State Comparison

North Carolina vs Tennessee

Tennessee is cheaper overall, while North Carolina has higher incomes, Tennessee has lower state income tax, and North Carolina gets more sunshine.

North Carolina

NC • South

Better quality of life

Quality of Life Score

52.32

Tennessee

TN • South

Quality of Life Score

47.02

North Carolina

17 / 30

metrics won

Wins

Score

Tennessee

13 / 30

metrics won

TN wins Housing

TN wins Quality of Life

NC wins Climate

NC wins Demographics

Quality of Life

Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.

North Carolina winner

52.32

Tennessee

47.02

North Carolina scores higher on quality of life — 5.30 points difference.

Quick Take

North Carolina vs Tennessee

This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.

North Carolina has a larger population than Tennessee by 3,528,548 people.
Tennessee has the lower cost-of-living index. Tennessee is at 92.0, while North Carolina is at 96.4.
North Carolina has the higher median household income at $63,947, compared with $62,166 in Tennessee.
Tennessee has the higher statewide minimum wage at $7.25/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in North Carolina.

Overview

Key differences overview

These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.

Overall Affordability

Tennessee is 4.4 points cheaper overall

Tennessee has the lower cost-of-living index. Tennessee is at 92.0, while North Carolina is at 96.4.

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Income

North Carolina income is 2.9% higher

North Carolina has the higher median household income at $63,947, compared with $62,166 in Tennessee.

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Jobs

Tennessee has the higher minimum wage

Tennessee has the higher statewide minimum wage at $7.25/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in North Carolina.

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Housing

North Carolina homes cost about 1.0x more

Tennessee has the lower median home value at $269,600, versus $273,600 in North Carolina.

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Taxes

Tennessee has lower state income tax

Tennessee has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 4.50% in North Carolina.

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Cost of Driving

Tennessee has slightly cheaper gas

Tennessee has the lower regular gas price at $3.852/gal, versus $3.931/gal in North Carolina.

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Full Comparison

Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.

Metric	NC	TN	Deep dive
Capital City The official state capital.	Raleigh	Nashville	Details ->
State Color Simple political color label based on the 2024 presidential result and battleground status.	Swing State	Solid Red	Details ->
Population Total resident population (2020 Census).	10,439,388	6,910,840	Details ->
Median Income Median household income in U.S. dollars.	$63,947	$62,166	Details ->
Cost of Living Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.	96.4	92.0	Details ->
Median Housing Value Median residential home value in U.S. dollars.	$273,600	$269,600	Details ->
Property Tax Effective real-estate property tax rate (% of home value, WalletHub February 17, 2026 using 2024 data).	0.66%	0.50%	Details ->
State Income Tax Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.	4.50%	None (0%)	Details ->
Minimum Wage State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).	$7.25/hr	$7.25/hr	Details ->
Gas Price Average regular gasoline price by state (AAA State Gas Price Averages, updated daily).	$3.931/gal	$3.852/gal	Details ->
Electricity Rates Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh (EIA monthly state data, January 2026 preliminary).	13.68 c/kWh	13.10 c/kWh	Details ->
Livability Score Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).	52.32	47.02	Details ->
Average Temperature Average annual statewide temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.	59.0°F	57.6°F	Details ->
Sunny Days Average number of sunny or mostly sunny days per year.	109 days	102 days	Details ->
Land Area Total land area in square miles.	53,819 sq mi	42,144 sq mi	Details ->
Population Density Number of residents per square mile.	194.0 per sq mi	164.0 per sq mi	Details ->
Statehood When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.	November 21, 1789 (#12)	June 1, 1796 (#16)	Details ->

Population -> Median Income -> Cost of Living -> Median Housing Value -> Property Tax -> State Income Tax -> Minimum Wage -> Gas Price -> Electricity Rates -> Livability Score -> Average Temperature -> Sunny Days -> Land Area -> Population Density ->

