Best Cities for Families in North Carolina
North Carolina ranks #28 of 50 for families, with a families score of 62.8. Apex is its best city for families at 71.0.
- North Carolina, all states
- #28 of 50
- Population
- 70,630
North Carolina for Families: The Full Picture
North Carolina lands in the middle of the pack for families at #28 out of 50 states. The state has genuine strengths — affordability scores strong at 74/100 — but also areas that may give parents pause. The 86.4% high school graduation rate leaves room for improvement, and a typical home value of $334,773 is manageable for dual-income households.
Education is the single most important factor for families choosing where to live, and North Carolina shows mixed results on this front. The state's high school graduation rate stands at 86.4%, roughly in line with national norms. School quality has been a consistent strength, reflected in an education score of 61/100. Center-based infant care runs $13,916 a year — a meaningful expense, close to the 50-state average.
Safety is the other pillar of family-friendly living. North Carolina sits near the 50-state average for violent crime at 330.3 incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI estimate). With a cost-of-living index of 94.3, household expenses are close to the national norm — neither a major advantage nor a dealbreaker.
All 22 Cities Ranked for Families
| # City | Grade | Families score | Overall | Education | Safety | Affordability | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Apex | A+ | 71.0 | 74.9 | 54 | 98 | 51 | 70,630 |
| 2Cary | A+ | 69.8 | 71.2 | 55 | 95 | 53 | 179,306 |
| 3Wake Forest | A+ | 68.5 | 69.2 | 53 | 94 | 59 | 52,844 |
| 4Chapel Hill | A | 67.4 | 65.1 | 73 | 88 | 54 | 61,607 |
| 5Huntersville | A+ | 66.1 | 68.0 | 49 | 92 | 57 | 63,969 |
| 6Concord | B+ | 63.3 | 60.8 | 53 | 93 | 67 | 108,719 |
| 7Mooresville | B+ | 63.3 | 60.5 | 53 | 77 | 63 | 52,381 |
| 8Raleigh | B+ | 61.5 | 61.2 | 59 | 65 | 62 | 481,031 |
| 9Kannapolis | B | 61.1 | 57.9 | 55 | 85 | 72 | 57,890 |
| 10High Point | C+ | 57.8 | 53.3 | 59 | 60 | 78 | 116,245 |
| 11Jacksonville | C+ | 57.0 | 53.4 | 54 | 80 | 78 | 71,279 |
| 12Durham | B | 56.8 | 57.4 | 58 | 49 | 64 | 291,467 |
| 13Asheville | C | 55.5 | 51.7 | 65 | 27 | 64 | 94,535 |
| 14Charlotte | B | 55.2 | 56.3 | 51 | 47 | 64 | 903,844 |
| 15Wilmington | B | 54.8 | 55.7 | 60 | 60 | 67 | 120,805 |
| 16Greenville | C | 54.5 | 49.6 | 53 | 61 | 83 | 92,857 |
| 17Greensboro | C | 54.1 | 49.7 | 57 | 41 | 77 | 301,198 |
| 18Burlington | D | 52.8 | 48.1 | 50 | 47 | 81 | 59,610 |
| 19Fayetteville | D | 52.7 | 46.8 | 52 | 48 | 79 | 210,815 |
| 20Winston-Salem | D | 52.0 | 47.8 | 57 | 38 | 79 | 252,037 |
| 21Rocky Mount | D | 51.1 | 44.4 | 49 | 40 | 86 | 54,297 |
| 22Gastonia | D | 50.6 | 47.3 | 51 | 30 | 73 | 82,884 |
City families scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out. City scores for families also weigh the county's expected yearly building losses from natural hazards (FEMA), lower is better; the share of adults without health insurance (CDC PLACES), lower is better; the share of households with someone under 18 (Census ACS), higher is better.
Compare: States with Similar Families Rankings
Also See: North Carolina for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Carolina a good state for families?
North Carolina ranks #28 out of 50 for families with a persona-weighted score of 62.8/100. Its strongest relevant category is Affordability (74/100) and its weakest is Outdoor Access (14/100).
What is the best city for families in North Carolina?
Apex ranks #1 in North Carolina for families with a score of 71.0/100, followed by Cary and Wake Forest.
What factors are most important for families in North Carolina?
Rankings weighted toward education quality, public safety, affordable housing, healthcare, and community livability — the factors that matter most to families with children.