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- Wilmington is a great choice for buyers in hopes of being near the coast of North Carolina.
- The rally is a growing, diverse city with huge employment opportunities.
- Charlotte, located on the South Carolina border, is a large international airport home.
There are many reasons for calling North Carolina home. Tar Heel State is known for its extraordinary medical and research facilities as well as its advanced universities, including Chapel Hill, Duke University, and North Carolina State University at the University of North Carolina. Its residents enjoy all four season (with relatively mild winter), and, according to the rent cafe, housing costs are currently 14 % lower than the national average.
If your heart is in North Carolina – whether you are a lifetime North Caroline or you want to move – you’ve got the options to put your roots. There is something for everyone in this geographically and popularly diverse state. Here are small cities with beach cities, mountainous cities, developing job markets, quiet suburbs with green places, and small cities with tight -woven communities. So to identify the best places to live in North Carolina, we consulted with local real estate experts. Read to discover their choices.
Rally
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“The rally just works. It is growing rapidly, but it still has a fundamental, accessible feeling. There is something for everyone between tech jobs, parks, events and food,” said Steven David Elite of Fatom Reality. Travel + leisure. “People come for opportunities and stay because it feels like home.” Home prices have also been quite stable in the last two years. According to the RedFin, the average sale price of a house in the rally in April 2025 was about $ 440,000, an increase of 3.4 % from the year.
And if you are not ready to buy? You will still get a good deal of rent. The average fare in the capital is 8,888, which is 10 % lower than the national average. Jealja Jackson Realty’s youth Kerry Jackson has recommended to start his search in the northern hills and the palaces of Oakwood, which he says is “gaining popularity because of the combination of historical charm and modern facilities.”
Diver
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The rally and the Durham may be combined frequently, but, as any resident of any city will tell you, they are decisively different. The rally is smaller with a population of about 290,000 compared to about 48 482,000. Real estate is even cheaper in Durham. Although the market is still competitive, the average home price is just more than 1010,000. In addition, everyone working in higher education, medical, or financial sectors will have the potential to work in the dary. Duke University, Duke University Health System, and sincere are the largest employer in the area.
Chapel Hill
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If you are interested in a small city that has more reputation than life, do not see the Chapel Hill. A part of the research training, Chapel Hill is home to North Carolina University – but it has more than college life. This is a destination where residents enjoy direct music, public art, a strange historical district, Brewery and numerous local restaurants. While the housing market is expensive – the price of the middle sales, 000 is more than 600,000 – which is just a lot of charming small cities outside the Chapel Hill to consider. People who want more affordable prices should look around mebin, halzero, or pittsboro. Each of the city’s Chapel Hill is 30 minutes away.
Charlotte
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Elite described Charlotte as a “solid choice” for those who want “city life and a mix of room for breathing”. It is often ideal for travelers. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is an important center of American Airlines. He says, “The Charlotte keeps moving forward. It includes serious pace, great job opportunities, a strong cultural scene, and palaces like South and Noda.” After the real estate of 2020 and 2021, the housing market has not changed drastically. The average domestic price in Charlotte is more than just 5 405,000.
Coear
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“Kerry is one of the places where everything is simply easy,” says Elliott. It provides safe, planned, and permanently quality of life. Great schools, clean palaces and the quiet trust that makes it a mental maker for families. ” Although it was once considered a suburban area of ​​the rally, Kerry has turned into a separate destination with his own identity. Residents enjoy dynamic arts and culture scenes and advanced food, and relatively new new cities serve as a central place for Kerry Park events and outdoor activities. Considering these factors, it may not be surprising that the property is a competitive market. Home prices have increased by 5.7 % over the previous year, so it is expected to pay about $ 690,000 (current average price) for your home.
Winston Salem
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Winston Salem is about a destination as well as a destination, but it is still more affordable. The average domestic price is 7 257.523, and the overall cost of life is less than 9 % of the national average. Once you get your residence and take a big deal in the area, you can start focusing on what makes Winston more good: its numerous parks and 25 miles of greenways, focusing on education (this is the home of the Wake Forest University), and the events of the small city and the events of the city. In addition, you are at a distance of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Apalachen Trail, where natural sights and hiking paths wait.
Willington
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“Willmington is on the rise for a while,” says Elliott. You have a beach, charming city and a speed that is comfortable without sleep. If you want to upgrade the lifestyle without abandoning the community or culture, this is a great option. ” The Port City is located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Ferr, so this is an amazing place for everyone who spends his free time on or around the water or around or around, with a mid -416,708 domestic price, with a more than a domestic price in the North and South Karolina.
Greensoro
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Jackson says “Greensoro offers a comfortable lifestyle with low price, green spaces, and mounting arts and culture scenes,” says Jackson, the average home price is about $ 300,000. Other factors include its job market. He added, “areas like Landley Park and Fisher Park are becoming attractive because of their community -based environment and greenery.” There is also the Greensoro Science Center, Mary P. Brnener Children’s Museum, and wet N -Wild Emerald Point to provide entertainment to the whole family.
Fight Will
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Cheap habitat is the biggest benefit of living in the city of Fightwell, which is between Charlotte and Willmington. As of April 2025, the middle price was only 5 245,000, and the fare is 33 % less than the national average (4 1,400 vs. $ 2,100). In view of its proximity to Fort Brig, the Defense Department is the largest employer in the area. Fayet Will faces a military business, so people who are interested in a single family home and rental market in search of investment opportunities. Another benefit of living in Fight Will? It has close cities. It is an hourly drive for the rally and about 2.5 2.5 hours from Charlotte.
Morris Will
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Access to the big city is found at the shore of the lake living in Morrisville. Only 30 minutes away from Charlotte, Morrisville, or “Race City, America”-this is the site of many Nisar and Indicar races located on the coast of Norman Lake. The average domestic price is $ 484,825, though many Lake Front houses sell a lot. As a resident, you could catch the grocery at the lake’s lake, Steven’s Country Store and the Whiskey Shop, walking and walking in the city’s Mauriceville Social District, or sailing locally made of goods around various shops and boutiques.