Best Life Index › States › North Carolina › Cities › Raleigh

North Carolina city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Raleigh?

What it costs to live in Raleigh, and how it compares with other North Carolina cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

37

56th best value in North Carolina

How much you get for what you pay, versus other North Carolina cities.

Overall livability

44

44th overall in North Carolina

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Raleigh is home to about 462,219 people. A typical home runs $285,400 and a household earns around $73,000, a price-to-income ratio of 3.9. Among North Carolina's largest cities, it ranks 56th for value and 44th overall.

Raleigh at a glance

Median home price

$285,400

64th in NC of 71

Median rent

$1,237/mo

Median household income

$73,000

Home price to income

3.9x

Unemployment

4.5%

19th in NC of 71

School rating

6/10

25th in NC of 71

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NC of 71

Walk score

57/100

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‹ See all top North Carolina cities ranked  ยท  North Carolina state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within North Carolina only. Updated 2026.