North Carolina
Photo Credit: Pixabay

Searching for a reputable moving company in North Carolina?

An interstate move is never done in a hurry, even if you’re looking to end the whole process as soon as you can.

Choosing the right moving company in North Carolina that can help you move your entire household items and deliver them in one piece requires thoughtful planning. But you can make the most of your efforts and more by reading this guide.

Be ready to make some efforts though, because that’s what it requires on your part.

When you need to hire a reputable moving company in North Carolina, one of the best methods is to start by asking people around you for referrals.

While reviews are easy to find online, it’s hard to tell who wrote them and how honest they are. But you can opt for a reputable moving referral service such as Mover Junction. All movers on Mover Junction are prescreened to ensure they have a strong track record in the moving industry.

Let’s get started.

Demographics

North Carolina Demographics

A quick look at the population and other demographics of North Carolina.

Male vs Female Population of North Carolina

Male vs Female Population by Age Groups in North Carolina

Population distribution by Ethnicity in North Carolina

move to Alaska

Quick facts to know about before moving to North Carolina

  • North Carolina averages 213 sunny days per year
  • North Carolina’s cost of living is lower than the U.S. average
  • North Carolina’s median home value is $174,380
  • North Carolina's income tax rate is 5.25% (flat-rate)
  • You’ll enjoy all four seasons in North Carolina
  • North Carolina’s average annual pay for the average job is $53,703 a year
  • North Carolina’s average one way commute time is less than the U.S. average

North Carolina Weather

If the weather is one of the key things on your checklist of what to consider before moving to North Carolina, we’ve collated key stats about the state’s weather. This will give you an idea of what to expect if you’re moving to North Carolina:

  • On average, North Carolina gets 48 inches of rain per year. U.S. average is 38 inches
  • North Carolina averages 4 inches of snow per year. U.S. average is 28 inches
  • North Carolina gets 213 sunny days per year. U.S. average is 205 sunny days
  • North Carolina averages 112 days of precipitation per year
  • North Carolina January winter low is 29 degrees
  • North Carolina July summer high is 88 degrees
move to Arizona

Top 10 Reasons to move to North Carolina

Here are the top ten reasons why people are moving to North Carolina:

  • Low cost of living

    North Carolina’s cost of living is lower than the national average. Home, groceries, healthcare, transportation, and other amenities cost lower in North Carolina than in the neighboring states.

  • Low housing cost

    North Carolina’s median home value is $174,380 which is much lower than the national average. This means you have a higher chance of owning a home in North Carolina. Similarly, the average rent for a studio apartment in the state is $697 and for a 4-bedroom apartment is $1,430.

  • Low property taxes

    Compared to the taxes that homeowners in other states pay, North Carolina property tax rates are relatively low. The average homeowner pays 0.85% of their home value in North Carolina property taxes or $8.49 for every $1,000 in home value.

  • Enjoy all four seasons in a year

    North Carolina experiences all four seasons. That’s about 3 months of each season to enjoy. From deep breath cooler days of fall and the annual fall foliage season; to cold winter days with some sleet and snow; to the mild spring days with blooming flowers and trees; to the long hot humid summer days with thunderstorms the state has it all.

  • Easier access to top-quality education

    North Carolina ranks 7th in higher education. It is one of the best states to settle in if you have a plan for the higher education of your children. The state has many top-notch schools and colleges.

  • Remarkable outdoor lifestyle

    No matter how you define adventure and outdoor lifestyle – North Carolina offers it on land, in air, and water. Its unique geography makes it a promised land for kayaking and diving, hiking, horseback riding, and camping under the stars.

  • Tasty food and drinks

    Every state will have a specialty in food and for North Carolina, it is barbeque. The state boasts a bounty of flavors, from coastal seafood to farm-fresh fruits and vegetables to multiple styles of barbecue.

    To help you pick from the sea of grubs in North Carolina, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best cuisines you should relish.

