Is now a good time to buy a home in North Carolina?
The typical home value in North Carolina is $335K as of Aug 2026 (Zillow Home Value Index), down 0.2% from a year earlier. Over five years prices have compounded at +3.9% a year. Prices are 15.1% below their 10-year trend line.
North Carolina price trend & forecast
Cities in North Carolina ranked by buy-timing score
| City | Typical value | 1Y change | 5Y CAGR | 12M outlook | Signal | Buy-timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $421K | +0.3% | +5.2% | +1.0% | ACCUMULATE | 67/100 |
| Hampstead | $490K | +1.0% | +4.3% | +0.9% | ACCUMULATE | 66/100 |
| Harrisburg | $498K | -0.4% | +4.1% | -0.1% | ACCUMULATE | 66/100 |
| Brevard | $459K | -1.9% | +5.4% | -0.3% | ACCUMULATE | 65/100 |
| Fuquay Varina | $438K | -2.0% | +2.9% | -0.9% | ACCUMULATE | 64/100 |
| Lumberton | $153K | +3.3% | +5.3% | +2.2% | ACCUMULATE | 64/100 |
| Holly Springs | $576K | -0.6% | +4.2% | -0.0% | ACCUMULATE | 64/100 |
| Wake Forest | $508K | -0.8% | +3.2% | -0.5% | ACCUMULATE | 63/100 |
| Boone | $485K | +1.2% | +5.0% | +0.2% | ACCUMULATE | 63/100 |
| Apex | $594K | -1.4% | +4.3% | -0.3% | ACCUMULATE | 62/100 |
| Mount Airy | $225K | +4.0% | +4.8% | +2.6% | ACCUMULATE | 62/100 |
| Cornelius | $523K | +0.8% | +4.5% | -0.2% | ACCUMULATE | 62/100 |
| Denver | $553K | -0.6% | +4.0% | -0.0% | ACCUMULATE | 62/100 |
| Cary | $621K | -1.0% | +4.7% | -0.3% | ACCUMULATE | 61/100 |
| Winterville | $279K | +1.6% | +5.5% | +0.0% | ACCUMULATE | 61/100 |
| Charlotte | $393K | -1.2% | +3.2% | -1.7% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Raleigh | $429K | -1.5% | +2.7% | -0.7% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Durham | $389K | -3.7% | +2.9% | -1.8% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Concord | $381K | -0.4% | +3.7% | -1.2% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| High Point | $251K | -0.0% | +4.4% | -0.5% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Jacksonville | $264K | +3.5% | +7.0% | +0.8% | ACCUMULATE | 60/100 |
| Kernersville | $322K | +0.7% | +4.2% | -0.1% | ACCUMULATE | 60/100 |
| Garner | $380K | -1.7% | +2.7% | -1.0% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Rocky Mount | $190K | +0.6% | +5.8% | +0.1% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Kannapolis | $280K | +0.2% | +4.1% | -0.6% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Lincolnton | $298K | +1.7% | +5.6% | -0.3% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Morrisville | $470K | -4.6% | +2.5% | -1.5% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Shelby | $213K | +0.1% | +2.2% | -2.2% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Knightdale | $363K | -1.8% | +2.3% | -1.4% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Albemarle | $264K | +1.6% | +5.8% | -0.4% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Newton | $260K | +1.5% | +5.8% | +0.2% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Kings Mountain | $244K | +1.0% | +3.8% | -1.2% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Belmont | $432K | -0.4% | +4.6% | -0.8% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Eden | $149K | -1.3% | +1.3% | +0.3% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Wendell | $367K | -1.3% | +2.8% | -1.1% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Selma | $273K | +0.5% | +3.5% | -1.4% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Conover | $278K | +0.8% | +5.5% | -0.5% | WAIT | 60/100 |
