SmartAsset has released its 8th annual study on the Places With the Most Purchasing Power. The study measures the places where average living expenses are most affordable for people living there by measuring the cost of living relative to local income in each county.
According to the study, Mecklenburg County ranked among the places in North Carolina where purchasing power was highest. For a closer look at how the top performing economies in North Carolina compared, check out the table below:
| Rank | County, State | Cost of Living | Per Capita Income | Purchasing Power – Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orange, NC | $44,550 | $67,089 | 33.96% |
| 2 | Chatham, NC | $45,061 | $66,766 | 32.95% |
| 3 | Mecklenburg, NC | $44,540 | $65,244 | 32.25% |
| 4 | Wake, NC | $46,151 | $65,450 | 30.31% |
| 5 | Dare, NC | $43,180 | $59,240 | 28.39% |
| 6 | Catawba, NC | $36,713 | $49,193 | 27.06% |
| 7 | Iredell, NC | $41,948 | $56,201 | 27.06% |
| 8 | Carteret, NC | $39,830 | $53,276 | 26.96% |
| 9 | Moore, NC | $40,862 | $54,514 | 26.82% |
| 10 | Guilford, NC | $37,439 | $49,856 | 26.72% |
You can find the full study, methodology and interactive map here: [LINK]