A recent analysis by financial technology company SmartAsset identifies the places in North Carolina where residents earn the most money. The study analyzes data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Five-Year American Community Survey to determine the counties with the highest earners. These rankings are a contributing factor in an overarching study on the places with the most purchasing power.
For a look at how the leading counties in North Carolina compared, check out the table below:
| Rank | County, State | Cost of Living | Median Income | Median Income Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wake, NC | $46,205 | $80,591 | 48.92 |
| 2 | Union, NC | $46,688 | $80,033 | 48.45 |
| 3 | Orange, NC | $43,784 | $71,723 | 41.57 |
| 4 | Currituck, NC | $43,047 | $69,964 | 40.12 |
| 5 | Cabarrus, NC | $40,999 | $67,328 | 37.94 |
| 6 | Chatham, NC | $41,220 | $67,031 | 37.69 |
| 7 | Mecklenburg, NC | $41,401 | $66,641 | 37.37 |
| 8 | Camden, NC | $43,473 | $64,572 | 35.65 |
| 9 | Durham, NC | $39,835 | $60,958 | 32.66 |
| 10 | Iredell, NC | $39,490 | $60,955 | 32.66 |
The full study results, methodology and interactive map can be found here: https://smartasset.com/