Counties with the lowest cost of living in North Carolina

Written by:
April 12, 2024
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Counties with the lowest cost of living in North Carolina

While inflation has fallen from 2022 peaks, high prices are still eating into household budgets. Many Americans are paying keen attention to their finances and finding ways to reduce spending.

Home prices, rent, and food inflation, as well as higher prices for gas in the last couple of years, are making it so that each dollar earned has even less purchasing power than before. In the first two months of 2024, Americans were able to save about 3.9% of their disposable income, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, well below historic levels.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the lowest cost of living in North Carolina using rankings from Niche.

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#30. Randolph County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 1,115
- Population: 144,403
- Median household income: $56,423
- Median home value: $158,300 (74% own)
- Median rent: $813 (26% rent)

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#29. Columbus County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 1,073
- Population: 50,827
- Median household income: $43,206
- Median home value: $119,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $738 (29% rent)

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#28. Person County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 1,067
- Population: 39,131
- Median household income: $60,688
- Median home value: $173,200 (78% own)
- Median rent: $777 (22% rent)

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#27. Edgecombe County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 1,037
- Population: 49,067
- Median household income: $46,370
- Median home value: $106,200 (62% own)
- Median rent: $779 (38% rent)

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#26. Lenoir County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 1,011
- Population: 55,071
- Median household income: $43,063
- Median home value: $101,600 (59% own)
- Median rent: $792 (41% rent)

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#25. Stokes County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 1,002
- Population: 44,696
- Median household income: $57,539
- Median home value: $168,600 (78% own)
- Median rent: $784 (22% rent)

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#24. Richmond County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 999
- Population: 43,149
- Median household income: $42,354
- Median home value: $111,900 (65% own)
- Median rent: $720 (35% rent)

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#23. Rockingham County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 958
- Population: 91,209
- Median household income: $50,737
- Median home value: $142,900 (71% own)
- Median rent: $743 (29% rent)

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#22. Bertie County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 954
- Population: 17,818
- Median household income: $41,652
- Median home value: $87,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $823 (25% rent)

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#21. Burke County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 940
- Population: 87,799
- Median household income: $53,732
- Median home value: $155,500 (76% own)
- Median rent: $768 (24% rent)

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#20. Scotland County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 936
- Population: 34,222
- Median household income: $41,948
- Median home value: $99,900 (60% own)
- Median rent: $736 (40% rent)

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#19. Martin County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 877
- Population: 21,992
- Median household income: $44,799
- Median home value: $99,200 (67% own)
- Median rent: $758 (33% rent)

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#18. Mitchell County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 858
- Population: 14,989
- Median household income: $55,534
- Median home value: $191,400 (79% own)
- Median rent: $701 (21% rent)

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#17. Rutherford County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 841
- Population: 64,680
- Median household income: $50,512
- Median home value: $158,200 (73% own)
- Median rent: $729 (27% rent)

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#16. Caldwell County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 829
- Population: 80,716
- Median household income: $52,362
- Median home value: $158,300 (75% own)
- Median rent: $717 (25% rent)

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#15. Northampton County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 757
- Population: 17,528
- Median household income: $45,698
- Median home value: $96,000 (72% own)
- Median rent: $764 (28% rent)

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#14. Surry County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 738
- Population: 71,429
- Median household income: $52,743
- Median home value: $153,700 (73% own)
- Median rent: $706 (27% rent)

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#13. Swain County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 736
- Population: 14,130
- Median household income: $52,818
- Median home value: $178,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $690 (27% rent)

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#12. Wilkes County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 732
- Population: 66,125
- Median household income: $49,119
- Median home value: $146,200 (73% own)
- Median rent: $712 (27% rent)

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#11. Greene County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 723
- Population: 20,407
- Median household income: $50,320
- Median home value: $108,300 (67% own)
- Median rent: $826 (33% rent)

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#10. Robeson County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 652
- Population: 117,573
- Median household income: $39,393
- Median home value: $87,700 (66% own)
- Median rent: $741 (34% rent)

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#9. Yadkin County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 651
- Population: 37,280
- Median household income: $57,486
- Median home value: $160,500 (76% own)
- Median rent: $711 (24% rent)

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#8. Sampson County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 634
- Population: 59,317
- Median household income: $49,963
- Median home value: $116,600 (73% own)
- Median rent: $752 (27% rent)

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#7. McDowell County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 616
- Population: 44,629
- Median household income: $53,532
- Median home value: $153,300 (73% own)
- Median rent: $725 (27% rent)

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#6. Duplin County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 611
- Population: 49,312
- Median household income: $49,376
- Median home value: $112,400 (69% own)
- Median rent: $765 (31% rent)

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#5. Alexander County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 569
- Population: 36,505
- Median household income: $62,764
- Median home value: $169,300 (81% own)
- Median rent: $735 (19% rent)

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#4. Montgomery County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 447
- Population: 25,839
- Median household income: $55,523
- Median home value: $139,900 (72% own)
- Median rent: $710 (28% rent)

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#3. Caswell County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 331
- Population: 22,747
- Median household income: $56,999
- Median home value: $138,600 (76% own)
- Median rent: $678 (24% rent)

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#2. Jones County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 296
- Population: 9,263
- Median household income: $53,053
- Median home value: $115,400 (76% own)
- Median rent: $680 (24% rent)

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#1. Graham County, North Carolina

- Overall Rank: 225
- Population: 8,047
- Median household income: $46,010
- Median home value: $134,000 (80% own)
- Median rent: $580 (20% rent)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 32 states.

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