10 Richest Counties in North Carolina
- Wake County
- Union County
- Orange County
- Moore County
- Currituck County
- Mecklenburg County
- Dare County
- Camden County
- Cabarrus County
- Chatham County
1. Wake County
Wake County is the richest county in North Carolina. It’s located in the northeastern part of the state where the Piedmont Region meets the Atlantic Coastal Plains Region. It has a population of over 1.12 million people, making it the most populous county in North Carolina. The state capital Raleigh is mostly in Wake County, as is a small part of the city of Durham. The local economy is heavily influenced by the Research Triangle Park – the largest industrial park in the US and a major hub for high-tech and bio research. As a result, it’s the wealthiest county in the state with a median household income of $96,806 and a median home price of $480,503.
2. Union County
Union County is also among the wealthiest counties in North Carolina. Located in the southwestern part of the state, Union County’s largest communities include Indian Trail, Monroe, and Mint Hill. It’s home to just under 240,000 residents. Agriculture is the main driver of the local economy and Union County is a major hub for row crops, livestock, equine, food processing, and timber. It has a median household income of $94,168 and a median home price of $429,330.
3. Orange County
Orange County is another one of the wealthiest counties in North Carolina. Situated in the heart of the Piedmont Region in the north-central part of the state, Orange County is just west of Durham. Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough are the largest communities fully within Orange County, although parts of Durham are located within it as well. It’s home to just under 150,000 residents and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, which is the largest employer in the county. It’s an affluent and educated community with a median household income of $89,291 and a median home price of $473,439.
4. Moore County
Moore County is also one of the richest counties in North Carolina. It’s another border county between the Piedmont and Atlantic Coastal Plains Region and comprises the Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC metro area. The county seat is Carthage, although the largest community is Pinehurst, and the total population is just under 100,000. The largest private sector industries in the county are healthcare and social assistance, hospitality, and retail, although it also has a booming tourism industry driven by local golf-related events. Therefore, Moore County is more affluent than many other North Carolina counties with a median household income of $85,382 and a median home price of $395,260.
5. Currituck County
Currituck County is also on the list of richest counties in North Carolina. It’s the northeasternmost county in North Carolina, positioned on the Atlantic Coast just south of the Virginia border. It’s considered within the Virginia Beach- Chesapeake, VA metro area and has a population of just over 28,000 residents. The government is the largest industry sector supporting the economy of Currituck County, followed by retail trade, education, and hospitality. In 2023, Currituck County had the 4th highest increase in wealth in the state and the current median household income is $82,793. The median home price is $432,089.
6. Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County is another one of the wealthiest counties in North Carolina. Located in southwestern North Carolina, the largest urban center in Mecklenburg County is Charlotte, the most populous city in the state. The county is home to a total of 1.115 million residents, making it the second largest by population, after Wake County. Charlotte is a major hub for banking, manufacturing, and professional services, and 10 Fortune 500 Companies are headquartered in the county. Due to its robust economy, it has a median household income of $80,365 and a median home price of $412,607.
7. Dare County
Dare County is another one of the richest counties in North Carolina. The easternmost county in the state, Dare County is situated on a peninsula in the Atlantic Ocean. It’s included in the Kill Devil Hills, NC metro area which is also within the larger Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA metro area. Although the total population is just under 37,000 residents, it’s the largest county in the state by area. Due to its location on the Atlantic Coast, more than half of jobs in Dare County are in the tourism industry. The county has an annual GBP of over $3 million and a median household income of $79,742. The median home price is $587,901.
8. Camden County
Camden County is also one of the more affluent counties in North Carolina. It’s a consolidated city-county with the unincorporated community of Camden serving as the county seat. Although it’s also part of the Elizabeth City metro area and has a population of just over 10,000 residents, making it the 4th least populated county in the state. Although fairly rural in character, it has a strong economy driven by agriculture and the median household income is $79,120, while the median home price is $356,229.
9. Cabarrus County
Cabarrus County is also among the wealthiest counties in North Carolina. It’s located in the south-central part of the State and has a population of around 226,000. Concord is the county seat and Cabarrus County is also within the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metro area. It’s one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States and home to top businesses in competitive fields like advanced manufacturing, logistics, and aerospace. It also has a very strong economy with a median household income of $78,857 and a median home price of $78,857.
10. Chatham County
Chatham County is another one of the most affluent counties in North Carolina. Situated in the geographic center of North Carolina, Chatham County is within the Piedmont Region and the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area. The county contains five incorporated towns including Silver City, Pittsboro, Goldston, Apex, and Cary, and has a total population of just over 76,000 residents. Like many counties in the region, the local economy is mainly driven by the Research Triangle and the median household income is $77,906, while the median home price is $540,450.