RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Least affordable housing, North Carolina cities · 2020

North Carolina cities ranked by the CensusEasy Afford Score, median home value divided by median household income (2023 ACS). A higher score means a home costs more years of local income. This list covers the 174 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

RELATEDMost expensive homes Cheapest homes Highest median rent Lowest median rent Highest homeownership rate Highest renter share

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPAFFORD SCOREVS 2000

01Boone, NCNC19,92910.9+69%

02Cullowhee, NCNC7,97310.0+63%

03Pittsboro, NCNC5,0547.2+131%

04Brevard, NCNC8,0986.1+90%

05Chapel Hill, NCNC63,5655.8+4%

06Carrboro, NCNC20,9625.7+15%

07Morehead City, NCNC10,4345.7+62%

08Asheville, NCNC93,5235.4+70%

09Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8705.2+34%

10Wilmington, NCNC126,8095.2+32%

11Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,9065.1–

12Hendersonville, NCNC15,8675.0+44%

13Woodfin, NCNC8,2294.8+101%

14Selma, NCNC7,4064.8+82%

15Lincolnton, NCNC12,4654.5+65%

16Hillsborough, NCNC9,7784.5+68%

17Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,4944.4+22%

18Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7314.3+68%

19Mount Airy, NCNC10,6824.3+53%

20Mills River, NCNC7,5044.3–

21Elon, NCNC11,3664.3–

22Southern Pines, NCNC17,3574.3+31%

23Smithfield, NCNC13,1144.2+23%

24Black Mountain, NCNC8,4914.2+53%

25Pineville, NCNC11,8514.2+62%

26St. James, NCNC7,3184.1+28%

27Waynesville, NCNC11,0064.1+36%

28Northchase, NCNC5,8964.1–

29Clinton, NCNC8,4664.0+34%

30Porters Neck, NCNC7,6544.0–

31Dunn, NCNC8,8143.9+44%

32Durham, NCNC305,5613.9+29%

33Whispering Pines, NCNC5,5053.9+32%

34Cornelius, NCNC35,0943.9+28%

35Hickory, NCNC45,9753.9+24%

36Statesville, NCNC32,1813.8+31%

37Washington, NCNC9,9103.8+16%

38Raleigh, NCNC506,3063.8+17%

39Kings Grant, NCNC9,0033.8+65%

40Surf City, NCNC5,1423.8−2%

41Morganton, NCNC17,8493.8+48%

42Fletcher, NCNC8,3733.8+38%

43Greenville, NCNC96,4433.7+16%

44Carolina Shores, NCNC5,5403.7+8%

45Oxford, NCNC8,9853.7+20%

46New Bern, NCNC34,7243.7+36%

47Shallotte, NCNC5,3353.7+5%

48Forest City, NCNC7,4103.7+44%

49Oak Island, NCNC9,3373.6+28%

50Etowah, NCNC7,9683.6+40%

51Zebulon, NCNC11,9333.6+39%

52Pinehurst, NCNC18,6703.6+17%

53Charlotte, NCNC964,7843.6+28%

54Angier, NCNC9,4103.6+28%

55Goldsboro, NCNC35,0123.6+26%

56Laurinburg, NCNC14,5823.5+36%

57Graham, NCNC20,1313.5+36%

58Mint Hill, NCNC29,4763.5+49%

59Cary, NCNC183,5823.5+36%

60Murraysville, NCNC16,3393.5+40%

61Mooresville, NCNC55,8423.5+12%

62Westport, NCNC5,9153.5+14%

63Leland, NCNC35,7313.5+22%

64Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1173.5+38%

65Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6223.5+20%

66Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6373.5+23%

67Kernersville, NCNC29,1283.4+18%

68Lexington, NCNC20,2383.4+15%

69Jacksonville, NCNC72,7323.4+35%

70Aberdeen, NCNC10,0663.4+17%

71Lillington, NCNC5,0403.4+19%

72Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5363.4+25%

73Wilson, NCNC49,5723.4+16%

74Shelby, NCNC23,3093.4+24%

75Belmont, NCNC16,4153.4+49%

76Hampstead, NCNC9,2923.4–

77Davidson, NCNC16,6623.3+7%

78Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8753.3+27%

79Morrisville, NCNC32,4663.3+17%

80Mebane, NCNC21,9523.3+14%

81Ogden, NCNC8,2493.3+23%

