Emma
unincorporated, Buncombe County · 2,657 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 1.3 years of area income·Overall A− · #16 of 286 in NC
North Carolina rankings · Cost of living
Most affordable towns in North Carolina
Emma ranks first on cost of living among North Carolina’s 290 towns of 2,500+; 37 of the 290 grade A− or better on cost of living nationally.
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). How grades work
A+
#2Carthage
Moore County · 3,070 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 3.9 years of area income·Overall A · #8 of 286 in NC
#3Wentworth
Rockingham County · 2,774 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 3.5 years of area income·Overall B− · #78 of 286 in NC
All 290 towns
Cost of living grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
290 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeHome price · overall
1Emmaunincorporated, Buncombe County · 2,657 peopleA+1.3 years of area income·Overall A− · #16 of 286
5Enochvilleunincorporated, Rowan County · 3,321 peopleA3.2 years of area income·Overall C+ · #143 of 286
8Neuse Forestunincorporated, Craven County · 2,671 peopleA4.8 years of area income·Overall B · #74 of 286
12Danaunincorporated, Henderson County · 4,147 peopleA−3.5 years of area income·Overall C+ · #138 of 286
14Welcomeunincorporated, Davidson County · 3,521 peopleA−3.0 years of area income·Overall B− · #88 of 286
21Mar-Macunincorporated, Wayne County · 2,877 peopleA−2.5 years of area income·Overall C− · #201 of 286
22Seven Lakesunincorporated, Moore County · 4,535 peopleA−4.6 years of area income·Overall A · #7 of 286
37Lake Royaleunincorporated, Franklin County · 3,168 peopleA−2.8 years of area income·Overall B− · #98 of 286
39East Flat Rockunincorporated, Henderson County · 6,323 peopleB+4.0 years of area income·Overall B · #55 of 286
40Swannanoaunincorporated, Buncombe County · 6,901 peopleB+4.9 years of area income·Overall B+ · #36 of 286
46Skippers Cornerunincorporated, New Hanover County · 3,792 peopleB+3.2 years of area income·Overall C− · #173 of 286
48Brogdenunincorporated, Wayne County · 2,733 peopleB+1.6 years of area income·Overall D− · #268 of 286
53Glen Ravenunincorporated, Alamance County · 3,506 peopleB+3.4 years of area income·Overall C · #168 of 286
54Elroyunincorporated, Wayne County · 3,251 peopleB+2.2 years of area income·Overall D · #229 of 286
55Mountain Viewunincorporated, Catawba County · 3,982 peopleB+3.5 years of area income·Overall B− · #83 of 286
60Wrightsborounincorporated, New Hanover County · 6,287 peopleB+3.3 years of area income·Overall B · #68 of 286
63Half Moonunincorporated, Onslow County · 7,378 peopleB+2.7 years of area income·Overall B · #73 of 286
66Avery Creekunincorporated, Buncombe County · 2,887 peopleB5.7 years of area income·Overall A · #3 of 286
71Bethlehemunincorporated, Alexander County · 4,101 peopleB5.2 years of area income·Overall B · #65 of 286
83Edneyvilleunincorporated, Henderson County · 2,716 peopleB4.0 years of area income·Overall C+ · #120 of 286
91St. Stephensunincorporated, Catawba County · 9,457 peopleB−3.4 years of area income·Overall B− · #106 of 286
92James Cityunincorporated, Craven County · 4,789 peopleB−3.2 years of area income·Overall C+ · #139 of 286
115Lowesvilleunincorporated, Lincoln County · 3,874 peopleB−4.9 years of area income·Overall A · #4 of 286
117Forest Oaksunincorporated, Guilford County · 4,293 peopleB−5.3 years of area income·Overall B+ · #41 of 286
126Moyockunincorporated, Currituck County · 5,684 peopleC+6.0 years of area income·Overall B · #75 of 286
131Brices Creekunincorporated, Craven County · 3,415 peopleC+5.3 years of area income·Overall C+ · #136 of 286
132Piney Greenunincorporated, Onslow County · 14,078 peopleC+3.3 years of area income·Overall C− · #181 of 286
