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Charlie & Debbie

Where North Carolina’s Capital Ranks Among Best State Capitals To Live

Author Debbie Nance

Usually when we think of a state capital city, we immediately think of government.  But, these cities are just like any other when it comes to what’s important for the people who live there.  Everyone wants the city in which they live to have a decent quality of life, affordability, adequate housing, employment, education, access to health care and fun things to do.  So, where does North Carolina’s state capital rank among best capitals to live?

WalletHub did some digging to find out.  In their recent study of best state capitals to live in, WalletHub analyzed the 50 state capital cities in areas of affordability, economic well-being, quality of life, education and health care.  And, North Carolina’s capital city of Raleigh came in at number 3 overall.  The Tar Heel State’s capital scored 61.38 in the ‘state capital index.’  And, to put that in perspective, the number 1 city of Austin scored 64.00.  However, Raleigh’s ‘affordability rank’ was a bit better than Austin.  But, Austin scored much better in ‘economic well-being’ and ‘quality of education & health.’

So, let’s look at what Raleigh has to offer its citizens in other areas that matter.  Just recently, nearby Cary opened the Downtown Cary Park.  The visit Raleigh website boasts the new attraction as a 7 acre ‘state of the art playspace for all ages.’  Visitors can finally visit the space that has been under construction for the past 2 years.  And, it has something for everyone.  There’s a dog park, sports lawn, firepits and a pavilion for performances.  They plan close to 500 events a year, including concerts, movie nights and more.  It’s just a 20 minute drive from Raleigh at 327 S. Academy St in Cary.  See the website for more on getting there, events and the Downtown Cary Park Social District rules.

And, opening soon at 2221 Iron Works Drive in Raleigh, folks look forward to Jaguar Bolera.  This place looks incredible.  The website describes a 50,000 square foot playground with games and libations.  Jaguar Bolera says ‘traditional Mexican cuisine meets the traditions of the American South.’  And, in browsing the website, I see opportunities for pickleball, cornhole, duckpin bowling, ping pong, karaoke and more.  Plus, there’s a self-pour tap wall.  So, this certainly adds a fun vibe to help North Carolina’s state capital in its ranking among best capital cities to live in.  And, see WalletHub’s full study to learn more.

Major North Carolina City Named Second Best Place To Live In The South

We all know both North and South Carolina are fantastic places to live. And we love to see that acknowledged by others. Whenever I come across any sort of best cities or best places to live list I’m always jumping to see where the Carolinas rank. And on this one, it’s pretty high! This time it’s the Best Places To Live In The South. And this list comes from a reputable source- US News and World Report. Whether it’s the beaches the Piedmont, or the mountains both Carolinas are great places to call home. There is something for everyone. Each year US News ranks the best places to live in the South. And this year 8 Carolina cities made the top 25.

Yes, the top 10 for the entire South. That’s big, North and South Carolina are home to almost a third of the best places to live in the South! In fact, three made the top 10, with 2 in the top 5. And yes the top 5 does come down to the two cities you’d expect Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham. And one of those two cities? It ranked the second best place to live in the entire South. I’ll spoil number one for you now- Huntsville, Alabama.

I know people have strong feelings about both Charlotte and Raleigh, but I’ve called the two cities home. Though I have lived in Charlotte for much more of my life, and love them both. Also featured on this list are a mountain town, a beach town, and some other North and South Carolina cities. You can read all the information on the methodology US News uses in ranking cities here. Below you’ll find the 8 North and South Carolina cities ranked as the best places to live in the South.

You can read the full list from US News & World Report here.

  • 23. Spartanburg, SC

    Coming in at number 23 on the best places to live in the south is Spartanburg, SC. This northern SC city offers options for outdoor adventure, is home to several performance venues, and is also home to the Spartanburg Regional History Museum. It also has easy access to I-85 to get you to Charlotte or Atlanta.

  • 21. Winston-Salem, NC

    Located in the Triad area of North Carolina, is Winston-Salem. Ranked the 21st best place to live in the south Winston Salem is home to around 250,000 residents. It’s home to Old Salem, the historic town. Winston-Salem also has options for art and music lovers and is home to Wake Forest University.

  • 16. Greenville, SC

    Greenville SC is a city that gets a lot of love lately. The downtown has been revitalized in the last decade or so and has become a destination in northern South Carolina. It’s known for its downtown waterfront park, restaurants, and breweries. The Greenville area gets some major concert tours and it’s host to the Greenville Country Music Festival each fall.

  • 14. Asheville, NC

    If it weren’t for the winters I wouldn’t mind calling the mountain paradise of Asheville home. While it does come with a higher cost of living than other areas, Asheville offers a thriving cultural scene. The area is home to numerous breweries, and world-class restaurants. Plus all the outdoor adventures you could ask for.

  • 12. Hickory, NC

    We may all be sleeping on Hickory. USA By The Numbers recently named the foothills town the “most beautiful and affordable place to live in America“. You’ll find the Catawba County city right at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, giving residents easy access to the NC mountains including Boone and Asheville as well as Charlotte.

  • 9. Myrtle Beach, SC

    Of course, the beach is a great place to live. Myrtle Beach is a tourist hot spot but is also home to around 35,000 year-round residents. They get to take advantage of not only the beach, but championship golf courses, and more restaurants than one person could possibly ever try. Plus any activity you can imagine, is probably available at Myrtle Beach.

  • 5. Charlotte, NC

    These types of lists often come down to the two largest cities in the state, and this time the largest, Charlotte, came in 2nd in NC and 5th overall. Charlotte is growing and changing daily and offers the draw of professional sports teams (Charlotte Hornets, Carolina Panthers, and Charlotte FC), concerts, restaurants, breweries, as well as Carowinds and the White Water Center. Access to a major international airport and a banking hub is great for jobs. Just don’t ask me about the cost of living, while better than many other area, its rising quickly.

  • 2. Raleigh and Durham, NC

    And the number 2 best city to live in the South? Raleigh or technically the Raleigh Durham area. With three major universities in the area and the Research Triangle Park providing numerous tech jobs, the economy is Raleigh is booming. It’s got a slightly more smaller feel than Charlotte with all the luxuries of a major city.

 

 

Debbie Nance is the afternoon co-host along with her husband on "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been with the station for 18 years. Debbie is a CMA Award winner for Radio Personality of the Year. And, she has worked in radio for 40 years. Before her current afternoon position, Debbie spent more than a decade as co-host on morning shows in several markets across the Southeast. As a content creator for Country 1037, Debbie writes articles about food, new restaurants in the Carolinas and travel experiences.

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