Best Affordable Places to Live in North Carolina in 2025

Photo credit: iStock/Kruck20

Home to Elon University, Guilford College, and UNC-Greensboro, Greensboro is a metro area located in between Winston-Salem and Raleigh-Durham in central North Carolina. You can visit the Greensboro Science Center (home to red pandas and sharks) or take a stroll on the elevated boardwalk of the Bog Garden. If you’d rather catch improv night at a local comedy club or sip some Syrah at a wine bar, there’s that as well. Over 300,000 people reside in Greensboro, and the home price-to-income ratio is a reasonable 4.30.

Southern Pines is a small town in the rolling hillside of Moore County in south-central North Carolina. Southern Pines has several places within town limits on the National Register of Historic Places, including the James Boyd House, Shaw House, Firleigh Farms, and Mile-Away Farms, which give the town historic charm. In addition, residents enjoy the great outdoors as well as locally owned boutiques and restaurants.

Photo credit: Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM , Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic

The county seat of Lenoir County, Kinston is located in the coastal plains of eastern North Carolina. There’s history there to absorb: The CSS Neuse Museum showcases a steam-powered ironclad ship that was part of the Confederate Navy in the Civil War. Neuseway Nature Park, located on the Neuse River, is another favorite town attraction. But there’s also a burgeoning foodie, art, and maker scene, which can make Kinston a very fun place to live. When compared to the overall cost of living in North Carolina, Kinston is one of the most affordable places on this list.

Photo credit: Flickr/Dougtone , Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

The city of Wake Forest is located in Wake County just to the north of the capital city of Raleigh. One of North Carolina’s fastest-growing cities, Wake Forest has seen its population more than triple since 2010. Falls Lake State Recreation Area is nearby, containing both Falls Lake itself as well as over 20,000 acres of woodlands. The town’s Parks and Recreation department offers sports leagues for kids five and older, and a walkable downtown offers restaurants and other fun family activities.

Photo credit: Flickr/bryan… , Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

Also located in Wake County, the town of Apex is named for its location as the highest point on a portion of the old Chatham Railroad. Apex’s proximity to the Research Triangle Park has helped to fuel its growth, with a median household income well above the national average. Plenty of families call Apex home: In fact, three out of four households are families. Jordan Lake State Recreation Area is also nearby, giving opportunities for nature lovers to revel in the outdoors. If you are looking to buy, make sure you check out the different types of mortgage loans that are available to you.

Photo credit: iStock/Laser1987

High Point is so named for being the highest point along the 1856 North Carolina Railroad that went between Charlotte and Goldsboro. High Point is part of the Greensboro / Winston-Salem metro area and boasts the semiannual High Point Furniture Market, the largest furniture trade show in the world. This concentration of furniture companies can also offer jobs to local families. When not enjoying local parks, kids may visit the Nido & Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum.

Photo credit: iStock/halbergman

First on this list of best places to live in North Carolina for young professionals is Charlotte, the largest city and metro area in the state. It has plenty of jobs, entertainment, nightlife, cafes and restaurants, and other amenities (rooftop yoga, for instance). The modern city center (called Uptown) features the Levine Museum of the New South along with a thriving arts and entertainment district. Carowinds amusement park and the NASCAR Hall of Fame are also located in the Charlotte area.

Photo credit: iStock/Sean Pavone

PPart of the Raleigh-Durham metropolitan area, the city of Durham is often mentioned alongside its neighboring city of Raleigh. But Durham has plenty going for it on its own, including its own job opportunities and its vibrant downtown with murals, award-winning eateries, and nightlife options. Prefer to spend time outdoors? The Sarah P. Duke Botanical Gardens is a free attraction featuring over five miles of wooded walks and pathways. If you decide to buy, consider going through the mortgage preapproval process before you begin shopping in earnest.

Photo credit: iStock/Sean Pavone

Winston-Salem is the county seat of Forsyth County and, along with Greensboro and High Point, part of the Piedmont Triad area. It’s said to have a healthy job market, which is a plus. Home to Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem combines many of the benefits of being a college town with the perks of living in a slightly larger city and urban area. The Arts District can be a fun place to hang out. The Old Salem Museums and Gardens and the Reynolda House are two other popular attractions in the area.

Photo credit: iStock/ChrisBoswell

Located in eastern North Carolina where the Neuse River starts to open up and enter the Atlantic Ocean, New Bern offers many amenities for retirees. If you like the outdoors, the Croatan National Forest is just outside the city limits. History buffs will find plenty to do. Some of the attractions in New Bern include visiting the historic Tryon Palace complex, viewing North Carolina’s first capitol building, and stopping by the Birthplace of Pepsi, the drugstore where the drink was first created in the 1890s. Housing options include senior living communities.

Photo credit: iStock/J. Michael Jones

Henderson is located in Vance County in northern North Carolina, near the state’s border with Virginia. There are at least a dozen senior living communities in the town, though only about 18% of residents are 65 or older. This can indicate a good, diverse mix of residents, which many retirees may enjoy. The John H. Kerr Reservoir and Kerr Lake State Recreation Area (part of the Roanoke River) is just outside the city limits, offering a variety of outdoor pursuits. The McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in Henderson presents world-class live entertainment, adding to the appeal of the town. One of our best tips to qualify for a mortgage is to buy in an area that fits in your budget, and buying in Henderson can help you do that.

Photo credit: iStock/Jeff Yount

The city of Hickory sits about 60 miles northwest of Charlotte, alongside Lake Hickory, a sprawling lake that is part of the Catawba River Chain of Lakes. Along with Lake Norman further downstream, these bodies of water offer many recreation opportunities. The Hickory Aviation Museum, Hickory Museum of Art, and the Catawba Science Center are all major attractions in the city that may prove interesting to seniors. Another plus for retirees: the town’s well-regarded medical system.

Photo credit: iStock/DenisTangneyJr

The largest city in North Carolina that sits alongside the Atlantic Ocean, Wilmington is in southeastern North Carolina, about 75 miles northeast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. For those who love sand beneath their feet, Wilmington could be perfect. It also sits as the gateway to a slew of beaches along the Cape Fear coast, like Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach. In addition, it has a walkable riverfront, an arts and culture district, and a historic downtown area to explore. If you’re looking for a mortgage prequalification or preapproval, you’ll want to make sure that you have all of your financial documents in order. That will help you maximize your chances of approval as well as landing your dream beach home.

Photo credit: iStock/Sean Pavone

Part of North Carolina’s Outer Banks region, Nags Head features miles of pristine beaches alongside a touristy vibe that you might expect from a popular resort town. Along with the Atlantic Ocean beaches, you can visit the sand dunes of Jockey’s Ridge State Park or the Nags Head Woods Preserve. The pace is more relaxed during the off-season; when the visitors arrive, the town hosts many festivals and other attractions. Check out a home loan help center for tips on how to turn your dreams into reality.

Photo credit: iStock/Licec

Oak Island is a beach town in North Carolina near the South Carolina border, separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway. The Oak Island Nature Center offers nature trails for nature lovers, and the Oak Island Lighthouse offers breathtaking views of the ocean as well as nearby Bald Head Island. If you enjoy fishing, make sure to check out the Ocean Crest Pier, which juts out into the ocean and is a popular gathering point for fishermen. Residents enjoy the laid-back, rural vibe of life in Oak Island.