North Carolina
R+3 · Moderate tax burden · COL index 94
4.5%
Income Tax
398
Violent Crime / 100K
75.7
Life Expectancy
$335K
Median Home
$1,050
Childcare / Mo
State Profile
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Taxes
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Income Tax
Flat rate, reducing toward 3.99% by 2026
Property Tax
~$2,345/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
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Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Near national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Crime & Safety
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Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Healthcare
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State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Education
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K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
Childcare
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Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Utilities & Daily Costs
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Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Airports & Travel
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Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Top-25 US airport by passengers
Culture & Lifestyle
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Urban Population
Mix of urban and rural
Restaurant Density
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
3.5/100K residents — Solid scene
Craft Distilleries
Strong spirits scene
Live Music
Asheville craft beer mecca; Charlotte/Raleigh growing; Wicked Weed and Burial nationally known
Transportation
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Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Social & Legal
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Abortion Access
12-week ban with exceptions
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
Harrah's Cherokee casinos (Tribal). Sports betting launched 2024.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
Sex ed required by state
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Whispering Pines (Raleigh area) · Paradise Lake Resort · Heliotrope Club
Environment & Climate
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Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun Laws
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2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Gambling
Jobs & Economy
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Job Market
+2.5% job growth · 3.5% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Strong tech presence
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Business Climate
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Corporate Income Tax
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
Daily Life
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Gas Price (Regular)
Well below avg (-0.26 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Consumer fireworks legal; some county restrictions
Weather & Natural Risks
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Winter Severity
Avg January high: 51°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards
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Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Armadillo Leprosy Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits
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Veteran-Friendly Score
8.5% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
100% disabled: full property tax exempt
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore North Carolina counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare — ranked by county
See your full cost of living in North Carolina
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.
Compare Similar States
NC vs SC
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COL 94 vs 93 · 4.5% vs 6.2% income tax
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COL 94 vs 95 · 4.5% vs No income tax
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NC vs WI
North Carolina vs Wisconsin
COL 94 vs 93 · 4.5% vs 7.65% income tax
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COL 94 vs 96 · 4.5% vs 5.8% income tax
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Trending in North Carolina
State budget eliminates Office of Environmental Education - North Carolina Health News
North Carolina Health News · Jul 25
Stein signs $34B North Carolina budget with pay raises, lower taxes - NC Newsline
NC Newsline · Jul 7
A Week in Photos: Governor and First Lady Stein Explore What Makes Western North Carolina Unforgettable and Highlight Ongoing Helene Recovery Efforts - NC Governor (.gov)
NC Governor (.gov) · Jul 20
‘The Change Agent’ reexamines Pat McCrory’s political legacy - Carolina Journal
Carolina Journal · Jul 24
North Carolina finally passes state budget - The North State Journal
The North State Journal · Jul 10
What Residents Say
Just moved here,came from California thinking things ...
2022 NC income tax,saves a whopping 41.90$ a year on taxes. 50% of people in this state that make less than 17$/ . Average home price in ......
reddit.com ↗
Considering a Move to North Carolina
Your take home or net salary will probably be around 50k after taxes and insurance. You will probably spend $2500 - $3000 a month on rent, car, ......
reddit.com ↗
"Hidden" costs of living in NC? : r/NorthCarolina
NC has lower car and house insurance, property taxes(?), sales taxes(?), and maybe food/housing costs overall? It's $30 a year....
reddit.com ↗
Moving to NC question : r/NorthCarolina
Unless you are shifting entirely to living rurally, moving to NC to avoid tax increases is just a few-year move before you do it again....
reddit.com ↗
Anyone living in Connecticut in a similar situation?
North Carolina's flat state income tax rate (4.5%) is lower than Connecticut's graduated rates, which can reach nearly 7%, further increasing ......
reddit.com ↗
So… Where Are We Supposed to Live in North Carolina?
I mapped North Carolina counties by comparing median home values to median household income. The result is a rough affordability ratio. Not a ......
reddit.com ↗
$130k in Charlotte vs $110k in Florida ? : r/NorthCarolina
Folks I ve been living in Tampa since four years and have secured job offer from company located in Charlotte North Carolina paying around 130 K as a ......
reddit.com ↗
Should I move to South Carolina or North ...
North Carolina has higher taxes - if they had SC prices, taxes, and just less regulation in general. cost of living is significantly higher ......
reddit.com ↗
Thinking of moving from NC : r/newhampshire
The cost of living is much higher in NH than in NC. The biggest pro to living in NH vs NC is it's not the south....
reddit.com ↗
Considering a move to NC : r/NorthCarolina
Car tax and property tax are set by county. Car is usually something like 1-1.5% of value annually. Property can vary, counties are usually like ......
reddit.com ↗
Stay Current
Get notified when North Carolina tax laws, gun laws, or social policy changes.
North Carolina Guides
Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI UCR ~2022. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund / US News ~2023. Education: Education Week ~2023. Housing: Zillow / Census ACS ~2024. Insurance: rate surveys ~2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.