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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 Walkertown
North Carolina · Most affordable

Where Walkertown lands: #122 of 297

3.3 yrs of a typical NC income buys a typical home · Visit Walkertown →

Map of La Grange 1 La Grange 1.2 yrs $83,800 median home Map of Plymouth 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 Map of Plymouth 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 Jonesville 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 Map of Hamlet 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 Map of Kinston Kinston19,505 people 1.6 yrs $119,300 $36,878
15 Map of Eden Eden15,356 people 1.7 yrs $120,700 $47,260
16 Henderson Henderson14,885 people 1.7 yrs $123,800 $39,969
17 Spring Lake Spring Lake11,573 people 1.7 yrs $124,000 $51,958
18 Pembroke Pembroke2,822 people 1.8 yrs $129,400 $25,889
19 Polkton Polkton2,555 people 1.8 yrs $130,100 $47,059
20 Map of Elroy Elroy3,251 people 1.8 yrs $133,100 $63,238
21 Laurinburg 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 Rockingham 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 Map of Grifton Grifton2,515 people 2.1 yrs $152,700 $36,794
29 Map of Wadesboro Wadesboro4,972 people 2.1 yrs $153,200 $42,667
30 Mount Olive4,453 people 2.1 yrs $153,500 $48,700
31 Siler City 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 Roxboro 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 Elizabethtown 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 Forest City Forest City7,363 people 2.2 yrs $160,800 $35,524
38 Map of Erwin Erwin4,687 people 2.2 yrs $161,100 $50,701
39 Map of Haw River Haw River2,824 people 2.2 yrs $162,400 $61,058
40 Marion Marion7,579 people 2.3 yrs $163,500 $51,314
41 Rocky Mount Rocky Mount54,297 people 2.3 yrs $165,700 $55,534
42 Spindale 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 Gamewell Gamewell3,689 people 2.3 yrs $170,100 $46,556
45 Map of Wentworth 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 Map of Wallace 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 Map of Lenoir Lenoir18,299 people 2.5 yrs $179,400 $49,910
51 Lexington Lexington19,690 people 2.5 yrs $179,900 $43,128
52 Mount Airy Mount Airy10,633 people 2.5 yrs $181,900 $40,275
53 Map of Ayden 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 Newton Newton13,333 people 2.6 yrs $186,300 $62,015
60 Whiteville 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 Fayetteville Fayetteville210,815 people 2.6 yrs $188,000 $58,407
63 Asheboro Asheboro27,580 people 2.6 yrs $188,100 $47,197
64 Map of Rural Hall Rural Hall3,466 people 2.6 yrs $189,600 $51,054
65 Map of Hope Mills Hope Mills17,939 people 2.6 yrs $190,600 $65,774
66 Tyro3,833 people 2.6 yrs $191,800 $58,364
67 Dunn Dunn8,559 people 2.7 yrs $193,900 $46,830
68 Liberty Liberty2,682 people 2.7 yrs $194,500 $39,663
69 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 Archdale Archdale12,087 people 2.7 yrs $198,000 $64,757
73 Burlington Burlington59,610 people 2.8 yrs $199,200 $56,880
74 Map of Rockfish Rockfish3,574 people 2.8 yrs $199,900 $64,476
75 Map of Ranlo 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 Map of Welcome Welcome3,521 people 2.8 yrs $200,800 $63,353
79 Sylva Sylva2,646 people 2.8 yrs $201,200 $44,086
80 Map of Spencer 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 Map of James City James City4,789 people 2.8 yrs $204,400 $58,973
86 Albemarle 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 Carthage Carthage2,896 people 2.9 yrs $208,200 $82,695
92 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 Wilson Wilson48,370 people 2.9 yrs $210,700 $52,485
95 Clinton 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 Map of Trinity 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 Morganton Morganton17,646 people 3.1 yrs $221,700 $51,355
