From bustling cities like Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte, to the quaint mountain towns of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and North Carolina has plenty of places to call home. So, if you’re considering moving to North Carolina, or if you’re looking to move to a new city, you probably have a budget that you’d like to stay below while you’re looking for a place to live. When it comes to buying a home in North Carolina, the median home selling price is $367,500.
Don’t worry if that price is outside your budget. There are options to help you find a home. Redfin has collected 10 of the most affordable locations in North Carolina. And the best part is that they all have a median home selling price of less than $367,500. Learn what cities in the top 10 are.
#1: Rocky Mount
Median home price: $175,000
Average selling price per square foot: $117
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,260
Median household income: $46,396
Nearest Major Metro: Raleigh (60 miles)
Rocky Mount, North Carolina Home for Sale
Rocky Mount, North Carolina Apartments Rental
The median home sale price is $175,000, and Rocky Mount lands the number one spot on its list as the most affordable location to live in North Carolina. The medium-sized city has approximately 54,400 residents. Living in Rocky Mount, you can explore the historic Rocky Mount Mills where you can find shops and restaurants, walk along the Bridgetar River Trail, or visit the Imperial Centre at the Museum of Arts and Sciences.
#2: Fayetteville
Median home price: $223,750
Average selling price per square foot: $146
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,050
Median household income: $48,923
Nearest Major Metro: Raleigh (60 miles)
Fayetteville, North Carolina sales
Fayetteville, North Carolina apartments rent
Fayetteville is the second most affordable city to live in North Carolina. When you live in the city of 208,500, you can check out the gorgeous flowers and plants of Cape Fear Botanical Garden and Fayetteville Rose Garden and tour the Airborne & Special Operations Museum. Don’t forget to explore Fayetteville in historic downtown where you can find charming cobblestone streets and local shops.
#3: Jacksonville
Median home price: $230,000
Average selling price per square foot: $154
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,150
Median household income: $47,483
Nearest Major Metro: Wilmington (45 miles)
Jacksonville, North Carolina sales
Jacksonville, North Carolina Apartments Rental
Located just inland on the North Carolina coast, Jacksonville lives around 72,700 people. The median home selling price is $250,000, which is about $130,000 less than the median home selling price in North Carolina. If you’re visiting Wilson Bay Park overlooking Wilson Bay, spending time at Onslow Pines Park, or heading to the fourth most affordable city, grab a bite at one of the local restaurants.
#4: Burlington
Median home price: $250,000
Average selling price per square foot: $170
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,090
Median household income: $48,923
Nearest Major Metro: Greensboro (25 miles)
Barrington, North Carolina
Burlington, North Carolina apartments for rent
Another affordable city located halfway between Greensboro and Durham is Burlington. With 57,300 residents, this affordable town is a great option to add to your list. Living in Burlington, you can explore the historic sites of the vast Alamanth Battlegrounds state, check out downtown Burlington and spend the day in the Burlington City Park amusement area.
#5: High Point
Median home price: $252,000
Average selling price per square foot: $162
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,092
Median household income: $54,331
Nearest Major Metro: Greensboro (18 miles)
North Carolina High Points Home for Sale
High Point, North Carolina Apartments Rental
The fifth on the list is another well-known city, High Point, with the median home selling price being around $115,000 less than the state average. With around 114,600 people living in High Point, this year it’s a great place to consider renting or buying a house. The city has many activities, including spending a day at Oak Hollow Lake, seeing the world’s largest drawer box, and discovering exhibits at the Nido & Mariana Couve Inch’s Museum.
#6: Greenville
Median home price: $255,500
Average selling price per square foot: $145
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,117
Median household income: $48,923
Nearest Major Metro: Raleigh (80 miles)
Greenville, North Carolina sales
Greenville Apartments Rental, North Carolina
A little more expensive than High Point is the town of Greenville. There are a few top attractions you might want to check out in Greenville. Check out the Uptown district, with its town’s common-like museums, restaurants and riverfront parks. Spend the afternoon exploring River Park North and visit the East Carolina University campus.
#7: Greensboro
Median home price: $277,000
Average selling price per square foot: $176
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,089
Median household income: $51,667
Greensboro, North Carolina Home for Sale
Greensboro, North Carolina apartments for rent
Greensboro is a list of affordable locations to live in North Carolina. It has a population of about 299,000 and lives in a medium-sized city, but there is no shortage of experience in Greensboro. Don’t miss out on checking out one of the museums, including the Greensboro Science Centre, Greensboro Historical Museum, and Weatherspoon Museum. You can also enjoy the outdoors exploring marsh gardens, where you can find wetland habitat.
>>Read: Popular Greensboro, North Carolina, Neighborhood
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#8: Gastonia (ties)
Median home price: $280,000
Average selling price per square foot: $170
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,262
Median household income: $52,990
Nearest Major Metro: Charlotte (20 miles)
Homes for Sale in Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia Apartments Rental, North Carolina
Gastonia is ranked 8th on the list of the most affordable locations in North Carolina. This affordable area has nearly 80,400 residents. Living in Gastonia, check out the Schiele Natural History Museum, walk the trails, have a picnic at Martha Rivers Park, and explore downtown Gastonia’s historic centre.
#8: Winston-Salem (Tie)
Median home price: $280,000
Average selling price per square foot: $163
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,020
Median household income: $50,204
Nearest Major Metro: Greensboro (30 miles)
Home for Sale in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem Apartments Rental, North Carolina
Another great place to consider living in North Carolina is Winston-Salem. The population is approximately 249,500, and is about 30 miles east of Greensboro. Popularity in Winston-Salem include museums such as the Old Salem Museum and Garden and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art, walking along the Salem Lake Trail around the picturesque Lake Salem, and exploring downtown Winston-Salem.
#10: Cannapolis
Median home price: $312,900
Average selling price per square foot: $195
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,535
Median household income: $58,084
Nearest Major Metro: Charlotte (25 miles)
Cannapolis, North Carolina Home for Sale
Cannapolis, North Carolina apartments for rent
The 10th final town on the list of affordable locations to live in North Carolina is Cannapolis. The city has a population of 53,100 people, and you can visit one of the parks, such as Vietnam Veterans Park and Village Park, watch minor league baseball games, and check out downtown Cannapolis. While living in Cannapolis, there is a lot to do in the afternoons and weekends.
Methodology: Every city requires more than 50,000 residents per US census, and must have a median home selling price under the average North Carolina median home selling price. Median home sales prices and median sales prices per square foot from Redfin Data Center in April 2025. Average rental data from April 2025. Median household income data from the population and US Census Bureau.
