2025 affordability guide — compare housing costs, rental prices, and living expenses across 260 cities in North Carolina.
Average median home value across North Carolina cities.
Rental data covers median monthly rent for tracked cities in North Carolina.
COL index 97.3 vs. national average of 100. Your dollar goes further here.
Quick look at the cost extremes across North Carolina.
Sorted from most expensive to most affordable. Click any city for a detailed breakdown with housing, rental, and income data.
| # | City | COL Index | Affordability | Median Home | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Governors Club CDP | 148.3 | Very Expensive | $908,500 | N/A |
| 2 | Lake Norman of Iredell CDP | 143.1 | Very Expensive | $839,900 | N/A |
| 3 | Ocean Isle Beach | 136.7 | Very Expensive | $754,300 | N/A |
| 4 | Duck | 133.0 | Very Expensive | $705,700 | N/A |
| 5 | Highlands | 130.1 | Very Expensive | $666,300 | N/A |
| 6 | Davidson | 127.1 | Very Expensive | $626,000 | N/A |
| 7 | Caswell Beach | 125.9 | Very Expensive | $610,900 | N/A |
| 8 | Indian Beach | 122.9 | Very Expensive | $570,800 | N/A |
| 9 | Governors Village CDP | 122.5 | Very Expensive | $565,500 | N/A |
| 10 | Westport CDP | 120.4 | Very Expensive | $537,800 | N/A |
| 11 | Carolina Meadows CDP | 118.7 | Expensive | $514,900 | N/A |
| 12 | Apex | 118.7 | Expensive | $514,800 | N/A |
| 13 | Briar Chapel CDP | 118.2 | Expensive | $508,300 | N/A |
| 14 | Bayshore CDP | 117.5 | Expensive | $498,300 | N/A |
| 15 | Kitty Hawk | 117.1 | Expensive | $494,200 | N/A |
| 16 | Summerfield | 116.8 | Expensive | $490,100 | N/A |
| 17 | Rolesville | 115.1 | Expensive | $467,400 | N/A |
| 18 | North Topsail Beach | 114.1 | Expensive | $453,500 | N/A |
| 19 | Nags Head | 113.9 | Expensive | $451,100 | N/A |
| 20 | Bayview CDP | 113.4 | Expensive | $443,800 | N/A |
Complete directory of every tracked city and town. Filter or scroll to find yours.
States like Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Kansas typically have lower costs of living compared to coastal states.
RPP (Regional Price Parity) measures the price level for all items. COL Index combines RPP, housing, and rental data for a comprehensive comparison.
Data: BEA Regional Price Parities, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, HUD Fair Market Rents. Our Methodology · Data Sources