Best counties to raise a family in North Carolina

- Population: 32,979
- Median home value: $250,200 (77% own)
- Median rent: $787 (23% own)
- Median household income: $57,830
- Top public schools: Brevard Middle School (grade A minus), Rosman Middle School (grade A minus), Brevard High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Mountain Sun Community School (grade unavailable), Bethany Christian School (grade unavailable), The Outdoor Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Brevard (grade B+), Dunns Rock Township (grade A minus), Brevard Township (grade A minus)

- Population: 59,964
- Median home value: $210,600 (80% own)
- Median rent: $939 (20% own)
- Median household income: $65,681
- Top public schools: Pender Early College High School (grade A), Surf City Elementary (grade A minus), North Topsail Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Penderlea Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Hampstead (grade A minus), Surf City (grade A minus), Burgaw (grade B)

- Population: 67,944
- Median home value: $237,800 (73% own)
- Median rent: $938 (27% own)
- Median household income: $61,805
- Top public schools: Tiller School (grade A), Morehead City Primary School (grade A), Morehead City Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Gramercy Christian School (grade B+), St. Egbert Catholic School (grade unavailable), Newport Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Emerald Isle (grade A), Pine Knoll Shores (grade A), Cedar Point (grade A minus)

- Population: 36,718
- Median home value: $321,400 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,171 (23% own)
- Median household income: $69,500
- Top public schools: Kitty Hawk Elementary School (grade A minus), Nags Head Elementary School (grade A minus), First Flight Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Wanchese Christian Academy (grade C+), Heron Pond Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Nags Head (grade A), Kill Devil Hills (grade A minus), Southern Shores (grade B+)

- Population: 62,676
- Median home value: $154,300 (65% own)
- Median rent: $845 (35% own)
- Median household income: $57,674
- Top public schools: Lee Early College (grade A), Tramway Elementary School (grade B+), J. Glenn Edwards Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Grace Christian School (grade B), Lee Christian School (grade B minus), Calvary Education Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Sanford (grade B), West Sanford Township (grade A minus), Jonesboro Township (grade B+)

- Population: 42,543
- Median home value: $181,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $775 (18% own)
- Median household income: $64,657
- Top public schools: Davie County Early College High School (grade A), North Davie Middle School (grade A minus), William Ellis Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Trinity Baptist Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Bermuda Run (grade A minus), Advance (grade A minus), Mocksville (grade B+)

- Population: 59,468
- Median home value: $102,300 (74% own)
- Median rent: $719 (26% own)
- Median household income: $45,127
- Top public schools: Clement Elementary School (grade A minus), Sampson Early College High School (grade A minus), Midway Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Harrells Christian Academy (grade B+), Mintz Christian Academy (grade B minus), Spirit of Life Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Clinton (grade B), Little Coharie Township (grade A minus), South Clinton Township (grade B+)

- Population: 85,670
- Median home value: $203,200 (77% own)
- Median rent: $841 (23% own)
- Median household income: $65,399
- Top public schools: Rock Springs Elementary School (grade A minus), Catawba Springs Elementary School (grade A minus), Lincoln Charter School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Combine Academy (grade unavailable), Long Shoals Wesleyan Academy (grade unavailable), Starboard Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Westport (grade A minus), Denver (grade B), Lowesville (grade B)

- Population: 71,439
- Median home value: $136,500 (73% own)
- Median rent: $657 (27% own)
- Median household income: $50,881
- Top public schools: Shoals Elementary School (grade A), Surry Early College High School (grade A), Elkin Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: White Plains Christian School (grade B minus), Yadkin Valley Community School (grade unavailable), Dobson KinderCare (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Elkin (grade A minus), Flat Rock (grade B), Mount Airy (grade B)

- Population: 54,077
- Median home value: $249,500 (62% own)
- Median rent: $948 (38% own)
- Median household income: $48,786
- Top public schools: Two Rivers Community School (grade A), Hardin Park Elementary School (grade A), Blowing Rock Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Grace Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Boone (grade B+), Blue Ridge Township (grade A), Blowing Rock Township (grade A)