| Richlands | $277K | +4.3% | +7.5% | +0.9% | ACCUMULATE | 60/100 |
| Winston-Salem | $264K | -0.1% | +4.6% | -0.8% | WAIT | 59/100 |
| Huntersville | $547K | +0.3% | +5.3% | -0.7% | ACCUMULATE | 59/100 |
| Hickory | $296K | +1.3% | +5.4% | -0.3% | WAIT | 59/100 |
| New Bern | $284K | +1.9% | +6.2% | +0.3% | ACCUMULATE | 59/100 |
| Raeford | $286K | -0.2% | +6.1% | -0.2% | ACCUMULATE | 59/100 |
| Mint Hill | $512K | +0.6% | +4.8% | -0.7% | WAIT | 59/100 |
| Murphy | $277K | -0.4% | +4.2% | -1.6% | WAIT | 59/100 |
| Greenville | $237K | +0.9% | +5.5% | -0.6% | WAIT | 58/100 |
| Monroe | $357K | -0.5% | +4.6% | -1.8% | WAIT | 58/100 |
| Indian Trail | $414K | -2.5% | +3.4% | -2.3% | WAIT | 58/100 |
| Franklin | $301K | +1.5% | +6.0% | -0.4% | WAIT | 58/100 |
| Waynesville | $355K | -3.0% | +3.3% | -1.6% | WAIT | 58/100 |
| Mocksville | $285K | +3.6% | +4.6% | +0.7% | ACCUMULATE | 58/100 |
| Hillsborough | $472K | -2.7% | +4.2% | -0.9% | WAIT | 58/100 |
| Leland | $384K | -0.5% | +4.3% | -1.3% | ACCUMULATE | 58/100 |
| Davidson | $652K | +0.4% | +4.8% | -0.6% | ACCUMULATE | 58/100 |
| Chapel Hill | $632K | -0.5% | +5.0% | -0.4% | WAIT | 57/100 |
| Gastonia | $275K | -0.9% | +4.3% | -2.4% | WAIT | 57/100 |
| Salisbury | $281K | -0.5% | +4.0% | -1.3% | WAIT | 57/100 |
| Zebulon | $340K | -0.2% | +2.9% | -1.9% | WAIT | 57/100 |
| Weaverville | $462K | -3.7% | +3.1% | -1.5% | WAIT | 57/100 |
| Reidsville | $213K | +2.2% | +1.7% | -0.2% | WAIT | 56/100 |
| Matthews | $510K | -0.2% | +5.3% | -1.0% | WAIT | 56/100 |
| Mount Holly | $358K | -0.1% | +4.1% | -2.0% | WAIT | 56/100 |
| Pittsboro | $556K | +0.5% | +4.7% | -0.7% | WAIT | 56/100 |
| North Wilkesboro | $215K | +3.4% | +5.7% | +0.4% | WAIT | 56/100 |
| Greensboro | $264K | -0.3% | +4.3% | -1.5% | WAIT | 55/100 |
| Clemmons | $387K | -0.2% | +4.1% | -0.7% | WAIT | 55/100 |
| Louisburg | $308K | +0.3% | +4.5% | -1.7% | WAIT | 55/100 |
| Mooresville | $478K | -0.6% | +3.8% | -1.8% | WAIT | 54/100 |
| Clayton | $360K | -1.7% | +2.6% | -2.8% | WAIT | 54/100 |
| Statesville | $298K | +2.5% | +5.1% | -1.4% | WAIT | 54/100 |
| Asheboro | $243K | +1.8% | +4.5% | -0.3% | WAIT | 54/100 |
| Waxhaw | $710K | -0.2% | +4.5% | -1.7% | WAIT | 54/100 |
| Washington | $245K | +1.2% | +6.5% | -0.5% | WAIT | 54/100 |
| Sanford | $289K | +0.1% | +6.1% | -2.2% | WAIT | 53/100 |
| Morganton | $261K | +1.1% | +5.2% | -1.5% | WAIT | 53/100 |
| Lenoir | $213K | +0.2% | +4.7% | -2.2% | WAIT | 53/100 |
| Marion | $239K | -3.2% | +2.3% | -2.3% | WAIT | 53/100 |
| Clinton | $161K | +1.3% | +4.7% | +0.3% | WAIT | 53/100 |
| Lexington | $274K | +3.5% | +6.1% | -0.2% | WAIT | 52/100 |
| Thomasville | $239K | +1.7% | +5.3% | -1.0% | WAIT | 52/100 |
| Taylorsville | $272K | +7.7% | +5.9% | +0.9% | ACCUMULATE | 52/100 |
| Angier | $330K | -1.3% | +3.8% | -3.1% | WAIT | 52/100 |