102 Map of Mountain View 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 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 Elkin 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 Map of Neuse Forest Neuse Forest2,671 people 3.1 yrs $228,000 $84,500
111 Wingate Wingate4,425 people 3.2 yrs $229,800 $63,068
112 Butner Butner8,065 people 3.2 yrs $231,100 $74,739
113 Cherryville Cherryville6,226 people 3.2 yrs $232,100 $70,625
114 River Road3,366 people 3.2 yrs $232,800 $46,352
115 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 Graham Graham18,048 people 3.2 yrs $233,800 $56,239
119 Maiden 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 Map of Walkertown 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 Bern New Bern32,734 people 3.3 yrs $240,100 $61,031
126 Mocksville Mocksville6,068 people 3.3 yrs $240,700 $55,367
127 Eastover Eastover3,666 people 3.3 yrs $241,600 $85,156
128 Map of Wilson's Mills Wilson's Mills2,753 people 3.3 yrs $241,800 $62,813
129 Map of Burgaw Burgaw3,850 people 3.3 yrs $242,200 $67,853
130 Salisbury 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 Greensboro Greensboro301,198 people 3.4 yrs $244,800 $61,515
133 Map of Winterville Winterville10,725 people 3.4 yrs $245,100 $83,193
134 Sanford Sanford31,478 people 3.4 yrs $245,400 $57,586
135 Map of East Flat Rock East Flat Rock6,323 people 3.4 yrs $245,900 $59,583
136 Map of Canton Canton4,419 people 3.4 yrs $246,700 $69,924
137 Lillington Lillington4,709 people 3.4 yrs $247,200 $81,760
138 Map of Skippers Corner Skippers Corner3,792 people 3.4 yrs $247,500 $72,297
139 Statesville Statesville29,894 people 3.4 yrs $248,000 $52,880
140 Lincolnton Lincolnton11,783 people 3.4 yrs $248,700 $46,320
141 Franklinton 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 Wrightsboro Wrightsboro6,287 people 3.5 yrs $255,700 $78,450
146 Map of Granite Quarry 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 Springs Boiling Springs4,757 people 3.7 yrs $265,400 $89,875
149 Map of Enochville Enochville3,321 people 3.7 yrs $265,700 $66,225
150 Map of River Bend River Bend2,874 people 3.7 yrs $266,100 $71,824
151 Map of Angier Angier6,241 people 3.7 yrs $268,200 $52,214
152 Sneads Ferry Sneads Ferry2,728 people 3.7 yrs $269,300 $79,594
153 Stanley Stanley4,069 people 3.7 yrs $270,200 $75,461
154 Conover Conover8,580 people 3.7 yrs $271,300 $65,972
155 Red Oak Red Oak3,405 people 3.8 yrs $271,800 $90,214
156 Midway Midway4,897 people 3.8 yrs $274,100 $83,446
157 Edenton Edenton4,494 people 3.8 yrs $274,100 $38,417
158 Kannapolis Kannapolis57,890 people 3.8 yrs $276,400 $73,836
159 Gastonia Gastonia82,884 people 3.8 yrs $277,600 $64,059
160 Hickory Hickory44,258 people 3.8 yrs $278,400 $64,576
161 Benson Benson4,282 people 3.9 yrs $279,800 $67,102
162 Lake Royale3,168 people 3.9 yrs $280,400 $107,806
163 Creedmoor Creedmoor4,997 people 3.9 yrs $281,400 $82,961
164 Waynesville 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 Swannanoa Swannanoa6,901 people 4.0 yrs $287,500 $69,760
170 Rutherfordton Rutherfordton3,680 people 4.0 yrs $288,400 $59,375
171 Carolina Shores5,017 people 4.0 yrs $288,600 $76,087
172 Kernersville Kernersville27,830 people 4.0 yrs $290,700 $71,918
173 Boiling Spring Lakes 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 Map of Gibsonville 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 Aberdeen 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 Murraysville Murraysville16,339 people 4.4 yrs $320,700 $81,167
184 Map of Zebulon Zebulon8,711 people 4.4 yrs $320,700 $79,112
185 Map of Locust 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 Lewisville Lewisville13,828 people 4.5 yrs $325,400 $100,917
188 Map of Silver Lake Silver Lake6,563 people 4.5 yrs $325,500 $76,756
189 Jamestown Jamestown3,708 people 4.5 yrs $326,800 $104,844
190 Map of Bethlehem 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 Map of Wendell 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 Clemmons 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 Holly Mount Holly18,208 people 4.7 yrs $337,800 $79,385
