If you’ve moved or are planning to visit North Carolina, Incredible NC is here to help! The beautiful Tarheel state holds a wide variety of geographies and things to do, depending on your mood. With the temperate weather, rich green landscape, and easy-going nature of the locals, it’s a great place to wind down. From the mountains in Asheville and Boone, to the shores of the Outer Banks, Nags Head, and Carolina Beach, you can enjoy all four seasons here. And for a faster-paced, cultural trip, enjoy the Queen City (Charlotte), Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill), and the Piedmont Triad (Greensboro, Winston-Salem). You’ll find plenty of great attractions, restaurants, breweries, parks, museums, sports, music, and shows to enjoy.
Largest cities (2022 census numbers) in North Carolina
1. Charlotte, Mecklenburg County – Population of 897,720
2. Raleigh (State capital), Wake County – Population of 476,587
3. Greensboro, Guilford County – Population of 301,115
4. Durham, Durham County – Population of 284,094
5. Winston-Salem, Forsyth County – Population of 249,571
6. Fayetteville, Cumberland County – Population of 208,697
7. Cary, Wake County – Population of 174,880
8. Wilmington, New Hanover County – Population of 116,933
9. High Point, Guilford County – Population of 114,120
10. Concord, Cabarrus County – Population of 105,335
State Motto – “Esse quam videri”, Latin for “To be, rather than to seem”
State Dog Breed – Plott hound
State Bird – Cardinal
State Tree – Pine tree
State Flower – Dogwood tree
State Vegetable – Sweet potatoes
| Article | Ranking |
|---|---|
| 2025’s Best US Cities for Job Opportunities and Earning Potential – Checkr | #1 Raleigh #8 Charlotte |
| Best and worst cities for new grads – ADP Research Institute | #1 Raleigh #5 Charlotte |
| Best Zoo – Newsweek’s Readers Choice Awards | #1 North Carolina Zoo |
| America’s Top States for Business 2025 – CNBC | #1 North Carolina |
| Most & Least Educated Cities in America (2024) – WalletHub | #4 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC #7 Raleigh-Cary, NC |
| Best cities for college grads (2024) – Zumper | #7 Raleigh, NC |
| Where Are People Moving to in 2024? – PODS | #1 Myrtle Beach, SC/Wilmington, NC #5 Charlotte, NC #6 Raleigh, NC #10 Asheville, NC |
| Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2023-2024 – US News and World Report | #3 Raleigh-Durham, NC #8 Charlotte, NC #25 Hickory, NC |
| The 28 Best Cities for US Job Seekers in 2024 – Indeed | #2 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC #5 Raleigh, NC |
Best-Performing Cities, 2025 – Milliken Institute | #1 Raleigh, NC |
| 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Survey – JD Power | #5 Raleigh Durham International Airport |