Most Expensive Places to Live in North Carolina

Wrightsville Beach sits on a narrow barrier island four miles east of Wilmington, one of the most expensive cities in North Carolina by home value. A protected harbor, Atlantic surf breaks, and the Wrightsville Beach Loop drive co... Read more

Topsail Beach occupies the southern tip of Topsail Island in Pender County, one of the best beach towns in North Carolina for buyers seeking low density. The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital operates here. Minimal commercial zoni... Read more

Marvin sits in Union County just south of Charlotte with large wooded lots and no commercial zoning within town limits. Marvin Efird Park and widespread equestrian properties give it a semi-rural character within 25 miles of uptow... Read more

Weddington occupies Union County's northeastern corner, where estate lots and deed restrictions have kept density minimal and the residential character intact. No commercial development exists within town limits. Union County Publ... Read more

Bald Head Island is accessible only by ferry from Southport, with no private cars on the island. Golf carts connect residents between the marina and Smith Island's undeveloped beaches. Among the most exclusive gated communities in... Read more

Nags Head sits at the center of the Outer Banks, where Jockey's Ridge State Park anchors the tallest active sand dune system on the East Coast. One of the best beach towns in North Carolina, it draws year-round buyers alongside a ... Read more

Corolla sits at the northern end of the Outer Banks, where the paved road ends and a 4WD-only corridor extends toward the Virginia line. Wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs roam the northern beaches freely. Luxury gated communities including the Currituck Club concentrate high-value homes along the sound and ocean. Limited year-round services keep inventory tight, and at $2,195 monthly, long-term rental costs run well below what comparable coastal markets command.

Kure Beach occupies the southernmost developed stretch of the Cape Fear coast in New Hanover County. Fort Fisher State Recreation Area borders the town to the south, permanently blocking adjacent development. Carolina Beach sits j... Read more

Highlands sits at 4,118 feet in Macon County, ranking among the most expensive places to live in North Carolina and some of the priciest small towns in the country. A walkable downtown anchors high-end boutiques, nationally recogn... Read more

Lake Toxaway sits in Transylvania County inside one of the most exclusive luxury gated communities in North Carolina, built around the largest private lake in the state. The Lake Toxaway Country Club provides golf, tennis, and lakefront dining. Blue Ridge Mountain terrain adds four-season appeal. Properties here rarely reach the open market, and when they do, prices average $1,075,000 against a local median income of $66,000, reflecting the extent to which outside wealth drives the market.