Best Counties in North Carolina — 2026 Rankings
100 of 100 counties scored across 12 dimensions
100
100 scored
45/100
composite score
70.9/100
25.9—70.9
lowest to highest
Rankings
Top Counties in North Carolina
State Overview
Understanding County Scores in North Carolina
North Carolina Trails Slightly Below the National Median
North Carolina earns a composite livability score of 44.7, placing it below the national median of 50.0. This score reflects a wide performance gap across its 100 counties, ranging from high-performing mountain regions to struggling rural centers.
Favorable Tax Rates Drive State Strengths
The state's greatest competitive advantage is its tax score of 64.5, which significantly outperforms other livability metrics. This strong fiscal environment helps residents keep more of their earnings despite a moderate cost score of 47.3.
Environmental Risks and Health Outcomes Present Hurdles
A low risk score of 33.3 indicates the state faces significant environmental and climate challenges compared to national peers. Additionally, the health score of 41.4 suggests a need for better wellness infrastructure and healthcare access for the general population.
Mountain Counties Lead the State in Livability
Mitchell County dominates the rankings with a composite score of 70.9, fueled by an elite tax score of 85.6 and high affordability. Yancey (68.3) and Madison (65.6) follow as top performers, making the western region a standout for quality of life.
An Ideal Choice for Tax-Conscious Mountain Living
North Carolina best suits families and retirees who prioritize low tax burdens and affordable rural living over high-income metrics. While urban centers like Cumberland County struggle, the high-scoring western counties offer a livability standard that far exceeds the national average.
All County Rankings in North Carolina
Search, sort, and filter all 100 ranked counties
Showing 1–25 of 100 counties
| Rank | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitchell County | 70.9 | 85.6 | 80.2 | 33 | 94 | 47.5 | 54 | 76.1 | 50.9 | 60.6 | 42.4 | 39.6 | |
| 2 | Yancey County | 68.3 | 88.3 | 70.8 | 24.9 | 78.5 | 51.2 | 63.6 | 57.8 | 86 | 60.6 | 41.2 | 38.7 | |
| 3 | Madison County | 65.6 | 86.5 | 69.3 | 34.5 | 74.6 | 45.9 | 57.7 | 72.7 | 52 | 68.8 | 37 | 59.9 | |
| 4 | Stokes County | 62.4 | 72 | 67 | 39.1 | 94.8 | 43.9 | 31.4 | 60.3 | 53.9 | 66.8 | 21.1 | 51.7 | |
| 5 | Hyde County | 61.1 | 71 | 32.2 | 9.9 | 97.5 | 32 | 88 | 33.6 | 86 | 69.7 | 51.8 | 34.9 | |
| 6 | Avery County | 60.2 | 93 | 72.2 | 32.2 | 67.5 | 44.2 | 33.6 | 52.5 | 31.5 | 65.3 | 40.6 | 44.3 | |
| 7 | Jones County | 59.8 | 57.1 | 73.4 | 26.8 | 72.3 | 24.6 | 83.5 | 35.5 | 42.6 | 60.1 | 33.5 | 18.6 | |
| 8 | Caswell County | 59.6 | 65.8 | 76.5 | 37.2 | 88.9 | 35.1 | 28.4 | 77.7 | 6.2 | 65.3 | 26.8 | 46.7 | |
| 9 | Alleghany County | 59 | 73.9 | 67.3 | 6.4 | 56.9 | 38.7 | 65.5 | 65.4 | 86 | 63.3 | 32.7 | 47.5 | |
| 10 | Alexander County | 56.6 | 70.7 | 79.2 | 55.4 | 41.9 | 44.6 | 35.8 | 54.2 | 86 | 72 | 24.9 | 48.2 | |
| 11 | Currituck County | 56.4 | 90.2 | 13.6 | 92.6 | 47.9 | 68.8 | 55.5 | 82 | 66.4 | 66.2 | 39.4 | 36.9 | |
| 12 | Transylvania County | 56.4 | 89.9 | 47 | 52.2 | 54.4 | 66.5 | 34.8 | 35.8 | 36.3 | 77.9 | 39.4 | 51.3 | |
| 13 | Gates County | 56.2 | 55.3 | 41.7 | 43.9 | 62.5 | 48.1 | 61.8 | 89.6 | 86 | 72.6 | 36.5 | 43.3 | |
| 14 | Clay County | 56.1 | 90.5 | 62.3 | 22 | 33.4 | 49.1 | 56.9 | 73.1 | 37.4 | 79.1 | 38.3 | 35.9 | |