Metric	NC	TN	Deep dive
Population Total resident population (2020 Census).	10,439,388	6,910,840	Details ->
Population Density Number of residents per square mile.	194.0 per sq mi	164.0 per sq mi	Details ->
Bachelor's Degree Adults age 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (ACS 2023).	36.8%	31.7%	Details ->
Advanced Degree Adults age 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (ACS 2023).	13.8%	12.4%	Details ->

Population -> Population Density -> Bachelor's Degree -> Advanced Degree ->

Metric	NC	TN	Deep dive
Minimum Wage State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).	$7.25/hr	$7.25/hr	Details ->

Minimum Wage ->

Metric	NC	TN	Deep dive
Livability Score Best States to Live In total score (August 11, 2025).	52.32	47.02	Details ->
Cost of Living Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.	96.4	92.0	Details ->
Gas Price Average regular gasoline price by state (AAA State Gas Price Averages, updated daily).	$3.931/gal	$3.852/gal	Details ->
Electricity Rates Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh (EIA monthly state data, January 2026 preliminary).	13.68 c/kWh	13.10 c/kWh	Details ->
Commute Time Average commute time in minutes.	25.4 min	25.0 min	Details ->

Livability Score -> Cost of Living -> Gas Price -> Electricity Rates -> Commute Time ->

Metric	NC	TN	Deep dive
Average Temperature Average annual statewide temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.	59.0°F	57.6°F	Details ->
Summer Temperature Average statewide summer temperature across June, July, and August.	75.7°F	75.6°F	Details ->
Winter Temperature Average statewide winter temperature across December, January, and February.	42.1°F	39.1°F	Details ->
Sunny Days Average number of sunny or mostly sunny days per year.	109 days	102 days	Details ->
Annual Precipitation Average annual rain and snowfall combined, measured in inches.	50.3 in	54.2 in	Details ->

Average Temperature -> Summer Temperature -> Winter Temperature -> Sunny Days -> Annual Precipitation ->

Metric	NC	TN	Deep dive
Median Housing Value Median residential home value in U.S. dollars.	$273,600	$269,600	Details ->
Median Gross Rent Median gross monthly rent in U.S. dollars.	$1,142/mo	$1,096/mo	Details ->
Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage Median selected monthly owner costs for households with a mortgage.	-	-	Details ->
Owner Costs Without Mortgage Median selected monthly owner costs for households without a mortgage.	-	-	Details ->
Homeownership Rate Share of occupied housing units that are owner-occupied.	66.7%	68.3%	Details ->
Home Value to Income Ratio Median home value divided by median household income.	4.28x	4.34x	Details ->
Rent to Income Ratio Annualized median gross rent as a share of median household income.	21.4%	21.2%	Details ->
Owner Costs to Income Median selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income (ACS 2023).	15.9%	15.5%	Details ->

Median Housing Value -> Median Gross Rent -> Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage -> Owner Costs Without Mortgage -> Homeownership Rate -> Home Value to Income Ratio -> Rent to Income Ratio -> Owner Costs to Income ->

Metric	NC	TN	Deep dive
State Income Tax Top marginal state income tax rate. 0% = no state income tax.	4.50%	None (0%)	Details ->
State Sales Tax State-level sales tax rate. 0% = no state sales tax (local taxes may apply).	4.75%	7.00%	Details ->
Property Tax Effective real-estate property tax rate (% of home value, WalletHub February 17, 2026 using 2024 data).	0.66%	0.50%	Details ->

State Income Tax -> State Sales Tax -> Property Tax ->

Metric	NC	TN	Deep dive
State Color Simple political color label based on the 2024 presidential result and battleground status.	Swing State	Solid Red	Details ->
Presidential Voting Margin Signed 2024 presidential margin in percentage points (positive = Democratic, negative = Republican).	Rep +3.21	Rep +29.63	Details ->
Swing State / Battleground Whether the state was part of the core 2024 battleground map.	Battleground	Not a battleground	Details ->
Governor Party Current governor's party (NCSL partisan composition, January 27, 2026).	Democratic	Republican	Details ->
State House Control Current partisan control of the lower legislative chamber (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Republican	Republican	Details ->
State Senate Control Current partisan control of the upper legislative chamber (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	Republican	Republican	Details ->
Trifecta Whether one party controls the governorship and both legislative chambers (NCSL, January 27, 2026).	No Trifecta	Republican Trifecta	Details ->