    • Fried green tomatoes topped with pimento cheese
    • Krispy Kreme Cheerwine Doughnut
    • Bojangles
    • Deviled eggs
    • Shrimp n' grits
    • Cheerwine Float
    • Corn sticks
    • Fried collards
    • Sweet potato casserole
    • Red slaw
  • North Carolina is rich in arts and culture

    North Carolina boasts of rich and diverse traditions in craft, music, folk arts, painting, and literature. In addition, the state also has a dynamic contemporary art scene.

  • The state’s residents are friendly and warm

    North Carolina takes pride in its southern hospitality. The state is a melting point of different cultures and there is a welcoming attitude in its DNA. You will have friendly strangers all around waiting to start a conversation.

  • North Carolina has a dependable healthcare system

    North Carolina may not be the best in healthcare but it has one of the best healthcare systems in the country. The state boasts of some of the top-rated hospitals in the US and ensures that the residents are well taken care of

Tip: Often, you feel like calculating the moving cost before you connect with a moving company. To help you, we've got a free moving cost calculator.

pros

Pros & Cons of Living in North Carolina

Here are the pros and cons to consider before making up your mind about moving to North Carolina:

Pros of living in North Carolina
  • North Carolina’s cost of living is below the national average
  • You’ll enjoy all four seasons in North Carolina
  • You’ll enjoy amazing outdoor activities in North Carolina
  • North Carolina residents are warm and welcoming
  • Lots of tasty food and beverages in North Carolina
  • North Carolina is home to several top-quality schools
  • North Carolina has some of the most delicious barbecues in the world
  • Sunsets are always spectacular in North Carolina
Cons of living in North Carolina
  • Crime rates in North Carolina are higher than the national average
  • There’s a constant threat of a hurricane
  • Some of the state’s taxes are higher than in other states
  • The city and state government hardly get along
  • The state has a university faction problem
  • Sometimes the seasons aren’t predictable in North Carolina
  • Residents in the state always rate it poorly
  • Travelers can easily get lost in North Carolina

Where Are The Best Places To Live In North Carolina?

North Carolina is home to several beautiful cities and towns. Moving to North Carolina will most likely mean finding the best places to live in the state. Here are the ten best places to live in North Carolina if you’re moving to the state.

Rank City Population Unemployment Rate Home Value
1 Davidson 12,735 2.8% $448,300
2 Cary 166,268 3.2% $356,400
3 Apex 51,370 3.0% $327,800
4 Morrisville 26,280 3.5% $331,800
5 Holly Springs 34,874 3.7% $320,900
6 Chapel Hill 60,998 3.4% $399,700
7 Pinehurst 16,050 3.0% $293,100
8 Elon 11,516 3.3% $253,500
9 Wake Forest 42,111 3.9% $297,300
10 Winterville 9,645 3.7% $161,300

 

North Carolina Cities Moving Guides

What’s the cost of living in North Carolina?

The cost of living in North Carolina is rated 90.6. The national average is 100. This means the cost of living in North Carolina is lower than the United States average. This is one of the most significant things to think through before making up your mind about moving to North Carolina.

North Carolina housing market

Housing is one of the key factors to consider before moving to North Carolina. Whether you’re looking to rent or buy a home, we have the key stats you need to make the right decision.

What’s the median home value in North Carolina?

North Carolina’s median home value is $174,380. However, in bigger cities such as Raleigh and Charlotte, the median home values are higher at $282,237 and $208,791 accordingly.

What’s the average rental cost in North Carolina?

Renting a home before or after moving to North Carolina can be a great housing option. About 29.2% of the state’s residents are renters. Finding a home to rent in the state is relatively easy. About 2.3% of homes and apartments in the state are available to rent.