| 15 | Macon County | 56 | 92.2 | 67.7 | 21.3 | 37.9 | 41.8 | 64 | 26.2 | 26.2 | 75.5 | 38.5 | 51.1 | |
| 16 | Graham County | 55.9 | 81.6 | 97.8 | 12.6 | 16 | 34 | 49.9 | 80 | 86 | 62.7 | 37.1 | 46.7 | |
| 17 | Jackson County | 55.5 | 95.5 | 70 | 21.7 | 33.5 | 47.1 | 56.2 | 19.5 | 29.4 | 75 | 37.2 | 54.3 | |
| 18 | Tyrrell County | 55 | 45.7 | 85.7 | 6 | 32.3 | 37.7 | 85.7 | 54 | 44.5 | 73.7 | 62.9 | 33.5 | |
| 19 | Watauga County | 53.9 | 92.9 | 28.8 | 17.4 | 53.3 | 64.8 | 59.8 | 28.2 | 30.2 | 66.3 | 42.3 | 43.7 | |
| 20 | Wake County | 53.8 | 61.6 | 6 | 95.8 | 80.2 | 83.1 | 40.5 | 4.5 | 55.7 | 69.7 | 25.7 | 43.8 | |
| 21 | Ashe County | 52.7 | 84.6 | 70.8 | 16.4 | 45 | 45.4 | 34 | 33.2 | 26.9 | 67.7 | 40.2 | 49.6 | |
| 22 | Pamlico County | 52.6 | 74.7 | 48.1 | 44 | 34.3 | 39.8 | 80 | 27.6 | 62.8 | 58.6 | 46.1 | 24 | |
| 23 | Polk County | 52.6 | 76.8 | 33.7 | 42 | 46.8 | 62.8 | 48.8 | 63.1 | 48.6 | 73.3 | 22.7 | 37.4 | |
| 24 | Swain County | 52.6 | 93.8 | 90.3 | 26.2 | 33.2 | 11.2 | 34.8 | 50.9 | 47.9 | 72.2 | 66.6 | ||
| 25 | Dare County | 51.3 | 83.1 | 11.6 | 85 | 30 | 72.1 | 67.6 | 10.4 | 86 | 75.8 | 41.7 | 39.7 |
Mitchell County
Yancey County
Madison County
Stokes County
Hyde County
Avery County
Jones County
Caswell County
Alleghany County
Alexander County
Currituck County
Transylvania County
Gates County
Clay County
Macon County
Graham County
Jackson County
Tyrrell County
Watauga County
Wake County
Ashe County
Pamlico County
Polk County
Swain County
Dare County
Frequently Asked Questions about Counties in North Carolina
Common questions about county rankings and scores in North Carolina.
What is the best county in North Carolina?
Mitchell County is the top-ranked county in North Carolina with a CountyScore of 70.9/100. It leads the state across the available scoring dimensions, which include Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets.
How many counties are ranked in North Carolina?
North Carolina has 100 counties in total. Of those, 100 have been ranked with a composite score based on available data dimensions. The remaining 0 counties do not yet have enough data for a full score.
What factors determine a county's score?
Each county is scored 0–100 across up to eight data dimensions: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, and Water Quality. The composite score is a weighted average of whichever dimensions have data. Currently available dimensions are: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets. Higher scores are always better — a score of 100 represents the best possible performance for that dimension.
What is the average county score in North Carolina?
The average composite CountyScore across all ranked counties in North Carolina is 45/100. The national average is 50/100, so North Carolina counties score 5 points below the national average.
How does North Carolina compare to other states?
North Carolina's average county score of 45/100 is 5 points below the national average of 50/100. You can compare North Carolina counties to counties in any other state using the county detail pages or the CountyScore compare tool.
Explore County Data by Category
Dive deeper into specific dimensions for counties in North Carolina.
Best counties in other states
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019–2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.