TownTapestry
Sign inJoin
NCNorth Carolina rankings

Most affordable towns in North Carolina

Ranked by how many years of a typical NC household income ($72,388) it takes to buy each town's median home. Lower is easier to buy in. 297 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Map of Half Moon
North Carolina · Most affordable

Half Moon ranks #54 of 297

2.5 yrs of a typical NC income buys a typical home · Visit Half Moon →

Half Moon ranks #54 of 297 for most affordable in North Carolina
Share to Facebook Post on X Download image
Map of La Grange 1 La Grange 1.2 yrs $83,800 median home 2 Plymouth 1.2 yrs $87,000 median home 3 Emma 1.3 yrs $92,300 median home
#TownYears of incomeHome valueMedian income
1 Map of La Grange La Grange2,756 people 1.2 yrs $83,800 $48,078
2 Plymouth3,250 people 1.2 yrs $87,000 $34,521
3 Emma2,657 people 1.3 yrs $92,300 $43,907
4 Brogden2,733 people 1.3 yrs $96,400 $42,074
5 Red Springs3,125 people 1.4 yrs $100,800 $20,833
6 Map of Windsor Windsor3,269 people 1.4 yrs $102,700 $40,714
7 Jonesville2,860 people 1.4 yrs $102,900 $29,837
8 Williamston Williamston5,112 people 1.5 yrs $107,100 $38,738
9 St. Pauls2,688 people 1.5 yrs $111,000 $36,800
10 East Rockingham2,779 people 1.5 yrs $111,800 $34,355
11 Warsaw2,746 people 1.6 yrs $112,500 $54,297
12 Hamlet5,961 people 1.6 yrs $112,600 $41,590
13 Tabor City Tabor City3,777 people 1.6 yrs $115,900 $38,714
14 Kinston19,505 people 1.6 yrs $119,300 $36,878
15 Eden15,356 people 1.7 yrs $120,700 $47,260
16 Henderson14,885 people 1.7 yrs $123,800 $39,969
17 Spring Lake11,573 people 1.7 yrs $124,000 $51,958
18 Pembroke2,822 people 1.8 yrs $129,400 $25,889
19 Polkton2,555 people 1.8 yrs $130,100 $47,059
20 Elroy3,251 people 1.8 yrs $133,100 $63,238
21 Laurinburg15,087 people 1.9 yrs $134,200 $42,170
22 Map of Reidsville Reidsville14,585 people 1.9 yrs $138,800 $42,921
23 Map of Roanoke Rapids Roanoke Rapids14,856 people 2.0 yrs $142,700 $53,690
24 Map of Ahoskie Ahoskie4,764 people 2.0 yrs $143,200 $40,987
25 Mar-Mac2,877 people 2.1 yrs $149,200 $53,819
26 Rockingham8,967 people 2.1 yrs $150,800 $37,224
27 Map of Lumberton Lumberton18,859 people 2.1 yrs $152,600 $42,877
28 Grifton2,515 people 2.1 yrs $152,700 $36,794
29 Wadesboro4,972 people 2.1 yrs $153,200 $42,667
30 Mount Olive4,453 people 2.1 yrs $153,500 $48,700
31 Siler City7,995 people 2.1 yrs $154,600 $46,566
32 Long View Long View5,011 people 2.2 yrs $157,300 $46,739
33 Roxboro8,182 people 2.2 yrs $157,700 $36,553
34 Map of Murfreesboro Murfreesboro3,170 people 2.2 yrs $158,600 $39,914
35 Elizabethtown3,277 people 2.2 yrs $159,200 $29,375
36 Map of Troy Troy2,926 people 2.2 yrs $160,100 $51,731
37 Map of Forest City Forest City7,363 people 2.2 yrs $160,800 $35,524
38 Erwin4,687 people 2.2 yrs $161,100 $50,701
39 Haw River2,824 people 2.2 yrs $162,400 $61,058
40 Map of Marion Marion7,579 people 2.3 yrs $163,500 $51,314
41 Map of Rocky Mount Rocky Mount54,297 people 2.3 yrs $165,700 $55,534
42 Spindale4,131 people 2.3 yrs $167,400 $41,262
43 Map of Green Level Green Level3,230 people 2.3 yrs $168,400 $55,823
