Moving from South Carolina to North Carolina
Here's how home prices, taxes and weather change — and what it means for your day-to-day.
- Median home value$299,500$333,000
Home values are about 11% higher in North Carolina.
- Monthly owner cost (with mortgage)$1,627$1,747
Monthly owner costs are about 7% higher in North Carolina.
- Median rent$1,272$1,338
Rent is about 5% higher in North Carolina.
- State income tax (top rate)6.2%4.25% flat
North Carolina's top rate is 1.95% points lower than yours.
- Property tax (effective rate)0.54%0.7%
Property tax rates are higher in North Carolina (0.7% vs 0.54%).
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)7.5%7%
Sales tax is lower in North Carolina.
- Average January temperature45.3°F40.8°F
About 4.5°F cooler on average in North Carolina.
- Average July temperature80.9°F77.9°F
About 3°F cooler on average in North Carolina.
What changes for you
- Typical home values run about 11% higher in North Carolina than South Carolina, so pick your region with care — the Foothills and parts of the Mountains cost less than Charlotte or the Triangle.
- Your top income tax rate drops from 6.2% to North Carolina's 4.25% flat rate.
- Summers are a little cooler than South Carolina on average — and the Mountains run cooler still.
People coming from South Carolina often like…
Sources: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year (tables B25077, B25088, B25064, B01003); Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates, as of March 15, 2025; Tax Foundation, Property Taxes Paid as a Percentage of Owner-Occupied Housing Value, 2023; Tax Foundation, State & Local Sales Tax Rates, as of January 1, 2025; NOAA NCEI Climate at a Glance, statewide average temperature, 1991–2020. Statewide figures — costs vary a lot by town, so ask us for the area you're considering.