82Summerfield, NCNC11,3273.3+31%

83Midland, NCNC5,1513.3–

84Greensboro, NCNC308,6673.3+25%

85Weddington, NCNC14,5173.3+19%

86Monroe, NCNC42,6443.3+28%

87Swannanoa, NCNC6,9013.3+41%

88Marvin, NCNC7,0403.3−1%

89High Point, NCNC120,5713.3+29%

90Conover, NCNC8,9383.3+24%

91Gastonia, NCNC87,0673.2+30%

92Clayton, NCNC32,6333.2+40%

93Salisbury, NCNC36,8793.2+16%

94Asheboro, NCNC27,9903.2+22%

95Knightdale, NCNC23,1443.2+36%

96Mount Holly, NCNC19,0333.2+44%

97Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2713.2+20%

98Holly Springs, NCNC50,2883.2+38%

99Locust, NCNC6,1203.2+49%

100Tarboro, NCNC10,9793.2+44%

101Mocksville, NCNC6,2823.2+16%

102Clemmons, NCNC22,8083.2+22%

103Oak Ridge, NCNC7,8963.2+17%

104Wendell, NCNC19,6873.2+29%

105Garner, NCNC41,5623.2+26%

106Wadesboro, NCNC5,0353.2+12%

107Huntersville, NCNC68,5353.2+26%

108Matthews, NCNC32,7693.1+24%

109Siler City, NCNC8,1553.1+33%

110Dallas, NCNC6,3923.1+48%

111Wake Forest, NCNC58,1473.1+15%

112Concord, NCNC114,5983.1+26%

113Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2873.1+26%

114Apex, NCNC80,4193.1+24%

115Sanford, NCNC34,1383.1+25%

116Kinston, NCNC19,7053.1+5%

117East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3233.0+33%

118Reidsville, NCNC14,6923.0+18%

119Moyock, NCNC5,6843.0–

120Unionville, NCNC7,3223.0+40%

121Burlington, NCNC61,4963.0+12%

122Waxhaw, NCNC23,1403.0+24%

123Walkertown, NCNC6,1203.0+41%

124Stallings, NCNC17,7603.0+27%

125Briar Chapel, NCNC6,0493.0–

126Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,5662.9+11%

127Lumberton, NCNC18,9552.9+18%

128Fayetteville, NCNC209,1202.9+21%

129Hope Mills, NCNC18,3242.9+40%

130Midway, NCNC5,1042.9–

131Kannapolis, NCNC61,7082.9+25%

132Albemarle, NCNC17,7692.8+9%

133Half Moon, NCNC7,3782.8+52%

134Bessemer City, NCNC5,8342.8+32%

135Anderson Creek, NCNC13,9272.8–

136Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9082.8+22%

137Lenoir, NCNC18,3722.8+10%

138Havelock, NCNC17,4302.8+22%

139Rockingham, NCNC8,8152.8+16%

140Thomasville, NCNC27,7332.8+9%

141Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3862.8+10%

142Piney Green, NCNC14,0782.8+34%

143Henderson, NCNC15,0132.8−10%

144Indian Trail, NCNC44,3032.8+28%

145Cherryville, NCNC6,5232.8+12%

146Harrisburg, NCNC20,7422.7+6%

147Butner, NCNC8,1122.7+16%

148Long View, NCNC5,3872.6+24%

149Stokesdale, NCNC6,1332.6+11%

150Nashville, NCNC5,9112.6+2%

151Rolesville, NCNC12,8392.6−8%

152Archer Lodge, NCNC5,6492.6–

153Lewisville, NCNC14,4212.6+15%

154Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1202.6−2%

155Trinity, NCNC7,2742.6+17%

156Silver Lake, NCNC6,5632.5+5%

157St. Stephens, NCNC9,4572.5+10%

158Archdale, NCNC12,2542.5+7%

159Cramerton, NCNC5,7132.5+14%

160Spout Springs, NCNC11,2422.5–

161King, NCNC7,9772.5+8%

162Hamlet, NCNC5,8702.4+34%

163Roxboro, NCNC8,3802.4−5%

164Williamston, NCNC5,0862.4−13%

165Ayden, NCNC5,2632.4−22%

166Creedmoor, NCNC5,0462.4−10%

167Marion, NCNC7,4402.4−1%

168Newton, NCNC13,8222.4+4%

169Spring Lake, NCNC11,2522.4−14%

170Gibsonville, NCNC9,8762.3+7%

171Winterville, NCNC10,9732.3−7%

172Eden, NCNC15,5002.2−4%

173Sawmills, NCNC5,1052.1−9%

174Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1652.0−26%

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

Download CSV (full list, 174 rows)How this score is calculated

UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES