10 Most Affordable Housing Markets in North Carolina

Typical home prices in some North Carolina cities are in the $500s and even $600s, but the state offers much more affordable options while still enjoying the benefits of living here.

In fact, by our estimates, you could become a homeowner for around $1,000 per month in some locales.

Have your eye on North Carolina? You may want to look for homes in these cities first.

1. Roanoke Rapids
2. Rockingham
3. Kinston
4. Clinton
5. Eden
6. Lumberton
7. Henderson
8. Rocky Mount
9. Goldsboro
10. Shelby

1. Roanoke Rapids

*Payments include estimated property tax, home insurance, and mortgage insurance. See the methodology at the end of this article for payment assumptions. All figures are for example purposes only and may not be available.

Roanoke Rapids is the most affordable location on our list. With home prices just over $100,000, living in this city of around 15,000 residents won’t break the bank. At just 90 minutes from Raleigh, this town offers a slower pace of life without being too remote.

Related: Rent vs Buy in North Carolina

2. Rockingham

While prices are affordable, employment opportunities are plentiful in government, manufacturing, and retail according to the Rockingham County website.

3. Kinston

A town of about 20,000, Kinston is in eastern North Carolina and dates back to 1791. History buffs will enjoy the town’s CSS Neuse Civil War Museum, which features a warship from that era.

4. Eden

Another Rockingham County town, Eden, is just an hour outside Winston-Salem, but offers homes at about half the cost of the larger metro. A website dedicated to the city, Explore Eden, boasts its outdoor activities, restaurants, its drive-in theatre, and many other activities.

5. Clinton

Living in Clinton proves to be ultra-affordable, with low home prices and plenty of work opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, and other industries.

6. Lumberton

A city of around 20,000, Lumberton offers a small-town feel while being just 30 minutes from Fayetteville. Atlantic Ocean beaches are just 90 minutes from the town.

7. Henderson

About an hour north of Raleigh, Henderson offers affordable home prices. What’s even better is that the entire town is geographically eligible for zero-down loans from USDA.

8. Rocky Mount

One of the bigger cities on the list, Rocky Mount boasts a population of around 54,000. You won’t run out of things to do here, with parks, lakes, museums, and other activities.

9. Goldsboro

Though it’s the most expensive city on our list, home prices here are much more affordable than in most of the state. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, this could be the place for you, as it offers hiking, kayaking, biking, fishing, and more at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park.

10. Shelby

Shelby is an affordable alternative to larger metros without sacrificing city conveniences. About an hour from two international airports, Shelby offers easy transportation to just about anywhere.

Get pre-approved for your North Carolina home

Many towns and cities across North Carolina are affordable for just about any budget. See what home price you qualify for by requesting your pre-approval from a reputable lender.

Methodology

To find the 10 most affordable housing markets in North Carolina, we used typical home prices as reported on the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) Single-Family Home Time Series for October 2024. We assumed a 5% down payment, a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.875%, the 30-day average rate published on Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices for a buyer with less than 20% down and a 700 FICO score. We added PMI costs for this buyer scenario from MGIC. The stated payment includes estimated property taxes of 1.2% of the home price per year, 0.35% per year for homeowner's insurance, and no HOA dues. To increase relevancy, we limited eligible cities to the top 3,000 largest by population nationwide per Zillow’s report.