Quality of life comparison
If you lived in North Carolina instead of New York, you would:
Health
live 1.6 years less
In New York, the average life expectancy is 78 years (78 years for men, 83 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 12.4% more likely to be obese
In New York, 29.9% of adults are obese as of 2022. In North Carolina, that number is 33.6% of people as of 2022.
Economy
be 22.7% less likely to be unemployed
In New York, 4.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In North Carolina, that number is 3.4% as of 2025.
make 35.5% less money
New York has a GDP per capita of $91,992 as of 2024, while in North Carolina, the GDP per capita is $59,308 as of 2024.
Safety
be 13.5% more likely to be a victim of property crime
New York has a property crime rate of 1,760 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In North Carolina, that number is 1,998 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 35.6% less for a home
The median home value in New York is $403,000 as of 2023, compared to $259,400 in North Carolina as of 2023.
pay 26.3% less in rent
The median monthly gross rent in New York is $1,576 as of 2023, while in North Carolina, it is $1,162 as of 2023.
be 22.3% more likely to own your home
In New York, 54.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied as of 2023. In North Carolina, that number is 66.4% as of 2023.
earn 17.3% less money
The median household income in New York is $84,578 as of 2023, while in North Carolina, it is $69,904 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
commute 7.7 minutes less
The average one-way commute in New York takes 32.8 minutes as of 2023. In North Carolina, it takes 25.1 minutes as of 2023.
be 11.6% less likely to be physically inactive
In New York, 25.1% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In North Carolina, that number is 22.2% as of 2022.
live in an area that is 46.6% less densely populated
New York has a population density of 161.4 people per sq km as of 2023. In North Carolina, that number is 86.2 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 92.0% more likely to be uninsured
In New York, 5.0% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In North Carolina, that number is 9.6% as of 2023.
be 14.1% more likely to smoke
In New York, 12.8% of adults smoke as of 2022. In North Carolina, that number is 14.6% as of 2022.
be 18.8% less likely to have a bachelor's degree
In New York, 27.7% 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 47.3% less likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In New York, 9.1% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In North Carolina, that number is 4.8% as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: 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.