- Population: 170,600
- Median home value: $153,100 (51% own)
- Median rent: $846 (49% own)
- Median household income: $50,422
- Top public schools: Hope Middle School (grade A minus), Wintergreen Intermediate School (grade A minus), Chicod (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Oakwood School (grade A+), John Paul II Catholic High School (grade A minus), Christ Covenant School (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Winterville (grade A), Greenville (grade B+), Ayden (grade B)

- Population: 115,613
- Median home value: $251,800 (75% own)
- Median rent: $960 (25% own)
- Median household income: $59,928
- Top public schools: The Mountain Community School (grade A), Glenn C. Marlow Elementary School (grade A), Hendersonville Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Veritas Christian Academy (grade A minus), Fletcher Academy (grade B+), Captain Gilmer Christian School (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Balfour (grade A), Flat Rock (grade A), Laurel Park (grade A)

- Population: 19,413
- Median home value: $228,000 (77% own)
- Median rent: $870 (23% own)
- Median household income: $55,058
- Top public schools: Polk County Middle School (grade A), Tryon Elementary School (grade A), Saluda Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Tryon Seventh-day Adventist School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Tryon (grade A minus), Tryon Township (grade A minus), Saluda Township (grade A minus)

- Population: 333,582
- Median home value: $145,200 (52% own)
- Median rent: $997 (48% own)
- Median household income: $50,746
- Top public schools: Massey Hill Classical High School (grade A), Cross Creek Early College High School (grade A), Cumberland International Early Colleges (grade A)
- Top private schools: Fayetteville Academy (grade A+), Fayetteville Christian School (grade A), Village Christian Academy (grade A)
- Top places to live: Spring Lake (grade B+), Fayetteville (grade B+), Vander (grade B)

- Population: 211,320
- Median home value: $202,600 (75% own)
- Median rent: $890 (25% own)
- Median household income: $66,026
- Top public schools: Johnston County Early College Academy (grade A), Cleveland Elementary School (grade A minus), Riverwood Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Southside Christian School (grade A), Thales Academy at Flowers Plantation PreK-8 (grade unavailable), LIFESPRING ACADEMY (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Clayton (grade B+), Pine Level (grade B), Benson (grade B)

- Population: 14,166
- Median home value: $169,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $655 (24% own)
- Median household income: $48,608
- Top public schools: Mountain Discovery Charter School (grade A minus), Swain County Middle School (grade B), Swain County East Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: New Kituwah Academy (grade unavailable), Grace Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Charleston Township (grade A minus), Cherokee (grade A minus), Bryson City (grade B+)

- Population: 159,852
- Median home value: $163,100 (70% own)
- Median rent: $786 (30% own)
- Median household income: $57,840
- Top public schools: Discovery High School (grade A), Shuford Elementary School (grade A), Challenger Early College High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: University Christian High School (grade A), Hickory Christian Academy (grade B+), Tabernacle Christian School (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Hickory (grade A minus), St. Stephens (grade A minus), Mountain View (grade A minus)

- Population: 266,981
- Median home value: $273,900 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,094 (36% own)
- Median household income: $59,699
- Top public schools: Francine Delany New School (grade A+), Martin L. Nesbitt, Jr. Discovery Academy (grade A), Montford North Star Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: Asheville School (grade A+), Christ School (grade A+), Carolina Day School (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Royal Pines (grade A), Black Mountain (grade A), Biltmore Forest (grade A)

- Population: 183,965
- Median home value: $220,800 (72% own)
- Median rent: $982 (28% own)
- Median household income: $66,824
- Top public schools: Pine Lake Preparatory School (grade A), Collaborative College for Technology & Leadership (CCTL) (grade A), Rocky River Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Woodlawn School (grade A+), Liberty Preparatory Christian Academy (grade B+), Statesville Christian School (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Mooresville (grade A), Troutman (grade A minus), Statesville (grade B+)

- Population: 320,146
- Median home value: $262,400 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,162 (45% own)
- Median household income: $67,000
- Top public schools: North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (grade A+), Research Triangle High School (grade A+), Durham School of the Arts (grade A)
- Top private schools: Durham Academy (grade A+), Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill (grade A+), Camelot Academy (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Durham (grade A), Gorman (grade C+), Triangle Township (grade A+)