44 Gamewell3,689 people 2.3 yrs $170,100 $46,556
45 Wentworth2,692 people 2.4 yrs $170,300 $68,500
46 Map of Selma Selma6,817 people 2.4 yrs $171,600 $41,368
47 Map of Marshville Marshville2,615 people 2.4 yrs $172,300 $57,837
48 Wallace3,457 people 2.5 yrs $178,000 $51,250
49 Map of Thomasville Thomasville27,321 people 2.5 yrs $179,300 $60,935
50 Lenoir18,299 people 2.5 yrs $179,400 $49,910
51 Lexington19,690 people 2.5 yrs $179,900 $43,128
52 Map of Mount Airy Mount Airy10,633 people 2.5 yrs $181,900 $40,275
53 Ayden5,150 people 2.5 yrs $182,400 $42,413
54 Map of Half Moon Half Moon7,378 people 2.5 yrs $182,500 $68,946
55 Map of Farmville Farmville4,514 people 2.5 yrs $183,000 $47,410
56 Map of Yadkinville Yadkinville3,004 people 2.5 yrs $183,800 $53,125
57 Map of Randleman Randleman4,644 people 2.6 yrs $184,700 $53,456
58 Map of Tarboro Tarboro10,770 people 2.6 yrs $185,500 $49,796
59 Map of Newton Newton13,333 people 2.6 yrs $186,300 $62,015
60 Whiteville4,696 people 2.6 yrs $187,500 $31,167
61 Elizabeth City Elizabeth City18,871 people 2.6 yrs $187,700 $52,141
62 Fayetteville210,815 people 2.6 yrs $188,000 $58,407
63 Asheboro Asheboro27,580 people 2.6 yrs $188,100 $47,197
64 Rural Hall3,466 people 2.6 yrs $189,600 $51,054
65 Hope Mills17,939 people 2.6 yrs $190,600 $65,774
66 Tyro3,833 people 2.6 yrs $191,800 $58,364
67 Dunn8,559 people 2.7 yrs $193,900 $46,830
68 Map of Liberty Liberty2,682 people 2.7 yrs $194,500 $39,663
69 Map of Franklin Franklin4,268 people 2.7 yrs $195,000 $47,888
70 Map of Oxford Oxford8,914 people 2.7 yrs $196,200 $43,054
71 Map of Shelby Shelby22,100 people 2.7 yrs $197,200 $48,376
72 Map of Archdale Archdale12,087 people 2.7 yrs $198,000 $64,757
73 Map of Burlington Burlington59,610 people 2.8 yrs $199,200 $56,880
74 Rockfish3,574 people 2.8 yrs $199,900 $64,476
75 Ranlo4,617 people 2.8 yrs $200,200 $78,033
76 Map of Goldsboro Goldsboro34,383 people 2.8 yrs $200,400 $48,540
77 Map of Lowell Lowell3,768 people 2.8 yrs $200,600 $52,500
78 Welcome3,521 people 2.8 yrs $200,800 $63,353
79 Map of Sylva Sylva2,646 people 2.8 yrs $201,200 $44,086
80 Spencer3,349 people 2.8 yrs $201,700 $65,465
81 Map of Raeford Raeford4,552 people 2.8 yrs $201,800 $46,494
82 Cajah's Mountain2,704 people 2.8 yrs $201,800 $53,361
83 Map of Granite Falls Granite Falls4,929 people 2.8 yrs $202,400 $56,917
84 Map of Kings Mountain Kings Mountain12,039 people 2.8 yrs $204,100 $49,564
85 James City4,789 people 2.8 yrs $204,400 $58,973
86 Albemarle16,762 people 2.8 yrs $204,800 $46,881
87 Nashville5,729 people 2.8 yrs $205,300 $61,000
88 Bessemer City Bessemer City5,580 people 2.8 yrs $206,100 $60,300
89 Map of Washington Washington9,726 people 2.9 yrs $206,800 $40,186
90 Map of Havelock Havelock17,691 people 2.9 yrs $207,700 $58,408
91 Map of Carthage Carthage2,896 people 2.9 yrs $208,200 $82,695
92 Map of Valdese Valdese4,704 people 2.9 yrs $209,800 $50,740
93 Map of Jacksonville Jacksonville71,279 people 2.9 yrs $210,100 $57,697
94 Wilson48,370 people 2.9 yrs $210,700 $52,485
95 Clinton8,304 people 2.9 yrs $212,000 $44,953
96 Map of North Wilkesboro North Wilkesboro4,421 people 2.9 yrs $212,700 $38,474
