Best Cities for Remote Workers in North Carolina
North Carolina ranks #17 of 50 for remote workers, with a remote workers score of 56.9. Apex is its best city for remote workers at 72.9.
- North Carolina, all states
- #17 of 50
- Population
- 70,630
North Carolina for Remote Workers: The Full Picture
North Carolina ranks #17 out of 50 for remote workers — a strong option for those whose income isn't tied to local job markets. Remote work fundamentally changes the relocation calculus: when your salary comes from elsewhere, what matters is how far it stretches locally and how good daily life feels. On that front, North Carolina's cost-of-living index of 94.3 is well below the national average — a remote worker earning a coastal salary here gains significant purchasing power.
The high work-from-home rate of 15.4% suggests an established remote work culture with coworking spaces and digital infrastructure already in place. 93.2% of households have a broadband subscription, at or above the 50-state average, so home internet is widely adopted.
Taxes are moderate at 8.18% of income — not a major draw but not a dealbreaker. Housing affordability (score: 74/100) is a clear advantage — the typical home is worth $334,773, a manageable ratio for most remote salaries.
All 22 Cities Ranked for Remote Workers
| # City | Grade | Remote Workers score | Overall | Affordability | Economy | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Apex | A+ | 72.9 | 74.9 | 51 | 89 | 70,630 |
| 2Wake Forest | A+ | 69.0 | 69.2 | 59 | 78 | 52,844 |
| 3Cary | A+ | 68.4 | 71.2 | 53 | 84 | 179,306 |
| 4Huntersville | A+ | 65.7 | 68.0 | 57 | 76 | 63,969 |
| 5Mooresville | B+ | 61.6 | 60.5 | 63 | 60 | 52,381 |
| 6Raleigh | B+ | 60.6 | 61.2 | 62 | 61 | 481,031 |
| 7Concord | B+ | 59.7 | 60.8 | 67 | 60 | 108,719 |
| 8Durham | B | 58.9 | 57.4 | 64 | 59 | 291,467 |
| 9Chapel Hill | A | 58.4 | 65.1 | 54 | 59 | 61,607 |
| 10Kannapolis | B | 58.4 | 57.9 | 72 | 53 | 57,890 |
| 11Charlotte | B | 56.4 | 56.3 | 64 | 56 | 903,844 |
| 12High Point | C+ | 56.1 | 53.3 | 78 | 45 | 116,245 |
| 13Burlington | D | 54.4 | 48.1 | 81 | 44 | 59,610 |
| 14Greensboro | C | 53.3 | 49.7 | 77 | 45 | 301,198 |
| 15Wilmington | B | 53.1 | 55.7 | 67 | 51 | 120,805 |
| 16Gastonia | D | 52.7 | 47.3 | 73 | 46 | 82,884 |
| 17Asheville | C | 52.2 | 51.7 | 64 | 44 | 94,535 |
| 18Winston-Salem | D | 51.6 | 47.8 | 79 | 44 | 252,037 |
| 19Rocky Mount | D | 51.5 | 44.4 | 86 | 32 | 54,297 |
| 20Greenville | C | 51.0 | 49.6 | 83 | 39 | 92,857 |
| 21Fayetteville | D | 50.3 | 46.8 | 79 | 39 | 210,815 |
| 22Jacksonville | C+ | 47.1 | 53.4 | 78 | 39 | 71,279 |
City remote workers 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.
Compare: States with Similar Remote Workers Rankings
Also See: North Carolina for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Carolina a good state for remote workers?
North Carolina ranks #17 out of 50 for remote workers with a persona-weighted score of 56.9/100. Its strongest relevant category is Affordability (74/100) and its weakest is Outdoor Access (14/100).
What is the best city for remote workers in North Carolina?
Apex ranks #1 in North Carolina for remote workers with a score of 72.9/100, followed by Wake Forest and Cary.
What factors are most important for remote workers in North Carolina?
Rankings weighted toward affordable cost of living, strong economy, outdoor access, livability, low taxes, and safe communities — what remote workers prioritize when choosing where to live.