIPS 37145
67.260.757.571.678.577.277$253,001$63,300
13Wake County
FIPS 37183
67.287.640.296.457.164.220.1$479,727$105,768
14Yadkin County
FIPS 37197
67.265.862.367.266.27977.5$241,129$62,932
15Chatham County
FIPS 37037
66.683.726.474.686.272.280$550,018$94,317
16Yancey County
FIPS 37199
66.351.434.891.294.485.775.9$321,488$58,709
17Mitchell County
FIPS 37121
65.84457.572.293.679.479.4$231,962$57,602
18Burke County
FIPS 37023
65.45854.779.263.978.779.2$255,518$58,592
19Currituck County
FIPS 37053
65.285.320.775.876.587.865.1$541,876$93,511
20Pender County
FIPS 37141
64.57933.165.776.580.275.9$436,167$80,396
21Gates County
FIPS 37073
64.460.562.851.676.27879.9$246,167$66,333
22Craven County
FIPS 37049
64.361.953.365.970.876.481.7$273,661$65,873
23Cleveland County
FIPS 37045
64536672.559.172.473.5$209,383$58,534
24Orange County
FIPS 37135
63.873.724.599.275.248.664.8$505,612$90,089
25Henderson County
FIPS 37089
63.770.524.591.469.478.668.4$422,833$68,187
26Ashe County
FIPS 37009
63.563.225.290.47385.776.8$346,186$56,866
27Carteret County
FIPS 37031
63.270.711.694.176.688.570.1$470,748$72,322
28Catawba County
FIPS 37035
63.261.652.968.565.279.462.5$292,677$67,864
29Haywood County
FIPS 37087
63.16033.889.967.177.476.8$341,225$61,912
30Caldwell County
FIPS 37027
6357.757.264.564.279.576.7$237,081$56,425
31Dare County
FIPS 37055
6368.810.791.487.879.873.4$600,596$88,994
32Franklin County
FIPS 37069
62.977.24545.180.57672.5$362,848$74,240
33Stanly County
FIPS 37167
62.866.543.853.685.279.475.1$303,694$60,704
34New Hanover County
FIPS 37129
62.672.421.387.387.675.620.9$444,936$75,166
35Alexander County
FIPS 37003
62.261.35867.84680.278.6$263,714$65,354
36Cabarrus County
FIPS 37025
62.279.548.968.252.465.640.6$384,693$89,005
37Davidson County
FIPS 37057
62.261.254.5606679.568.8$273,745$64,172
38Transylvania County
FIPS 37175
61.963.315.888.381.382.879.8$474,865$66,184
39Rockingham County
FIPS 37157
61.852.168.64380.571.377.3$197,299$57,053
40Onslow County
FIPS 37133
60.763.648.547.679.676.970.8$289,956$68,148
41Guilford County
FIPS 37081
60.456.953.156.993.258.932.6$278,467$68,642
42McDowell County
FIPS 37111
60.357.952.751.96288.481.7$260,303$57,168
43Lee County
FIPS 37105
59.967.7505164.769.572$292,369$65,387
44Alamance County
FIPS 37001
59.862.448.142.387.17759.6$294,316$65,651
45Madison County
FIPS 37115
59.86219.873.583.884.373.3$392,633$58,531
46Wilkes County
FIPS 37193
59.852.853.561.358.28281.2$225,624$51,721
47Buncombe County
FIPS 37021
59.661.417.68584.173.856.6$454,250$74,436
48Randolph County
FIPS 37151
59.56156.642.467.17777.6$253,645$61,022
49Mecklenburg County
FIPS 37119
59.174.736.175.360.662.620.1$421,452$87,005
50Avery County
FIPS 37011
5957.820.873.379.590.474.4$384,557$61,428
51Cherokee County
FIPS 37039
595843.964.955.18477.1$269,305$53,628
52Graham County
FIPS 37075
58.958.951.446.965.681.778$220,118$49,684
53Sampson County
FIPS 37163
58.849.47556.73766.881.8$152,823$52,432
54Granville County
FIPS 37077
58.764.252.227.58475.978.1$317,382$71,111
55Rutherford County
FIPS 37161
58.646.253.170.754.475.977.3$222,162$51,410
56Brunswick County
FIPS 37019