97 Map of St. Stephens St. Stephens9,457 people 2.9 yrs $213,300 $60,394
98 Trinity7,111 people 3.0 yrs $216,600 $82,664
99 Map of Sawmills Sawmills5,042 people 3.0 yrs $219,600 $71,067
100 Barbecue5,910 people 3.0 yrs $219,800 $79,426
101 Morganton17,646 people 3.1 yrs $221,700 $51,355
102 Mountain View3,982 people 3.1 yrs $222,500 $71,792
103 Map of Hudson Hudson3,772 people 3.1 yrs $223,000 $65,268
104 Map of Pleasant Garden Pleasant Garden5,060 people 3.1 yrs $223,500 $88,204
105 Map of Wilkesboro Wilkesboro3,646 people 3.1 yrs $223,700 $40,907
106 Map of Glen Raven Glen Raven3,506 people 3.1 yrs $224,000 $63,173
107 Map of China Grove China Grove4,530 people 3.1 yrs $225,800 $54,083
108 Elkin4,043 people 3.1 yrs $226,900 $60,740
109 Map of Piney Green Piney Green14,078 people 3.1 yrs $227,600 $72,177
110 Neuse Forest2,671 people 3.1 yrs $228,000 $84,500
111 Wingate Wingate4,425 people 3.2 yrs $229,800 $63,068
112 Butner8,065 people 3.2 yrs $231,100 $74,739
113 Cherryville6,226 people 3.2 yrs $232,100 $70,625
114 River Road3,366 people 3.2 yrs $232,800 $46,352
115 Map of Greenville Greenville92,857 people 3.2 yrs $233,500 $49,748
116 Newport4,441 people 3.2 yrs $233,600 $56,351
117 Map of Winston-Salem Winston-Salem252,037 people 3.2 yrs $233,800 $59,268
118 Graham18,048 people 3.2 yrs $233,800 $56,239
119 Maiden3,788 people 3.2 yrs $233,800 $75,511
120 Tobaccoville Tobaccoville2,664 people 3.2 yrs $234,200 $80,263
121 Map of High Point High Point116,245 people 3.3 yrs $235,800 $64,561
122 Walkertown5,873 people 3.3 yrs $236,900 $82,615
123 Rockwell Rockwell2,782 people 3.3 yrs $237,200 $69,632
124 Map of King King7,408 people 3.3 yrs $238,200 $57,817
125 New Bern32,734 people 3.3 yrs $240,100 $61,031
126 Map of Mocksville Mocksville6,068 people 3.3 yrs $240,700 $55,367
127 Eastover3,666 people 3.3 yrs $241,600 $85,156
128 Wilson's Mills2,753 people 3.3 yrs $241,800 $62,813
129 Burgaw3,850 people 3.3 yrs $242,200 $67,853
130 Salisbury35,825 people 3.4 yrs $242,500 $53,716
131 Map of Smithfield Smithfield12,116 people 3.4 yrs $242,500 $43,270
132 Map of Greensboro Greensboro301,198 people 3.4 yrs $244,800 $61,515
133 Winterville10,725 people 3.4 yrs $245,100 $83,193
134 Sanford31,478 people 3.4 yrs $245,400 $57,586
135 East Flat Rock6,323 people 3.4 yrs $245,900 $59,583
136 Canton4,419 people 3.4 yrs $246,700 $69,924
137 Lillington4,709 people 3.4 yrs $247,200 $81,760
138 Skippers Corner3,792 people 3.4 yrs $247,500 $72,297
139 Statesville29,894 people 3.4 yrs $248,000 $52,880
140 Map of Lincolnton Lincolnton11,783 people 3.4 yrs $248,700 $46,320
141 Franklinton2,645 people 3.4 yrs $249,100 $59,464
142 Dana4,147 people 3.4 yrs $249,700 $60,450
143 Map of Landis Landis3,765 people 3.5 yrs $252,100 $75,000
144 Map of Dallas Dallas6,104 people 3.5 yrs $254,000 $58,403
145 Wrightsboro6,287 people 3.5 yrs $255,700 $78,450
146 Granite Quarry3,043 people 3.6 yrs $257,300 $57,981
147 Map of Louisburg Louisburg3,263 people 3.6 yrs $262,500 $38,036
148 Boiling Springs4,757 people 3.7 yrs $265,400 $89,875