138Sneads Ferryunincorporated, Onslow County · 2,728 peopleC+5.5 years of area income·Overall C− · #177 of 286
140Cullowhee College campusunincorporated, Jackson County · 7,973 peopleC+7.4 years of area income·Overall C+
144Elizabeth CityPasquotank County · 19,622 peopleC+4.0 years of area income·Overall D− · #258 of 286
145Etowahunincorporated, Henderson County · 7,968 peopleC+5.8 years of area income·Overall B− · #110 of 286
157Anderson Creekunincorporated, Harnett County · 13,927 peopleC+4.0 years of area income·Overall D · #220 of 286
158Northchaseunincorporated, New Hanover County · 5,896 peopleC+4.2 years of area income·Overall C− · #208 of 286
160River Roadunincorporated, Beaufort County · 3,366 peopleC+4.0 years of area income·Overall D− · #256 of 286
165Boiling Spring LakesBrunswick County · 6,875 peopleC+4.1 years of area income·Overall C · #167 of 286
166Murraysvilleunincorporated, New Hanover County · 16,339 peopleC+4.2 years of area income·Overall B− · #77 of 286
167Kings Grantunincorporated, New Hanover County · 9,003 peopleC+3.9 years of area income·Overall C+ · #133 of 286
177Myrtle Groveunincorporated, New Hanover County · 12,637 peopleC5.7 years of area income·Overall B+ · #44 of 286
188Silver Lakeunincorporated, New Hanover County · 6,563 peopleC4.3 years of area income·Overall C+ · #129 of 286
189Royal Pinesunincorporated, Buncombe County · 4,325 peopleC5.6 years of area income·Overall B+ · #29 of 286
195Rockfishunincorporated, Hoke County · 3,574 peopleC3.2 years of area income·Overall C− · #202 of 286
202East Rockinghamunincorporated, Richmond County · 2,779 peopleC2.5 years of area income·Overall D− · #278 of 286
207Valley Hillunincorporated, Henderson County · 2,675 peopleC4.9 years of area income·Overall B · #61 of 286
210Hampsteadunincorporated, Pender County · 9,292 peopleC6.4 years of area income·Overall B− · #113 of 286
212Fairfield Harbourunincorporated, Craven County · 2,948 peopleC5.1 years of area income·Overall C− · #190 of 286
215Lake Junaluskaunincorporated, Haywood County · 3,175 peopleC7.2 years of area income·Overall B− · #84 of 286
218Westportunincorporated, Lincoln County · 5,915 peopleC7.0 years of area income·Overall B · #52 of 286
219Lake Norman of Catawbaunincorporated, Catawba County · 9,906 peopleC7.8 years of area income·Overall B− · #90 of 286
236Briar Chapelunincorporated, Chatham County · 6,049 peopleC−6.8 years of area income·Overall B+ · #35 of 286
237Bayshoreunincorporated, New Hanover County · 2,949 peopleC−6.9 years of area income·Overall B · #62 of 286
242Buies Creek College campusunincorporated, Harnett County · 3,746 peopleC−5.1 years of area income·Overall C
244Mountain Homeunincorporated, Henderson County · 3,437 peopleC−5.6 years of area income·Overall B · #76 of 286
248Porters Neckunincorporated, New Hanover County · 7,654 peopleC−7.4 years of area income·Overall C+ · #118 of 286
251Ogdenunincorporated, New Hanover County · 8,249 peopleC−6.1 years of area income·Overall B · #64 of 286
254Lake Norman of Iredellunincorporated, Iredell County · 12,494 peopleC−10.7 years of area income·Overall B+ · #33 of 286
269HendersonvilleHenderson County · 15,867 peopleC−5.7 years of area income·Overall C− · #182 of 286
282Spout Springsunincorporated, Harnett County · 11,242 peopleD5.0 years of area income·Overall C · #149 of 286
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most affordable town in North Carolina?
Emma (Buncombe County) ranks first on cost of living among 290 towns, with an A+; Carthage and Wentworth follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a cost of living grade (290 in North Carolina). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the North Carolina page.
Go deeper
All North Carolina rankings →More North Carolina lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
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