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The Experts Say These Are The Best Cities To Live In North Carolina

We all know that living in North Carolina is wonderful. The State has something for everything and we often talk about how the “rivalry” between Charlotte and Raleigh. But it’s…

North Carolina Best Places To Live

North Carolina State Flag (Photo by BSPollard/Getty Images Plus)

BSPollard/Getty Images Plus

We all know that living in North Carolina is wonderful. The State has something for everything and we often talk about how the "rivalry" between Charlotte and Raleigh. But it's not just those cities that make NC great. Scholaroo created a detailed guide on the best US cities to live in. The report compared 150 cities across 47 metrics distributed in 9 key relevant categories: Crime & Safety, Affordability, Economy, Quality of life, Leisure and entertainment, Healthcare, Education, Employment, and Infrastructure. And in the best 150 cities to live there were four North Carolina cities. And only one of the big two, Charlotte and Raleigh were included on this list.

Additionally moving a little south, the Palmetto State also had four cities make this list. If I had to pick four cities to be included from SC, these would be those four. And the highest ranking city was the one that we always seem to talk highly of (for good reason)- Charleston. The other four cities are wonderful places to call home as well.

Read Scholaroo's full rankings and analysis here and keep reading to see the North Carolina cities named the best places to live, as well as the NC cities, and the top 10 nationwide.

North Carolina Cities

62. Asheville, NC

Asheville

Rank Crime & Safety: 82

Rank Affordability: 70

Rank Economy: 74

Rank Quality of Life: 69

69. Charlotte, NC

Charlotte

Rank Crime & Safety: 78

Rank Affordability: 81

Rank Economy: 48

Rank Quality of Life: 94

82. Winston Salem, NC

Winston-Salem

Rank Crime & Safety: 138

Rank Affordability: 21

Rank Economy: 94

Rank Quality of Life: 55

126. Hickory, NC

Hickory

Rank Crime & Safety: 69

Rank Affordability: 57

Rank Economy: 96

Rank Quality of Life: 52

South Carolina Cities

11. Charleston, SC

Charleston

Rank Crime & Safety: 32

Rank Affordability: 109

Rank Economy: 40

Rank Quality of Life: 47

17. Greenville, SC

Greenville

Rank Crime & Safety: 67

Rank Affordability: 76

Rank Economy: 120

Rank Quality of Life: 38

56. Columbia, SC

Columbia, SC

Columbia, South Carolina, USA downtown city skyline from Finlay Park at dusk.

Rank Crime & Safety: 106

Rank Affordability: 52

Rank Economy: 137

Rank Quality of Life: 53

74. Myrtle Beach, SC

South Carolina

Rank Crime & Safety: 143

Rank Affordability: 116

Rank Economy: 110

Rank Quality of Life: 35

Top 10 Best Cities To Live

10. Lincoln, NE

Lincoln NE

Rank Crime & Safety: 49

Rank Affordability: 39

Rank Economy: 59

Rank Quality of Life: 91

9. Cambridge, MA

Harvard North Carolina college hardest to get into

Harvard University Eliot House across Charles River, in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Rank Crime & Safety: 24

Rank Affordability: 144

Rank Economy: 24

Rank Quality of Life: 15

8. Papillion, NE

Papillion Nebraska

An aerial shot of the Omaha Suburb of Papillion in Nebraska

Rank Crime & Safety: 26

Rank Affordability: 79

Rank Economy: 20

Rank Quality of Life: 144

7. Madison, MS

Mississippi

Mississippi State welcome sign along the US Highway 61 in the USA; Concept for travel in America and Road Trip in America

Rank Crime & Safety: 6

Rank Affordability: 111

Rank Economy: 5

Rank Quality of Life: 24

6. Alpharetta, GA

Alpharetta

ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA - September 13, 2019: The Alpharetta Historic District contains several historic buildings dating from the late 19th century and older, and includes dining and shopping.

Rank Crime & Safety: 14

Rank Affordability: 124

Rank Economy: 14

Rank Quality of Life: 107

5. Naperville, IL

Naperville

Carillon bell tower in Naperville, Illinois at sunset

Rank Crime & Safety: 15

Rank Affordability: 120

Rank Economy: 9

Rank Quality of Life: 119

4. Amherst, NH

New Hampshire

Rank Crime & Safety: 1

Rank Affordability: 99

Rank Economy: 13

Rank Quality of Life: 60

3. Portland, ME

Portland

Portland, Maine, USA coastal townscape on Portland Harbor.

Rank Crime & Safety: 42

Rank Affordability: 96

Rank Economy: 63

Rank Quality of Life: 37

2. Carmel, IN

Indiana

Rank Crime & Safety: 8

Rank Affordability: 91

Rank Economy: 17

Rank Quality of Life: 120

1. Naples, FL

Naples

Naples coastal neighborhoods aerial drone photo

Rank Crime & Safety: 4

Rank Affordability: 150

Rank Economy: 8

Rank Quality of Life: 11

Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.