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US News Ranks These Two North Carolina Cities Among The Nation’s 10 Best Places To Live

We love a friendly rivalry between cities. And we love to see who comes out on top in those rivalries when publications put together different lists. This time it’s the…

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Sean Pavone

Sean Pavone

We love a friendly rivalry between cities. And we love to see who comes out on top in those rivalries when publications put together different lists. This time it's the Best Places To Live. And this list comes from a reputable source- US News and World Report. As North Carolina residents we know there are plenty of fantastic places to call home in North Carolina. Whether it’s the beaches the Piedmont, or the mountains. There is something for everyone. Each year US News ranks the best places to live in the US, and this year not one but two North Carolina cities made the top 10. Yes, the top 10 for the entire country. That's big! And yes, it comes down to the two cities you'd expect Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham.

I know people have strong feelings about both, but I've called the two cities home though Charlotte for much more of my life, and love them both.  I'll give you a hint one city ranked number 3 and the other came in at number 8 on this list. You can read all the information on the methodology US News uses in ranking cities here. Below you'll find the top 7 places to live in North Carolina. Why seven? It's the cities that are among the nation's 150 most populous. You'll also see where they stack up overall against the rest of the United States. And below that, you'll find the top places to live in the US.

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

Best Places To Live In North Carolina

According to US News & World Report

7. Fayetteville

#135 Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 5.7

Quality of Life: 6.0

Value: 6.8

ayetteville North Carolina Downtown City Center Hay Street

6. Greensboro

#72 Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 5.7

Quality of Life: 6.5

Value: 7.5

Downtown Greensboro, North Carolina, USA Skyline

5. Winston-Salem

#41 Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 6.4

Quality of Life: 6.7

Value: 7.7

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA Downtown Skyline

Kruck20

4. Asheville

#29 Overall Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 6.5

Quality of Life: 6.8

Value: 7.0

Downtown Asheville North Carolina NC Skyline Aerial

Kruck20

3. Hickory

#25 Overall Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 6.5

Quality of Life: 6.4

Value: 8.6

Downtown Hickory

Jeff Yount

2. Charlotte

#8 Overall Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 6.7

Quality of Life: 6.4

Value: 7.0

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Sean Pavone

1. Raleigh & Durham

#3 Best Places To Live Overall

Overall Score: 6.9

Quality of Life: 6.4

Value: 7.0

Raleigh, North Carolina, USA Downtown City Skyline

Sean Pavone

Top 10 Best Places To Live

According To US News

10. Fayetteville, AK

Overall Score: 6.7

Quality of Life: 6.9

Value: 7.8

Downtown town square in Fayetteville, Arkansas

BlazenImages

9. Colorado Springs

Overall Score: 6.7

Quality of Life: 6.5

Value: 5.8

Colorado Springs

Jacob Boomsma

8. Charlotte, NC

Overall Score: 6.7

Quality of Life: 6.4

Value: 7.0

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Sean Pavone

7. Portland, ME

Overall Score: 6.7

Quality of Life: 7.4

Value: 6.2

Portland, Maine, USA Coastal Townscape

Sean Pavone

6. Naples, FL

Overall Score: 6.8

Quality of Life: 7.1

Value: 6.2

Naples coastal neighborhoods aerial drone photo

felixmizioznikov

5. Sarasota, FL

Overall Score: 6.8

Quality of Life: 7.0

Value: 6.1

Downtown Sarasota from Ringling Bridge

KarolinaBorkowski

4. Boulder, CO

Overall Score: 6.8

Quality of Life: 7.7

Value: 5.3

Boulder Pearl Street Mall, Colorado

espiegle

3. Raleigh & Durham, NC

Overall Score: 6.9

Quality of Life: 6.4

Value: 7.0

Raleigh, North Carolina, USA Downtown City Skyline

Sean Pavone

2. Huntsville, AL

Overall Score: 6.9

Quality of Life: 7.0

Value: 8.2

Huntsville

Sean Pavone

1. Green Bay, WI

Overall Score: 6.9

Quality of Life: 7.3

Value: 8.0

Green Bay is a Large Town in Northern Wisconsin on Lake Michigan

Jacob Boomsma

Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.