198 Map of Etowah 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 Map of Cramerton Cramerton5,450 people 4.7 yrs $343,400 $82,160
203 Map of Wallburg 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 Shallotte 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 Beaufort Beaufort4,689 people 4.9 yrs $354,900 $53,321
210 Garner Garner34,473 people 4.9 yrs $355,000 $78,756
211 Morehead City 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 Mountain Black Mountain8,513 people 5.0 yrs $358,900 $77,042
214 Map of Holly Ridge 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 Swansboro Swansboro3,997 people 5.2 yrs $378,700 $114,425
222 Map of Stokesdale 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 Cullowhee Cullowhee7,973 people 5.3 yrs $382,300 $35,929
225 Fairview3,619 people 5.3 yrs $382,300 $98,808
226 Wilmington Wilmington120,805 people 5.3 yrs $383,800 $66,738
227 Indian Trail Indian Trail42,036 people 5.3 yrs $385,000 $108,483
228 Charlotte Charlotte903,844 people 5.3 yrs $385,700 $82,068
229 Map of Lake Junaluska 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 Map of Seven Lakes Seven Lakes4,535 people 5.4 yrs $394,500 $91,085
234 Belmont 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 Leland Leland29,607 people 5.5 yrs $398,900 $91,977
238 Map of Mountain Home Mountain Home3,437 people 5.5 yrs $400,000 $83,083
239 Map of Royal Pines 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 Boone Boone20,032 people 5.7 yrs $411,100 $30,065
245 Map of Avery Creek Avery Creek2,887 people 5.7 yrs $412,900 $113,261
246 Raleigh Raleigh481,031 people 5.7 yrs $415,800 $85,395
247 Stallings 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 Southport Southport4,205 people 6.0 yrs $437,700 $87,641
252 Map of Myrtle Grove Myrtle Grove12,637 people 6.1 yrs $439,100 $113,463
253 Map of Asheville Asheville94,535 people 6.1 yrs $440,000 $71,102
254 Kill Devil Hills Kill Devil Hills7,761 people 6.1 yrs $442,200 $89,773
255 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-Varina 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 Hillsborough Hillsborough9,724 people 6.4 yrs $460,100 $98,163
261 Map of Ogden Ogden8,249 people 6.4 yrs $463,700 $121,338
262 Weaverville Weaverville4,687 people 6.4 yrs $463,700 $88,221
263 Map of Whispering Pines Whispering Pines5,211 people 6.4 yrs $464,800 $126,450
264 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 Pinehurst Pinehurst18,256 people 6.6 yrs $476,600 $109,802
267 Harrisburg Harrisburg19,633 people 6.6 yrs $478,000 $148,254
268 Nags Head 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 City Surf City4,396 people 7.1 yrs $512,300 $81,433
271 Morrisville Morrisville31,422 people 7.2 yrs $518,800 $125,396
272 Map of Summerfield Summerfield11,116 people 7.2 yrs $521,900 $160,275
273 Map of Bayshore Bayshore2,949 people 7.3 yrs $525,800 $94,632
274 Map of Oak Ridge Oak Ridge7,744 people 7.3 yrs $529,300 $155,385
275 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 Chapel Wesley Chapel9,090 people 7.4 yrs $535,500 $132,188
278 Holly Springs Holly Springs45,248 people 7.4 yrs $535,800 $135,578
279 Carrboro Carrboro21,204 people 7.5 yrs $539,400 $85,743
280 Waxhaw Waxhaw22,275 people 7.6 yrs $549,400 $131,894
281 Cornelius Cornelius32,783 people 7.7 yrs $559,400 $113,767
282 Carolina Beach 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 Map of Apex Apex70,630 people 8.0 yrs $576,100 $144,135
286 Map of Westport Westport5,915 people 8.0 yrs $580,000 $131,908
287 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 Isle Emerald Isle3,934 people 8.3 yrs $603,700 $89,773
290 Chapel Hill 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 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 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

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