2 NC cities among best places to live, study says. What makes them special?
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- Livability ranked Raleigh and Durham among the top 100 US cities to live in 2025.
- Both cities earned high scores for economy, transportation and environment.
- Raleigh and Durham also placed on lists by U.S. News & World Report and ConsumerAffairs.
Two Triangle cities are among the top 100 places to live in the country in 2025, according to a new study.
The report from Livability, a website that provides guidance and information for people relocating, does not rank the top 100 places.
“Since there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to the perfect place to live, we’ve created a list that is fully interactive, with tools to sort and filter according to the criteria that are most important to you,” the website says.
Raleigh and Durham made the list, which includes cities with populations between 75,000 and 500,000, and a median home value of no more than $500,000.
Is Raleigh a good place to live?
Livability calculates a “LivScore” for each city, evaluating each city for amenities, economy, environment, education, health, housing and cost of living, safety and transportation.
Raleigh, which has a LivScore of 758 out of 1,000, ranks high for environment (good air quality, reasonable population density), economy (strong employment opportunities and income growth) and transportation (drivable, walkable, bikeable and more with short commutes).
▪ Livability says that “Southern charm radiates” throughout the city, notes that it is part of the Research Triangle and offers “a thriving economy and excellent quality of life that is anchored by top-notch universities, cool neighborhoods and a fabulous arts scene.”
Is Durham a good place to live?
Durham, like Raleigh, ranks high for environment, economy and transportation. Its LivScore is 710.
▪ Here’s how Livability describes the Bull City: “Durham is a city where innovation and creativity thrive. With historic neighborhoods, natural beauty, nationally recognized universities, an outstanding arts scene and delicious dining options, Durham fosters a community with diverse interests.”
Best towns to live in NC
Both cities made Liability’s 2024 list of the best places to live.
They also made U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of the 250 best places to live in the country this year, though other Triangle cities are much higher on the list, The News & Observer previously reported.
Cary and Apex ranked No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, while Raleigh was No. 155 and Durham No. 202. Chapel Hill also made the U.S. News list, at No. 103.
While Charlotte fell off the list, three cities in the Queen City metro area earned spots: Huntersville (No. 33), Mooresville (No. 98) and Concord (No. 101). Additionally, Charlotte earned the No. 8 ranking for Best Big Cities to Live, which covers those with a population of 500,000 or greater.
“All things considered, North Carolina had a strong showing in this year’s report,” said Erika Giovanetti, U.S. News’ consumer lending analyst, in an email. The state stands out in the job market and quality of life categories, she added, “striking that balance of opportunity and livability.”
A ConsumerAffairs ranking of the top 20 places to move to in North Carolina didn’t include Raleigh and Durham; the cities barely missed the cut, taking the No. 22 and No. 23 places, respectively.
NC cities on Livability’s best places to live
Several other North Carolina cities are among the best 100 places to live:
- Asheville
- Winston-Salem
- Greensboro
- Wilmington
- Greenville
The News & Observer’s Chantal Allam contributed to this story.
This story was originally published May 30, 2025 at 12:34 PM with the headline "2 NC cities among best places to live, study says. What makes them special?."