| Havelock | $236K | +2.5% | +7.4% | -0.1% | ACCUMULATE | 52/100 |
| Mebane | $350K | -1.1% | +4.2% | -2.3% | WAIT | 51/100 |
| Dunn | $228K | +1.8% | +6.0% | -1.9% | WAIT | 51/100 |
| Fletcher | $448K | -3.1% | +3.1% | -2.7% | WAIT | 51/100 |
| Fayetteville | $225K | +0.3% | +6.1% | -2.0% | WAIT | 50/100 |
| Smithfield | $290K | -0.5% | +3.7% | -3.4% | WAIT | 50/100 |
| Cameron | $322K | +0.2% | +5.5% | -1.9% | WAIT | 50/100 |
| Wilson | $217K | -1.1% | +5.7% | -2.8% | WAIT | 49/100 |
| Roanoke Rapids | $133K | +2.6% | +4.3% | -0.5% | WAIT | 49/100 |
| Henderson | $178K | -1.0% | +2.5% | -3.2% | WAIT | 48/100 |
| Hope Mills | $263K | +0.5% | +5.8% | -1.6% | WAIT | 48/100 |
| Oxford | $251K | -0.8% | +3.7% | -2.8% | WAIT | 48/100 |
| Burlington | $254K | +0.7% | +5.6% | -2.6% | WAIT | 47/100 |
| Graham | $291K | +0.8% | +6.1% | -2.8% | WAIT | 47/100 |
| Roxboro | $220K | +4.3% | +3.7% | -1.1% | WAIT | 47/100 |
| Hendersonville | $407K | -1.7% | +3.4% | -3.3% | WAIT | 46/100 |
| Rockingham | $135K | +3.5% | +4.1% | -1.1% | WAIT | 46/100 |
| Lillington | $289K | +0.7% | +5.2% | -2.9% | WAIT | 45/100 |
| Kinston | $147K | +3.2% | +7.6% | -2.4% | WAIT | 44/100 |
| Goldsboro | $193K | -0.1% | +4.3% | -2.8% | WAIT | 43/100 |
| Asheville | $448K | -5.0% | +2.5% | -4.3% | WAIT | 42/100 |
| Spring Lake | $258K | -0.2% | +5.3% | -3.9% | WAIT | 37/100 |
| Newport | $339K | +1.4% | +4.7% | -4.2% | WAIT | 34/100 |
Frequently asked questions
Is now a good time to buy a home in North Carolina?
As of Aug 2026, our buy-timing signal for North Carolina is WAIT — the model projects prices about -4.5% lower around Feb 2028. Patience is likely to be rewarded; use the time to negotiate and arrange financing. Buy-timing score: 56/100.
Will home prices in North Carolina go down in 2027?
The model projects -1.5% over the next 12 months: about $330K by Aug 2027, with an 80% range of $323K–$337K (today $335K). Forecasts are statistical and can be wrong — rates, supply and local events matter.
What is the average home price in North Carolina?
The typical (mid-tier) home value in North Carolina is $335K as of Aug 2026, -0.2% year over year.
What is the cheapest time of year to buy in North Carolina?
Historically, prices in North Carolina run lowest in February, about 1.4% below the annual average, and highest in July.
Which areas in North Carolina have the best buy-timing right now?
Highest buy-timing scores: Wilmington (67/100, ACCUMULATE), Hampstead (66/100, ACCUMULATE) and Harrisburg (66/100, ACCUMULATE). Fastest-rising prices: Taylorsville (+7.7%), Roxboro (+4.3%) and Richlands (+4.3%).
Other states
Source & method
Data: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) — all homes, mid-tier, raw monthly, monthly, latest Aug 2026. Page regenerated 2026-10-08 22:04 PDT. Signals combine valuation vs the long-run trend, momentum and a damped-trend forecast with seasonal adjustment; the “best price window” is the lowest point of the projected path. BUY = prices projected to rise and not stretched; ACCUMULATE = near fair value; WAIT = a dip is projected; HOT = running well ahead of trend; CAUTION = stretched with fading momentum.