2 NC cities cracked US News’ top 10 ‘Best Places to Live.’ Hint: It’s not Raleigh.
Two North Carolina cities cracked the nation’s top 10 places to live for 2025, according to U.S. News and World Report.
But which ones may surprise.
Unlike last year when Charlotte and Raleigh placed fifth and sixth respectively, both metros tumbled in the general rankings this year.
Out of 250 cities, Raleigh was No. 155. Charlotte didn’t even make the cut.
On the plus side: Cary ranked No. 5 and Apex ranked No. 7.
And Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Durham all made the top 250.
And while Charlotte fell off the list, three cities in the Queen City metro area earned spots: Huntersville (No. 33), Mooresville (No. 98) and Concord (No. 101). Additionally, Charlotte earned the No. 8 ranking for Best Big Cities to Live, which covers those with a population of 500,000 or greater.
“All things considered, North Carolina had a strong showing in this year’s report,” said Erika Giovanetti, U.S. News’ consumer lending analyst, in an email. The state stands out in the job market and quality of life categories, he added, “striking that balance of opportunity and livability.”
Apex and Cary were noted for having a job market “better than the national average” and a “higher value of living” compared to similar-size metros.
In Cary, the median household income stood at around $135,321 in 2024 — well above the national median of $75,149, the report found. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate hovered around 3.27%, lower than the national average of 5.33%.
The median home price was $497,143, significantly higher than the national average of $281,900, data showed.
In Apex, the median household income stood at around $135,321 in 2024. The unemployment rate was slightly above Cary’s at 3.55% and the median home price was less at $459,325.
Johns Creek, Georgia, took No. 1 due to its strong job market and desirability scores. Pearland, Texas, landed at No. 3, while League City, Texas, and Leander, Texas, placed at No. 6 and No. 8, respectively.
U.S. News evaluated 850 cities to rank 250 places in the general rankings, up from 150 in previous years. Cities were then ranked within state-specific rankings.
It surveyed more than 3,000 people to determine what factors are most important when deciding where to live, including value, quality of life, job market and desirability.
This year, the publication said it slightly adjusted its weights to increase priority for a location’s job market amid “heightened economic uncertainty.”
US News Best Places to Live 2025: NC cities
- No. 5: Cary
- No. 6: Apex
- No. 33: Huntersville
- No. 84: Pinehurst
- No. 98: Mooresville
- No. 101: Concord
- No. 103: Chapel Hill
- No. 155: Raleigh
- No. 202: Durham
- No. 204: High Point
- No. 234: Hickory
- No. 313: Charlotte
- No. 324: Winston-Salem
- No. 329: Greensboro
This story was originally published May 20, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