  • Average cost of a Studio apartment in NC is $697
  • Average cost of a 1-bedroom home or apartment in NC is $731
  • Average cost of a 2-bedroom home or apartment in NC is $875
  • Average cost of a 3-bedroom home or apartment in NC is $1,172
  • Average cost of a 4-bedroom home or apartment in NC is $1,430

Median House Price in North Carolina vs USA

Median Rent Price in North Carolina vs USA

Cost of Living by Categories in North Carolina vs USA

North Carolina Job Market

The job market of any state is one of the key metrics of its economy. Moving to North Carolina could mean getting a new job, starting a new business, or investing in the state. Below are key metrics of North Carolina’s job market:

What’s the unemployment rate in North Carolina?

  • North Carolina’s unemployment rate is 4.4. The national average is 3.7
  • Over the past year, North Carolina has witnessed a job growth of 1.7%
  • 13 companies in North Carolina made the Fortune 500 list in 2020

What are the top industries in North Carolina?

North Carolina is home to several leading industries across the country. Moving to North Carolina could mean getting a chance to work in any of the state’s largest industries.

  • Aerospace & Defense
  • Automotive, Truck & Heavy Machinery
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
  • Business & Financial Services
  • Energy
  • Food Processing & Manufacturing
  • Furniture
  • Information Technology
  • Plastics & Chemicals
  • Textiles
  • Tourism

Tip: When you’ve got a home to move in North Carolina, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.

What are the top career options in North Carolina?

The unemployment rate in North Carolina is higher than the national average. If you’re considering moving to North Carolina and getting a job, you may consider any of the fastest-growing jobs in the state. Here’s a list of the top ten fastest-growing jobs in North Carolina and their wages:

Rank Job Title Growth % Average Wage Jobs in 2024
1 Statistician 145.6% $102,510 1,340
2 Credit Counselor 142.2% $50,270 1,010
3 Nurse Practitioner 139.5% $103,090 4,840
4 Operations Analyst 139.2% $75,070 2,450
5 Occupational Therapy Assistant 137.7% $60,690 1,790
6 Physical Therapist Assistant 135.1% $58,880 3,310
7 Physician Assistant 134.9% $100,480 5,290
8 Home Health Aid 134.7% $20,170 65,370
9 Diagnostic Medical Sonographer 134.2% $64,630 2,590
10 Physical Therapy Aide 133.3% $26,010 1,280

Ready to start planning your move?

Tell us a little bit about your move and let us make your move simple.

Start My Quote Now

What’s the median salary in North Carolina?

How much will you most likely earn if you get a job in North Carolina? Here are key salary stats to look at if you’re moving to North Carolina:

  • North Carolina’s average annual pay for the average job is $53,703 a year
  • The state’s average hourly rate for hourly jobs is $25.82 an hour
  • North Carolina’s average weekly pay for hourly jobs is $1,033 per week
  • The state’s average monthly pay for the average hourly job is
  • Mostly salaries within average jobs range between $39,820 to $59,528
  • The minimum wage in North Carolina is $7.25 per hour

The 10 Biggest Companies In North Carolina

Moving to North Carolina could mean getting a job in one of the biggest companies in the state. Here’s a list of the ten biggest companies in North Carolina and they double as the largest employer in the state:

Rank Company City Employees
1 Compass Group the USA Charlotte 595,841
2 Lowe’s Mooresville 310,000
3 Bank of America Charlotte 204,489
4 Total Raleigh 104,000
5 State of North Carolina Raleigh 81,000
6 Advance Auto Parts Raleigh 70,000
7 VF Greensboro 69,000
8 Hanesbrands Winston-Salem 67,200
9 Food Lion Salisbury 65,250
10 Quintiles Transnational Durham 55,001

How fast can you commute in North Carolina?

North Carolina’s average one-way commute time takes 24.3 minutes. The national average is 26.4 minutes. This means commuting time in the state is shorter than the U.S. average, this is one more reason why moving to North Carolina is a great idea.

Longer commuting time can trigger stress and anxiety which isn’t good for your health. Here’s a simple breakdown of how people commute to work in North Carolina:

  • In North Carolina, 81.2% of residents drive their own car alone
  • Up to 9.5% of North Carolina residents carpool with others
  • About 5.2% of North Carolina residents work from home
  • In North Carolina, an average of 1.0% take the mass transit

Start Your Moving Quote Now!

