From the Appalachian Mountains anchored by Asheville on the western side of the state to the Outer Banks of the Atlantic coastal plain, North Carolina is one of the top 10 most populous states and it’s not hard to see why. The majority of North Carolinians live in between the mountains and the beach, in the central plateau region known as The Piedmont.
The Tar Heel State has a storied past as first in flight, but it’s also the biggest producer of tobacco in the country. Pork barbecue is the culinary staple of the south, and North Carolina is known for two kinds: Lexington-style, which uses only the pork shoulder and is served with a tomato and vinegar sauce, and Eastern-style which uses the “whole hog” and is served with a vinegar-based sauce. This may help you determine which side of NC you want to live on—for the rest of the tough decisions, check out our guide to the best places to live in North Carolina.
Charlotte
With over 2.5 million residents, The Queen City is North Carolina’s most populous (and arguably best) place to live in North Carolina. Here, you can find everything from fine dining options and rooftop cocktail bars to 24-hour French pastry shops and a thriving arts scene. Serving as headquarters for Bank of America, Charlotte is the largest banking center in the nation after New York City, so finance is a big part of the local economy. Tech is the fastest-growing sector, while textiles and trade remain important industries.
In addition to a thriving job market, Charlotte is home to many charming neighborhoods, including Uptown and First Ward, where you can find the bustling 7th Street Public Market, the Levine Museum of the New South, Blumenthal Performing Arts, and First Ward Park. Additionally, there’s the historic Fourth Ward, the NoDa Arts District, laid-back Dilworth, collegiate University City, and upscale Elizabeth and Myers Park.
Shop ‘til you drop at SouthPark Mall—the largest in the Carolinas. There are a plethora of nightlife, restaurants, and entertainment options. Attractions include Carowinds amusement park, The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Charlotte Motor Speedway is actually located 30 minutes away in nearby Concord.
Charlotte has the most professional teams of any major North Carolina city. The NFL’s Carolina Panthers and NBA’s Charlotte Hornets will be joined by a Major League Soccer team in 2021. And, the Charlotte Knights are a AAA Chicago White Sox affiliate who play Uptown at BB&T Ballpark. Get around town on North Carolina’s only light rail system, the LYNX, or get out of dodge and hop a flight out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Raleigh
Known for its universities, such as North Carolina State University, the capital city is the state’s second-largest metropolis, with a population approaching half a million. Along with Chapel Hill and Durham (both about 25 miles away), Raleigh is one of the corners of the Research Triangle, the largest research park in the country that is made up of a number of technology and scholarly institutions.
The NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes play at PNC Arena, which is about a mile and a half away from the fairgrounds where the N.C. State Fair is held every year. Other attractions include the North Carolina Museum of Art, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Marbles Kids Museum, and the 19th-century Greek-Revival-style North Carolina State Capitol building. Pullen Park provides over 60 acres of green space just west of downtown, while Umstead Park boasts nearly 5,600 acres of trails and lakes next to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Crabtree Valley Mall, North Hills Mall, and Triangle Town Center keep Raleigh residents in fashion, while GoRaleigh keeps them on the move with 33 bus routes.
Durham
Located about 25 miles away from Raleigh, Durham is home to trendy cafes, bars, theaters, art galleries, restaurants, and Duke University. Also part of the Research Triangle, Durham is the most liberal county in the state and is also a big advocate of the arts. James Taylor, who penned the state’s unofficial anthem, “Carolina in My Mind” grew up nearby and members of The Avett Brothers, Iron & Wine, and Hiss Golden Messenger all live in Durham. The city fosters the visual arts too, playing host to the Scrap Exchange, the largest nonprofit creative reuse arts center in the country, as well as the Nasher Museum of Art, plus a plethora of smaller galleries and studios.
Part of Durham’s extensive network of bicycle routes and trails, the American Tobacco Trail begins in downtown and continues south through Research Triangle Park, terminating in Wake County. Raleigh-Durham International Airport also serves this area, as does the GoTriangle bus system. Durham is home to Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill is located in the outskirts of Durham, both of which bring a college town atmosphere to the area.
Asheville
Speaking of liberal, artsy communities, Asheville is right up there with Durham—just ask the 425,000 people who live there. Western North Carolina’s largest city is nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. Mountain scenery, outdoor activities, a vibrant arts scene, and historic architecture make it one of the best places to live in North Carolina. Asheville is home one of the most impressive comprehensive collections of Art Deco architecture in the country, but it’s also home to the dome-topped Basilica of Saint Lawrence and the vast, 19th-century Biltmore Estate. Galleries and museums dot the Downtown Art District, while former factories have been converted into studio space in the nearby River Arts District.
Stroll through the beautiful Botanical Gardens at Asheville or peruse boutiques at the Grove Arcade. Pick up a new (to you) page-turner from The Captain’s Bookshelf used bookstore or the Battery Park Book Exchange, then play a few games at the Asheville Pinball Museum. With an abundance of vegetarian and vegan restaurants, Asheville is one of the best cities for foodies, and what goes better with food than a drink? Asheville is packed with breweries, like the Wedge Brewing Co. and Highland Brewing Company, and has quickly become one of the top destinations in the country for craft beer lovers.
There aren’t any pro-sports teams in town, but at least there’s a minor league baseball team—the Asheville Tourists. Asheville does have a regional airport, but it’s usually cheaper to fly into Greenville, Charlotte, or Knoxville, which are all two hours away or less. ART (Asheville Redefines Transit) has several bus routes.
The mountainous, curvy, and scenic Blue Ridge Parkway intersects the city. Park on any overlook and there’s most likely a trail nearby—it may even lead to a beautiful waterfall! The city is surrounded by hiking trails. Popular places include Mount Pisgah, Graveyard Fields, Craggy Gardens, and Mount Mitchell. Part of the Black Mountain chain, Mount Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi at 6,684 feet. The Cradle of Forestry, Chimney Rock Park in scenic Hickory Nut Gorge, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the NC/TN border, and Gorges State Park all offer incredible views and hiking trails within an hour of the city.
Along with great outdoor spaces, restaurants, art scenes, and entertainment, the best places to live in North Carolina all have something else in common: affordability. Find your next apartment on Zumper and enjoy a lower cost of living than cities like New York and San Francisco.
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