Cost of homeownership in North Carolina
State averages from Census ACS, energy costs from DOE EIA, and appreciation from FHFA. County-level detail is below.
Home price trend
FHFA House Price Index, quarterly.
Most expensive counties
- 1.Orange County$395,600
- 2.Dare County$386,600
- 3.Wake County$385,700
- 4.Chatham County$373,300
- 5.Union County$336,600
- 6.Mecklenburg County$334,700
- 7.Buncombe County$328,900
- 8.New Hanover County$320,000
- 9.Currituck County$314,100
- 10.Durham County$311,300
Most affordable counties
- 1.Graham County10.9%
- 2.Swain County11.4%
- 3.Alexander County12.8%
- 4.Jackson County12.9%
- 5.McDowell County13.0%
- 6.Montgomery County13.4%
- 7.Rutherford County13.7%
- 8.Yadkin County13.7%
- 9.Wilkes County13.8%
- 10.Surry County14.2%
DOE EIA residential average.
Residential baseline.
IRS SOI · TY 2022, state-level avg.
All counties in North Carolina
- Wake County
- Mecklenburg County
- Guilford County
- Forsyth County
- Cumberland County
- Durham County
- Buncombe County
- Union County
- Gaston County
- New Hanover County
- Cabarrus County
- Johnston County
- Onslow County
- Iredell County
- Alamance County
- Pitt County
- Davidson County
- Catawba County
- Rowan County
- Orange County
- Randolph County
- Brunswick County
- Harnett County
- Robeson County
- Wayne County
- Henderson County
- Craven County
- Moore County
- Cleveland County
- Nash County
- Rockingham County
- Lincoln County
- Burke County
- Caldwell County
- Wilson County
- Chatham County
- Surry County
- Franklin County
- Carteret County
- Wilkes County
- Rutherford County
- Lee County
- Stanly County
- Haywood County
- Pender County
- Granville County
- Sampson County
- Lenoir County
- Watauga County
- Hoke County
- Columbus County
- Duplin County
- Edgecombe County
- Halifax County
- Beaufort County
- Stokes County
- McDowell County
- Richmond County
- Davie County
- Vance County
- Jackson County
- Pasquotank County
- Person County
- Yadkin County
- Dare County
- Macon County
- Alexander County
- Scotland County
- Transylvania County
- Bladen County
- Cherokee County
- Currituck County
- Ashe County
- Montgomery County
- Caswell County
- Anson County
- Martin County
- Hertford County
- Madison County
- Greene County
- Polk County
- Warren County
- Yancey County
- Bertie County
- Avery County
- Northampton County
- Mitchell County
- Swain County
- Chowan County
- Perquimans County
- Pamlico County
- Clay County
- Washington County
- Alleghany County
- Camden County
- Gates County
- Jones County
- Graham County
- Hyde County
- Tyrrell County
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to own a home in North Carolina?
Based on Census ACS, the state average home value in North Carolina is $194,595, with median annual property tax around $1,373. Your actual cost depends on county and property.
What is the property tax in North Carolina?
Property tax rates vary by county. North Carolina's state average sits at roughly $1,373 per year on a median home. See county-level pages for local rates.
How fast are home prices appreciating in North Carolina?
FHFA House Price Index data shows North Carolina appreciating 1.0% over the last year and 54.4% over the last five years.
Is homeownership high in North Carolina?
North Carolina's homeownership rate is 71.2% (Census ACS). The share of owner-occupied units varies widely across counties.