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Compare towns

Candor vs Emma

163 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (2.2× in Candor) and home values (+79% in Candor).

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Candor, NCHomes around $154KNorth Carolina · 1,160 people
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Emma, NCKnown for its schoolsNorth Carolina · 2,657 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

CandorHomes around $154K
Housing$154K typical home54% below the NC typical home Health87% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Candor →
EmmaKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 59%of NC districts Health72% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Emma →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Property tax bill2.2×
Tax bills are bigger in Candor
Candor $1,165Emma $518
Home values+79%
Homes cost more in Candor
Candor $164,900Emma $92,300
Street grid+86%
Emma has the more walkable street grid
Emma 70.2Candor 37.8
Typical home built19 yrs
Candor’s homes are older
Emma 1991Candor 1972
Size2.3×
Emma is the bigger place
Emma 2,657Candor 1,160
Bachelor’s degree++8.2 pts
More adults in Emma have a degree
Emma 20.8%Candor 12.6%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $370 more a month in Candor

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Candor$900/mo
Typical home $154K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.71% · or rent about $1,020/mo · Housing →
Emma$530/mo
Typical home $92K (Census) · tax rate 0.56% · or rent about $1,064/mo · Housing →

The difference: $370 a month, about $4,500 a year, between Candor and Emma.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every North Carolina ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
C+CandorBetter than 39% of districts in the state BEmmaBetter than 59% of districts in the state
Health
DCandorHealthier than 13% of U.S. towns CEmmaHealthier than 28% of U.S. towns
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
CandorEmma
Snow a year3″12″
January low33°F29°F
July high90°F86°F
Growing season (days)235d205d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)31st20th
Community
CandorEmma
Library hours a week20 hrs—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

163 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

CandorNCEmmaNC
Candor ↔ Emma163 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

CandorEmma
People
Population 1,160Lowest 2,657Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -3.2% NC: +9.5% —
Median age 29.6±10.2Lowest 24% below NC 29.7±21.8Highest 24% below NC
Emma and Candor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 29.1%±7.4Lowest NC: 21.8% 29.5%±0.7Highest NC: 21.8%
Emma and Candor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 8.4%±2.4Lowest NC: 17.2% 19.8%±11.5Highest NC: 17.2%
Emma and Candor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 12.6%Lowest NC: 35.7% 20.8%Highest NC: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6.2%±6.7Lowest NC: 6.4% 12%±8.8Highest NC: 6.4%
Emma and Candor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $57,639±$28kHighest 20% below NC $43,907±$9kLowest 39% below NC
Candor and Emma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $164,900±$37kHighest 43% below NC $92,300±$11kLowest 68% below NC
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,020±$184Lowest 17% below NC $1,064±$205Highest 13% below NC
Emma and Candor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,165Highest 39% below NC $518Lowest 73% below NC
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 79.1%±100Highest NC: 48.9% 29.4%±42.4Lowest NC: 48.9%
Candor and Emma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 28.2%Highest NC: 13% 11.3%Lowest NC: 13%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 65.2%Lowest NC: 66.6% 71.8%Highest NC: 66.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1972Lowest 19 yrs older than NC 1991Highest same as NC
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 19 minLowest 24% below NC 20 minHighest 20% below NC
Work from home 1.2%±1.4Lowest NC: 16.3% 2.8%±4.6Highest NC: 16.3%
Emma and Candor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 2.9%Highest 1.1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 24.3 miHighest 6.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.78Highest 0.67Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Troy (9%)Asheville (44%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in EmmaFew work in Candor
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.3%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 37.8Lowest 70.2Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#226 of 252 in NC
School district Montgomery County SchoolsBuncombe County Schools
High school in town None in townNone in town
North Carolina average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Candor neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Candor’s Town Square.

Emma neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Emma’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Candor and Emma

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Towns like Candor

+ Compare
Ellenboro901 people · $164K homes
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Rhodhiss1,166 people · $135K homes
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Harmony967 people · $126K homes
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Magnolia1,024 people · $114K homes
Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks North Carolina towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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