149 Enochville3,321 people 3.7 yrs $265,700 $66,225
150 River Bend2,874 people 3.7 yrs $266,100 $71,824
151 Angier6,241 people 3.7 yrs $268,200 $52,214
152 Sneads Ferry2,728 people 3.7 yrs $269,300 $79,594
153 Stanley4,069 people 3.7 yrs $270,200 $75,461
154 Map of Conover Conover8,580 people 3.7 yrs $271,300 $65,972
155 Red Oak3,405 people 3.8 yrs $271,800 $90,214
156 Midway4,897 people 3.8 yrs $274,100 $83,446
157 Edenton4,494 people 3.8 yrs $274,100 $38,417
158 Kannapolis57,890 people 3.8 yrs $276,400 $73,836
159 Gastonia82,884 people 3.8 yrs $277,600 $64,059
160 Hickory44,258 people 3.8 yrs $278,400 $64,576
161 Benson4,282 people 3.9 yrs $279,800 $67,102
162 Lake Royale3,168 people 3.9 yrs $280,400 $107,806
163 Creedmoor4,997 people 3.9 yrs $281,400 $82,961
164 Waynesville10,502 people 3.9 yrs $281,700 $54,923
165 Anderson Creek13,927 people 3.9 yrs $282,200 $87,287
166 Map of Oakboro Oakboro2,683 people 3.9 yrs $282,600 $69,100
167 Belville2,573 people 3.9 yrs $282,600 $81,944
168 Edneyville2,716 people 4.0 yrs $286,400 $53,818
169 Swannanoa6,901 people 4.0 yrs $287,500 $69,760
170 Map of Rutherfordton Rutherfordton3,680 people 4.0 yrs $288,400 $59,375
171 Carolina Shores5,017 people 4.0 yrs $288,600 $76,087
172 Map of Kernersville Kernersville27,830 people 4.0 yrs $290,700 $71,918
173 Boiling Spring Lakes6,347 people 4.0 yrs $292,300 $62,676
174 Map of Mars Hill Mars Hill3,025 people 4.1 yrs $294,700 $81,429
175 Gibsonville9,467 people 4.1 yrs $298,000 $95,861
176 Map of Fairfield Harbour Fairfield Harbour2,948 people 4.2 yrs $300,600 $72,583
177 Kings Grant Kings Grant9,003 people 4.2 yrs $300,700 $62,232
178 Monroe Monroe36,759 people 4.3 yrs $309,100 $72,540
179 Swepsonville Swepsonville2,517 people 4.3 yrs $311,200 $100,559
180 Aberdeen9,228 people 4.4 yrs $314,900 $75,078
181 Hendersonville Hendersonville15,408 people 4.4 yrs $317,000 $53,449
182 Northchase5,896 people 4.4 yrs $318,400 $59,375
183 Murraysville16,339 people 4.4 yrs $320,700 $81,167
184 Zebulon8,711 people 4.4 yrs $320,700 $79,112
185 Locust5,840 people 4.4 yrs $322,100 $76,504
186 Archer Lodge Archer Lodge5,186 people 4.5 yrs $324,500 $91,188
187 Map of Lewisville Lewisville13,828 people 4.5 yrs $325,400 $100,917
188 Silver Lake6,563 people 4.5 yrs $325,500 $76,756
189 Jamestown3,708 people 4.5 yrs $326,800 $104,844
190 Bethlehem4,101 people 4.5 yrs $327,000 $87,795
191 Map of Clayton Clayton29,320 people 4.6 yrs $329,600 $78,822
192 Wendell13,064 people 4.6 yrs $330,500 $95,787
193 Fletcher Fletcher8,098 people 4.6 yrs $331,100 $75,272
194 Map of Lake Park Lake Park3,431 people 4.6 yrs $334,500 $66,411
195 Clemmons21,871 people 4.6 yrs $335,800 $87,655
196 Map of Unionville Unionville6,954 people 4.6 yrs $336,200 $96,028
197 Mount Holly18,208 people 4.7 yrs $337,800 $79,385
198 Etowah7,968 people 4.7 yrs $338,100 $72,596
199 Brices Creek3,415 people 4.7 yrs $338,700 $85,723
200 Mebane19,538 people 4.7 yrs $338,900 $83,174
201 Map of Trent Woods Trent Woods4,032 people 4.7 yrs $343,100 $107,802
202 Cramerton5,450 people 4.7 yrs $343,400 $82,160
203 Wallburg3,150 people 4.7 yrs $343,700 $88,406