Compare upto 6 Moving Quotes and save upto 65% on Your Move.

Start My Quote Now

Is North Carolina a safe place?

Crime rates are most likely some of the key things you’ll have to review before making up your mind about moving to North Carolina. In this section, we’ve curated key stats about crime rates in North Carolina to help you make the right moving decision.

  • North Carolina’s violent crime rate is .8. U.S. average is 3.7
  • North Carolina property crime rate is 24.9. U.S. average is 22.0
  • 11% of residents reported a personal experience with violent crime in the past 12 months
  • 24% of residents reported run-in with a property crime in the past 12 months
  • Nationally, 12% reported a personal experience of violent crime and 26% reported a run-in with property crimes
  • Aggravated assault is the most common violent crime reported in North Carolina, accounting for 70% of all violent crimes in the state
  • Robbery constitute 22% of all violent crimes reported in North Carolina
  • Larceny-theft is the most reported property crime in North Carolina accounting for 69% of all property crimes reported
  • Up to 33% of North Carolina residents have a home security system. The U.S. average is 24%
  • In North Carolina, 26% of households use no form of security system or protection. The U.S. average is 29%

Number of Households by Income Level in North Carolina

Median Income in North Carolina vs USA

Unemployment Rate in North Carolina vs USA

How are taxes like in North Carolina?

North Carolina has a flat-rate income tax and a below national average effective property tax rate. If tax is one of the key things you’re looking at before moving to North Carolina, here’s a simple breakdown of the state’s taxes:

  • North Carolina income tax rate is 5.25% (flat-rate)
  • North Carolina sales tax rate is 6.75% 7.50%
  • Average effective property tax rate in North Carolina is 0.77%
  • Gax tax in North Carolina is 36.10 cents per gallon (regular diesel and gasoline)

What is North Carolina most known for?

The state of North Carolina is known for many things from the Wright brother’s first flight to the Great Smoky Mountains and more.

Given that you’re considering moving to North Carolina, here’s a list of the key things the state is known for:

  • Beautiful beaches

    With 300 miles of pristine coastline, North Carolina has some of the best beaches in the US. The beaches in North Carolina come in many shapes and sizes, but a majority of them are on sandy barrier islands, with limited development behind them.

    Here are the 10 top-rated beaches in North Carolina

    • Atlantic Beach
    • Wrightsville Beach
    • Nags Head Beach
    • Carova Beach
    • Carolina Beach
    • Beaches on Topsail Island
    • Emerald Beach
    • Beaches of Bald Head Island
    • Kitty Hawk
    • Beaches in the Tri Villages: Rodanthe, Waves & Salvo
  • First in flight

    North Carolina walked into history books of aviation in 1903 when Wright Brothers experimented with the first flying at Kitty Hawks.

  • Charlotte Motor Speedway

    The motorsport complex in Concord has a 1.5-mile quad-oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Bank of America Roval 400. The 2,000-acre complex has the only all-concrete, four-lane drag strip in the country.

  • NASCAR Hall of Fame

    The NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte is a museum dedicated to the motorsport drivers, displaying their achievements. The 4-floor complex displays videos of championships and also has restaurants and souvenir shops inside.

  • Blue Ridge Parkway

    The 469-mile national parkway spread in Virginia and North Carolina is noted for its scenic beauty. Blue-misted mountains, cascading waterfalls, rolling pasture, and gorges banked with wildflowers greet hikers of all skill levels among the more than 100 varied and intriguing trails.

  • The Wright Brothers National Memorial

    At Kill Devil Hills, a 60' ft. granite monument commemorates Wright Brothers who used this area for flying experiments. There is a museum with a full-scale reproduction of the 1902 glider and the 1903 flying machine, as well as an engine block from the original 1903 flyer, and a precise reproduction of the wind tunnel that the Wrights used to conduct their early experiments.

