NC’s Best Town To Live In Also One Of Fastest Growing In US

NORTH CAROLINA — The best North Carolina town to live in is apparently also one of the fastest growing communities in the U.S.: Morrisville, located in Wake County. That’s according to a new report from the financial news and opinion site 24/7 Wall St., which determined the best city to live in every state.

The authors acknowledged that while many things factor into what makes a place “home,” some specific attributes are commonly shared and “universally desirable.” These include essentials like safe streets, a strong local economy, affordability and diverse entertainment options.

Here’s a breakdown of Morrisville:

• Population: 22,600
• 5 year population change: +30.5 percent
• Median home value: $291,400
• Median household income: $92,769

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Here’s what the authors had to say:

“Morrisville is situated in the middle of North Carolina’s “Research Triangle.” The cities of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill are each home to a major scientific research university — North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, respectively — and several major research-intensive industries have developed in the area. Morrisville offers close access to each of the three universities, as well as the companies that are located nearby. Morrisville is one of the fastest-growing communities in the entire country. In the past five years, its population grew more than 30%, from just over 13,000 to 22,600.”

Most of the best cities to live in were relatively affluent. That includes Paradise Valley, dubbed the best place to live in Arizona, where the median home value is north of $1.3 million — more than seven times the national median. The median household in the town earns an income of $173,487.
To identify the best cities to live in, the researchers created a weighted index of more than two dozen measures in four categories: affordability, economy, quality of life and community. Some of the measures include ratio of median home value to median income, cost of living, unemployment rate, poverty rate, food insecurity rate, death rate and violent crime rate.

But several cities and towns were much more modest.

Batesville, Arkansas, was highlighted specifically because it’s so affordable and has various attractions and amenities. The median household in the city earns $42,143 a year, while the median home is worth $120,400.

“With roots as far back as 1804, Batesville is the second oldest city in Arkansas,” the authors noted. “The city, which avoided destruction in the Civil War, has a number of historic buildings and sites. There are attractions in the area for nearly every taste and preference, including antique stores, art galleries, an annual film festival, and the Batesville Motor Speedway.”

Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.

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