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Best Overall Cities in North Carolina

9 cities ranked · Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions.

Top Cities in North Carolina

  1. #1
    B

    Cary

    Best Overall Cities score 78 · MoveScore 78

  2. #2
    B

    Raleigh

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  3. #3
    B

    Huntersville

    Best Overall Cities score 74 · MoveScore 74

  4. #4
    B

    Charlotte

    Best Overall Cities score 73 · MoveScore 73

  5. #5
    B

    Durham

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  6. #6
    B

    Winston-Salem

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  7. #7
    B

    Wilmington

    Best Overall Cities score 70 · MoveScore 70

  8. #8
    C

    Greensboro

    Best Overall Cities score 66 · MoveScore 66

  9. #9
    C

    Fayetteville

    Best Overall Cities score 62 · MoveScore 62

Other North Carolina Rankings

Best for Safety in North Carolina

Lowest crime rates per FBI UCR — best for families sensitive to violent and property crime.

Best for Water Quality in North Carolina

Cleanest drinking water per EPA SDWIS — fewest violations, highest safety scores.

Best for Air Quality in North Carolina

Cleanest air per EPA AQS — lowest median AQI and fewest unhealthy days.

Best for Public Schools in North Carolina

Strongest public school performance per NCES/EDFacts — highest average proficiency.

Best Fiscal Health in North Carolina

Strongest municipal fiscal health per Census ASPEP — sustainable per-capita spending.

Best for Hospital Care in North Carolina

Highest-rated hospitals per CMS HCAHPS — best patient experience scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city in North Carolina ranks highest for best overall cities?

Cary, NC ranks #1 in North Carolina for best overall cities with a sub-score of 78/100 (MoveScore 78, grade B).

How many cities in North Carolina are compared?

9 North Carolina cities have enough federal data for this ranking. Cities need at least three of six sub-scores for inclusion.

How is this ranking calculated?

Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions. Sub-scores are normalized to 0-100 and the highest scores rank first.

Sources: FBI UCR, EPA, NCES, Census ASPEP, CMS HCAHPS
Last updated:

North Carolina-specific ranking using the composite MoveScore, normalized to 0-100. Cities need at least three federal sub-scores to be included.