204 Bermuda Run3,211 people 4.8 yrs $347,600 $69,301
205 Map of Forest Oaks Forest Oaks4,293 people 4.8 yrs $349,300 $107,604
206 Shallotte4,639 people 4.8 yrs $349,500 $88,367
207 Valley Hill2,675 people 4.9 yrs $353,100 $86,599
208 Concord Concord108,719 people 4.9 yrs $353,700 $86,921
209 Beaufort4,689 people 4.9 yrs $354,900 $53,321
210 Garner34,473 people 4.9 yrs $355,000 $78,756
211 Morehead City9,806 people 4.9 yrs $357,400 $56,233
212 Spout Springs11,242 people 5.0 yrs $358,500 $92,402
213 Black Mountain8,513 people 5.0 yrs $358,900 $77,042
214 Holly Ridge4,904 people 5.0 yrs $360,300 $104,788
215 Map of Buies Creek Buies Creek3,746 people 5.0 yrs $361,500 $53,933
216 Map of Elon Elon11,032 people 5.1 yrs $366,300 $84,773
217 Map of Woodfin Woodfin8,048 people 5.1 yrs $366,700 $71,384
218 Midland4,860 people 5.1 yrs $369,100 $101,477
219 Map of Cape Carteret Cape Carteret2,703 people 5.2 yrs $375,700 $86,136
220 Pittsboro Pittsboro4,752 people 5.2 yrs $376,300 $81,639
221 Swansboro3,997 people 5.2 yrs $378,700 $114,425
222 Stokesdale6,004 people 5.2 yrs $379,100 $121,071
223 Map of Knightdale Knightdale20,214 people 5.3 yrs $380,100 $103,220
224 Cullowhee7,973 people 5.3 yrs $382,300 $35,929
225 Fairview3,619 people 5.3 yrs $382,300 $98,808
226 Wilmington120,805 people 5.3 yrs $383,800 $66,738
227 Indian Trail42,036 people 5.3 yrs $385,000 $108,483
228 Charlotte903,844 people 5.3 yrs $385,700 $82,068
229 Lake Junaluska3,175 people 5.4 yrs $389,200 $66,165
230 Map of Mineral Springs Mineral Springs3,314 people 5.4 yrs $389,900 $91,500
231 Mooresville Mooresville52,381 people 5.4 yrs $390,900 $89,647
232 Durham Durham291,467 people 5.4 yrs $392,800 $81,619
233 Seven Lakes4,535 people 5.4 yrs $394,500 $91,085
234 Belmont15,546 people 5.5 yrs $395,000 $94,883
235 Pineville Pineville11,055 people 5.5 yrs $395,100 $69,354
236 Map of Troutman Troutman3,995 people 5.5 yrs $398,800 $98,462
237 Leland29,607 people 5.5 yrs $398,900 $91,977
238 Mountain Home3,437 people 5.5 yrs $400,000 $83,083
239 Royal Pines4,325 people 5.5 yrs $400,200 $107,885
240 Hampstead9,292 people 5.6 yrs $402,100 $91,745
241 Moyock5,684 people 5.6 yrs $405,100 $115,244
242 Map of Lowesville Lowesville3,874 people 5.6 yrs $406,500 $113,510
243 Sunset Beach Sunset Beach4,351 people 5.7 yrs $410,900 $81,976
244 Map of Boone Boone20,032 people 5.7 yrs $411,100 $30,065
245 Avery Creek2,887 people 5.7 yrs $412,900 $113,261
246 Raleigh Raleigh481,031 people 5.7 yrs $415,800 $85,395
247 Stallings16,886 people 5.9 yrs $428,000 $115,974
248 Mint Hill Mint Hill27,556 people 5.9 yrs $428,900 $100,860
249 Map of Youngsville Youngsville3,011 people 6.0 yrs $434,100 $86,528
250 Mills River Mills River7,281 people 6.0 yrs $436,100 $105,398
251 Southport4,205 people 6.0 yrs $437,700 $87,641
252 Myrtle Grove12,637 people 6.1 yrs $439,100 $113,463
253 Asheville94,535 people 6.1 yrs $440,000 $71,102
254 Map of Kill Devil Hills Kill Devil Hills7,761 people 6.1 yrs $442,200 $89,773
255 Map of Matthews Matthews30,577 people 6.1 yrs $445,100 $108,611
256 Brevard Brevard7,897 people 6.2 yrs $450,000 $54,103
