Quality of life comparison
If you lived in North Carolina instead of Alabama, you would:
Health
live 2.9 years longer
In Alabama, the average life expectancy is 73 years (72 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020. In North Carolina, that number is 76 years (75 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020.
be 15.2% less likely to be obese
In Alabama, 39.6% of adults are obese as of 2022. In North Carolina, that number is 33.6% of people as of 2022.
be 16.4% less likely to have diabetes
In Alabama, 12.8% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In North Carolina, that number is 10.7% as of 2022.
Economy
make 20.5% more money
Alabama has a GDP per capita of $49,225 as of 2024, while in North Carolina, the GDP per capita is $59,308 as of 2024.
be 18.2% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Alabama, 14.8% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In North Carolina, however, that number is 12.1% as of 2023.
be 47.8% more likely to be unemployed
In Alabama, 2.3% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In North Carolina, that number is 3.4% as of 2025.
Safety
be 19.5% more likely to be a victim of property crime
Alabama has a property crime rate of 1,671 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In North Carolina, that number is 1,998 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 12.7% more money
The median household income in Alabama is $62,027 as of 2023, while in North Carolina, it is $69,904 as of 2023.
pay 33.0% more for a home
The median home value in Alabama is $195,100 as of 2023, compared to $259,400 in North Carolina as of 2023.
pay 20.7% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Alabama is $963 as of 2023, while in North Carolina, it is $1,162 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 14.1% less likely to smoke
In Alabama, 17.0% of adults smoke as of 2022. In North Carolina, that number is 14.6% as of 2022.
be 20.4% less likely to be physically inactive
In Alabama, 27.9% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In North Carolina, that number is 22.2% as of 2022.
be 22.3% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Alabama, 18.4% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In North Carolina, that number is 22.5% as of 2023.
be 2.2 times more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Alabama, 2.2% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In North Carolina, that number is 4.8% as of 2023.
be 22.2% less likely to be food insecure
In Alabama, 14.4% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In North Carolina, that number is 11.2% as of 2021.
live in an area that is 2.2 times more densely populated
Alabama has a population density of 38.9 people per sq km as of 2023. In North Carolina, that number is 86.2 people per sq km as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