58.370.633.95665.77866.5$405,145$77,024
57Perquimans County
FIPS 37143
58.261.453.635.371.27976.9$277,278$67,917
58Macon County
FIPS 37113
57.562.321.657.281.889.476.5$360,444$59,061
59Alleghany County
FIPS 37005
56.852.529.966.875.677.974.8$269,503$47,172
60Watauga County
FIPS 37189
56.649.15.896.677.584.468.9$506,670$51,693
61Pasquotank County
FIPS 37139
56.462.25621.477.272.574.8$265,168$66,589
62Duplin County
FIPS 37061
56.16067.216.16080.181.4$186,278$55,148
63Cumberland County
FIPS 37051
5649.357.144.678.25956.4$231,841$61,291
64Wayne County
FIPS 37191
5655.469.219.567.170.476.1$186,089$59,733
65Harnett County
FIPS 37085
55.966.554.923.567.873.467.5$294,554$71,287
66Gaston County
FIPS 37071
55.763.749.949.458.165.741.7$297,720$67,478
67Beaufort County
FIPS 37013
55.653.15540.559.174.981.7$233,490$58,357
68Chowan County
FIPS 37041
55.450.853.537.577.262.180.4$232,683$53,864
69Pitt County
FIPS 37147
55.451.55136.483.563.373$243,762$58,188
70Rowan County
FIPS 37159
55.260.755.118.278.673.968.6$276,269$65,725
71Caswell County
FIPS 37033
55.155.765.219.96177.979.6$213,219$59,755
72Pamlico County
FIPS 37137
55.150.647.943.264.781.379.4$273,404$59,717
73Montgomery County
FIPS 37123
5555.662.825.457.278.976.2$196,637$57,766
74Hoke County
FIPS 37093
54.658.755.325.762.776.278.4$277,587$64,912
75Nash County
FIPS 37127
53.254.658.718.96574.477.9$237,062$62,426
76Columbus County
FIPS 37047
53.14162.937.955.172.381.1$183,768$49,442
77Clay County
FIPS 37043
52.764.226.54261.385.677.4$340,068$56,971
78Martin County
FIPS 37117
52.440.680.121.254.356.784.2$126,740$48,578
79Forsyth County
FIPS 37067
52.157.15150.349.464.323.6$285,372$67,165
80Scotland County
FIPS 37165
52.13369.534.16065.981.5$145,231$45,730
81Bertie County
FIPS 37015
51.940.690.61053.54984$65,559$48,750
82Anson County
FIPS 37007
51.847.176.29.358.76282.1$141,108$47,302
83Wilson County
FIPS 37195
50.539.156.442.150.667.676.5$221,170$56,423
84Greene County
FIPS 37079
50.15866.76.639.375.982.8$182,392$53,244
85Northampton County
FIPS 37131
50.141.782.516.947.147.276.9$111,077$50,086
86Lenoir County
FIPS 37107
49.744.663.920.150.77079.7$153,995$45,143
87Vance County
FIPS 37181
4841.960.728.740.967.574.5$183,619$50,465
88Jackson County
FIPS 37099
47.355.58.75352.389.876.5$444,171$55,815
89Tyrrell County
FIPS 37177
47.326.758.620.582.458.173.2$167,041$41,685
90Bladen County
FIPS 37017
46.935.862.415.261.660.679.6$157,231$42,422
91Richmond County
FIPS 37153
46.741.973.42420.558.982.7$132,397$44,883
92Hertford County
FIPS 37091
46.638.477.46.145.554.282.8$122,055$45,537
93Hyde County
FIPS 37095
46.229.949.84238.982.974.4$222,154$53,713
94Edgecombe County
FIPS 37065
45.334.577.13.94753.882.9$135,073$51,265
95Swain County
FIPS 37173
44.953.921.933.939.990.482.5$324,622$52,349
96Halifax County
FIPS 37083
44.530.881.47.343.543.481.6$103,624$45,590
97Washington County
FIPS 37187
43.632.979.74.74341.577.3$106,837$41,813
98Robeson County
FIPS 37155
40.230.171.45.714.674.380.3$135,502$41,978
99Warren County
FIPS 37185
39.73941.27.343.280.474.3$242,861$50,638
100Durham County
FIPS 37063
39.477.23817.33.255.721.9$397,038$82,316