257 Southern Pines Southern Pines16,420 people 6.2 yrs $451,100 $88,535
258 Fuquay-Varina40,485 people 6.2 yrs $451,500 $115,497
259 Oak Island Oak Island9,030 people 6.3 yrs $456,500 $85,872
260 Hillsborough9,724 people 6.4 yrs $460,100 $98,163
261 Ogden8,249 people 6.4 yrs $463,700 $121,338
262 Weaverville Weaverville4,687 people 6.4 yrs $463,700 $88,221
263 Whispering Pines5,211 people 6.4 yrs $464,800 $126,450
264 Map of Huntersville Huntersville63,969 people 6.5 yrs $472,900 $120,516
265 Wake Forest Wake Forest52,844 people 6.6 yrs $474,500 $123,802
266 Map of Pinehurst Pinehurst18,256 people 6.6 yrs $476,600 $109,802
267 Harrisburg19,633 people 6.6 yrs $478,000 $148,254
268 Nags Head3,160 people 6.8 yrs $490,800 $91,264
269 Lake Norman of Catawba9,906 people 6.8 yrs $492,600 $112,656
270 Surf City4,396 people 7.1 yrs $512,300 $81,433
271 Morrisville31,422 people 7.2 yrs $518,800 $125,396
272 Summerfield11,116 people 7.2 yrs $521,900 $160,275
273 Bayshore2,949 people 7.3 yrs $525,800 $94,632
274 Oak Ridge7,744 people 7.3 yrs $529,300 $155,385
275 Map of Rolesville Rolesville10,766 people 7.4 yrs $535,000 $149,565
276 Map of Kitty Hawk Kitty Hawk3,724 people 7.4 yrs $535,000 $94,450
277 Wesley Chapel9,090 people 7.4 yrs $535,500 $132,188
278 Map of Holly Springs Holly Springs45,248 people 7.4 yrs $535,800 $135,578
279 Map of Carrboro Carrboro21,204 people 7.5 yrs $539,400 $85,743
280 Waxhaw22,275 people 7.6 yrs $549,400 $131,894
281 Map of Cornelius Cornelius32,783 people 7.7 yrs $559,400 $113,767
282 Carolina Beach6,745 people 7.8 yrs $566,200 $94,398
283 Porters Neck7,654 people 7.9 yrs $569,700 $119,979
284 Briar Chapel6,049 people 7.9 yrs $570,300 $166,063
285 Apex70,630 people 8.0 yrs $576,100 $144,135
286 Westport5,915 people 8.0 yrs $580,000 $131,908
287 Map of Cary Cary179,306 people 8.0 yrs $580,200 $134,905
288 Flat Rock Flat Rock3,530 people 8.3 yrs $601,700 $95,098
289 Emerald Isle3,934 people 8.3 yrs $603,700 $89,773
290 Chapel Hill61,607 people 8.5 yrs $613,700 $85,989
291 St. James7,072 people 8.8 yrs $636,800 $116,383
292 Davidson Davidson15,660 people 9.5 yrs $687,700 $166,556
293 Southern Shores Southern Shores3,139 people 9.8 yrs $712,300 $131,429
294 Map of Weddington Weddington13,805 people 11.4 yrs $824,100 $190,766
295 Lake Norman of Iredell12,494 people 12.3 yrs $887,400 $173,542
296 Map of Marvin Marvin6,692 people 12.5 yrs $906,000 $250,001
297 Map of Wrightsville Beach Wrightsville Beach2,665 people 16.1 yrs $1,168,700 $151,563

How this ranking works

We divide each town’s median home value by the NC median household income ($72,388). The result is how many years of a typical paycheck it takes to buy a typical home there. Lower is more affordable. Across North Carolina as a whole it’s 4.0 years.

Why not each town’s own income? That would rank wealthy towns with half-million-dollar homes as “affordable” only because their residents earn so much. One shared income answers the question people actually ask: where could a typical family afford to live?

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY All of the U.S.