North Carolina Area Profiles
6 published city profiles across North Carolina, each built from the same authoritative sources and compared on the same terms.
Statewide signals
Opportunity39th of 51 states39
GrowthTop 32% of 51 states60
Housing affordability31st of 51 states83
ClimateTop 6% of 51 states77
Physical resilience31st of 51 states47
AccessTop 28% of 51 states84
Economic stability40th of 51 states34
Cities
| City | Population | Opportunity | Growth | Area Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 903,844 | 73 | — | — |
| Raleigh | 481,031 | 85 | 71 | 77 |
| Greensboro | 301,198 | 58 | 70 | 69 |
| Durham | 291,467 | 68 | 76 | 72 |
| Winston-Salem | 252,037 | 55 | 50 | 65 |
| Fayetteville | 210,815 | 32 | 14 | 50 |
Strongest opportunity
- Raleigh 85
- Charlotte 73
- Durham 68
- Greensboro 58
- Winston-Salem 55
Fastest development
- Durham 76
- Raleigh 71
- Greensboro 70
- Winston-Salem 50
- Fayetteville 14
Statewide physical risk
Ice stormModerate
Inland floodingModerate
HurricaneModerate
LightningModerate
EarthquakeModerate
Low or minimal exposure: tornado, winter weather, heat wave, hail, strong wind, cold wave, landslide, wildfire, drought, coastal flooding.
Population-weighted across every county in North Carolina, derived from the FEMA National Risk Index. Exposure varies substantially within a state — check the individual city and ZIP profiles.
Statewide data
| Metric | Value | Compared with peers | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average household size ±0.01 | 2.44 | Bottom 39% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Households ±9,120 | 4,282,345 | Top 14% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age ±0.2 | 39.1 | Bottom 49% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population | 10,730,404 | Top 16% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 221/sq mi | Top 29% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Home price to income | 3.99 | Top 45% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.6% | Bottom 35% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units ±642 | 4,895,668 | Top 14% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent ±$5 | $1,228 | Bottom 49% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value ±$1,086 | $288,900 | Bottom 47% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Rent as a share of income | 20.4% | Top 31% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Vacancy rate | 12.5% | Top 29% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income ±$324 | $72,388 | Bottom 27% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income ±$211 | $41,385 | Bottom 45% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | Top 33% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | Bottom 47% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.7% | Top 39% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Employment | 5,007,249 | Top 16% | July 2026 |
| Employment change (3 years) | -2.2% | Bottom 16% | July 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.2% | Bottom 12% | July 2026 |
| Labor force | 5,201,152 | Top 16% | July 2026 |
| Labor force participation | 62.8% | Bottom 37% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment change (year over year) | -0.4% | Bottom 30% | July 2026 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | Bottom 36% | July 2026 |