  • The largest private residence in the U.S.

    The 175,000-square feet Biltmore Estate in Asheville is the largest privately-owned house in the United States. The French chateaux-styled mansion boasts 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces.

  • Aviation

    The history of aviation began in North Carolina, where the Wright Brothers conducted their flying experiments. The first successful flying of a glider happened at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on December 17, 1903.

  • The Great Smoky Mountains

    The 187,000-acre mountain range at the Tennessee-North Carolina border is a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains and is often called Smokies. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is a part of the subrange and annually about 11 million people visit here. The Great Smokies is a World Heritage Site.

  • North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

    The largest natural history museum in the southeast, the 4-floor North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has more than a dozen exhibits from coastal to prehistoric North Carolina. There is a 10,000-gallon aquarium and the live collections include fish, butterflies, reptiles, and amphibians.

  • North Carolina is the birthplace of three presidents (Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, and James K. Polk)

    North Carolina has produced three presidents of the US, Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, and James K. Polk and North Carolina Capitol in Raleigh has a statue featuring all the three presidents.

Tip: While moving the home, safety of your belongings is the priority and you need a trustworthy mover at your side. Know the top-rated moving companies in North Carolina.

How to screen moving companies in North Carolina?

First, you’ll have to make a list of recommended movers or the ones you found online. Then, you’ll have to narrow down that list through an effective screening process. The key thing is to get the whole process right, not just walk through it.

For instance, a mover with a license isn’t an indication of great service. More so, a reputable mover could have several incidents that mean they aren’t so reputable anymore. So, how can you tell who to opt for?

Here are key things to ask North Carolina moving companies before moving to the next phase:

  • Company name, physical address, and telephone numbers
  • Company web address and email address
  • Point of contact information
  • U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) or your in-state DOT, and Motor Carrier (MC) license information
  • Proof of valid insurance

You can call the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to check the status of the moving and storage company’s licensing and insurance at (202) 366-9805 for licensing, and (202) 385-2423 for insurance. Or check online at safersys.org.

What to consider before hiring a moving company in North Carolina?

Here are things to consider before hiring any moving company:

  • Reputation
  • Insurance
  • The company’s policy
  • Experience
  • Cost of service
  • Cancellation policy
  • Referrals
  • Get multiple moving quotes
  • Move during off-peak season (winter)
  • Get a binding-not-to-exceed moving estate

You can ascertain each North Carolina moving company’s status with the Better Business Bureau and the American Moving and Storage Association, and inquire about complaints through FMCSA’s Safety Violation and Consumer Complaints hotline at 888-368-7238 (open 24/7).

 

Calculate Your Moving Costs

How much will your moving to North Carolina costs?

This is one of the key questions to ask when you’re planning to move to North Carolina. You can figure that out easily by using our free moving cost calculator. Once you realize the amount your moving to North Carolina will cost, you’ll be able to come up with a realistic moving budget.

Get Multiple Moving Quotes

You shouldn’t rely on having just one moving quote from a North Carolina moving company. Rather, you should request several moving quotes from various movers. You can do all that on just one platform. You request once and get multiple moving quotes from various moving companies. This gives you the opportunity to compare costs before hiring any moving company.

Also, you’ll get the chance to go over each item on the moving quote carefully with your preferred mover. If a certain amount is much higher or lower without any reasonable explanation for it, check the details closely.For example, movers usually charge extra for situations such as excessive staircase carries, and some might have better or worse rates for those extras.

Best Schools & Universities in North Carolina

Whether you’re still schooling or not, or have school-age kids, moving to North Carolina and choosing school districts known for their top-quality education is important. So, we’ve made a list of the best elementary, middle, high, colleges, and universities in North Carolina to help you get started.

Here are the top-rated universities, colleges, high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools in North Carolina.

Contact Info

MoverJunction.com
20130 Lakeview Center Plaza
Ashburn, VA 20147

888-901-4841

mobile-with-hand