- Population: 225,175
- Median home value: $277,900 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,133 (41% own)
- Median household income: $62,362
- Top public schools: Isaac M. Bear High School (grade A+), John T. Hoggard High School (grade A), Wilmington Early College High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Cape Fear Academy (grade A+), Coastal Christian High School (grade A minus), Wilmington Christian Academy (grade B)
- Top places to live: Ogden (grade A), Silver Lake (grade A), Wrightsville Beach (grade A)

- Population: 98,618
- Median home value: $247,000 (77% own)
- Median rent: $958 (23% own)
- Median household income: $67,440
- Top public schools: The Academy of Moore County (grade A+), West End Elementary School (grade A), West Pine Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The O'Neal School (grade A+), Sandhills Classical Christian School (grade B minus), Saint John Paul II Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Pinehurst (grade A), Southern Pines (grade A), Whispering Pines (grade A)

- Population: 75,070
- Median home value: $325,500 (79% own)
- Median rent: $888 (21% own)
- Median household income: $76,791
- Top public schools: Woods Charter School (grade A+), Willow Oak Montessori (grade A), Perry W. Harrison Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Thales Academy Pittsboro Pre-K-7 (grade unavailable), Haw River Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Holy Youth Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Fearrington Village (grade A), Pittsboro (grade B+), Siler City (grade B minus)

- Population: 380,583
- Median home value: $171,300 (62% own)
- Median rent: $880 (38% own)
- Median household income: $56,830
- Top public schools: Early College of Forsyth (grade A+), Atkins Academic & Technology High School (grade A), Ronald W. Reagan High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Salem Academy (grade A+), Forsyth Country Day School (grade A+), Calvary Day School (grade A)
- Top places to live: Clemmons (grade A+), Lewisville (grade A+), Winston-Salem (grade A)

- Population: 537,113
- Median home value: $182,300 (60% own)
- Median rent: $946 (40% own)
- Median household income: $58,646
- Top public schools: The Early College at Guilford (grade A+), STEM Early College at Nc A&T. Su (grade A+), Philip J. Weaver Education Center (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Greensboro Day School (grade A+), Caldwell Academy (grade A), New Garden Friends School (grade A)
- Top places to live: Oak Ridge (grade A+), Summerfield (grade A+), Stokesdale (grade A)

- Population: 235,699
- Median home value: $279,500 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,143 (17% own)
- Median household income: $88,465
- Top public schools: Marvin Ridge High School (grade A+), Weddington High School (grade A+), Central Academy of Technology & Arts (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Arborbrook Christian Academy (grade A minus), Metrolina Christian Academy (grade B+), Grace Academy (grade B)
- Top places to live: Weddington (grade A+), Marvin (grade A+), Waxhaw (grade A)

- Population: 147,376
- Median home value: $339,900 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,180 (36% own)
- Median household income: $79,205
- Top public schools: Chapel Hill High School (grade A+), East Chapel Hill High School (grade A+), Carrboro High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Carolina Friends School (grade A+), Emerson Waldorf School (grade A), St. Thomas More Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Carrboro (grade A+), Chapel Hill (grade A+), Hillsborough (grade A)

- Population: 221,200
- Median home value: $239,500 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,038 (27% own)
- Median household income: $75,765
- Top public schools: Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early College High School (grade A), Cox Mill Elementary School (grade A), Cox Mill High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Cannon School (grade A+), Christ the King Catholic High School (grade A), HOPE Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Harrisburg (grade A+), Concord (grade A), Kannapolis (grade B+)

- Population: 1,100,984
- Median home value: $276,200 (56% own)
- Median rent: $1,276 (44% own)
- Median household income: $73,124
- Top public schools: Ardrey Kell High School (grade A+), Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy (grade A+), Lake Norman Charter School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Providence Day School (grade A+), Charlotte Country Day School (grade A+), Charlotte Latin School (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Dilworth (grade A+), Davidson (grade A+), Uptown (grade A+)

- Population: 1,112,883
- Median home value: $324,500 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,276 (36% own)
- Median household income: $88,471
- Top public schools: Raleigh Charter High School (grade A+), Green Hope High School (grade A+), William G. Enloe High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Cary Academy (grade A+), Ravenscroft School (grade A+), St. David's School (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Cary (grade A+), Morrisville (grade A+), Apex (grade A+)