Presidential Voting Margin ->

Metric	NC	TN	Deep dive
Gun Laws Status Simplified statewide gun-law label based on current Giffords grades: A to B = Restrictive, C to F = Permissive (scorecard modified February 20, 2026).	Permissive	Permissive	Details ->
Alcohol Laws Whether the state uses a control-state or license-state model for distilled-spirit sales (NABCA directory accessed April 6, 2026).	Control State	License State	Details ->
Marijuana Legalization Current statewide marijuana status: Legal, Medical, or Illegal (NCSL state cannabis laws page updated June 27, 2025).	Medical	Medical	Details ->

Metric	NC	TN	Deep dive
Land Area Total land area in square miles.	53,819 sq mi	42,144 sq mi	Details ->
Highest Point Highest natural point in the state, with summit elevation.	Mount Mitchell (6,684 ft)	Clingmans Dome (6,643 ft)	Details ->
Statehood When the state was admitted to the Union and its admission order.	November 21, 1789 (#12)	June 1, 1796 (#16)	Details ->
Capital City The official state capital.	Raleigh	Nashville	Details ->
Region U.S. Census Bureau geographic region.	South	South	Details ->

Land Area -> Highest Point ->

Metric	NC	TN	Deep dive
Life Expectancy Life expectancy at birth in years (CDC 2021).	75.7 yrs	73.8 yrs	Details ->
Uninsured Rate Share of residents without health insurance coverage.	9.2%	9.3%	Details ->
Obesity Rate Adult obesity prevalence.	34.5%	35.6%	Details ->

Life Expectancy -> Uninsured Rate -> Obesity Rate ->

Metric	NC	TN	Deep dive
Violent Crime Rate Violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI UCR 2022).	346.4	640.7	Details ->
Property Crime Rate Property crime incidents per 100,000 residents.	2098.5	2350.1	Details ->

Violent Crime Rate -> Property Crime Rate ->

Metric	NC	TN	Deep dive
Median Income Median household income in U.S. dollars.	$63,947	$62,166	Details ->
Regional Price Parity Official price level relative to the national average (100 = U.S. average).	95.2	92.0	Details ->
Poverty Rate Share of residents below the federal poverty line (ACS 2023).	12.8%	14.0%	Details ->
Employment/Population Ratio Employed civilian population as a share of the adult population (ACS 2023).	59.5%	59.9%	Details ->
Unemployment Rate Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (BLS, December 2025).	3.9%	3.6%	Details ->
Job Growth Change in total nonfarm payroll employment from December 2024 to December 2025 (BLS).	1.6%	0.7%	Details ->

Median Income -> Regional Price Parity -> Poverty Rate -> Employment/Population Ratio -> Unemployment Rate -> Job Growth ->

Intent-Oriented

Which state fits your priorities better?

Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.

Saving Money

Tennessee is cheaper overall

Overall cost-of-living index: 92.0 vs 96.4 in North Carolina. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.

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Gas Price

Tennessee is cheaper at the pump

Average regular gas price: $3.852/gal in Tennessee vs $3.931/gal in North Carolina. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.

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Electricity Rates

Tennessee has cheaper electricity

Average residential electricity rate: 13.10 c/kWh in Tennessee vs 13.68 c/kWh in North Carolina. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.

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Buying a Home

North Carolina is more attainable for buyers

Home-value-to-income ratio: 4.28x in North Carolina vs 4.34x in Tennessee. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.

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Renting

Tennessee is easier for renters

Rent-to-income ratio: 21.2% in Tennessee vs 21.4% in North Carolina. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.

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Property Tax

Tennessee has lower property taxes

Effective property tax rate: 0.50% in Tennessee vs 0.66% in North Carolina. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.

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Battleground Politics

North Carolina is a swing state

North Carolina was one of the core 2024 battleground states, while Tennessee was not. That usually means tighter races and more campaign attention.

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State Color

North Carolina votes bluer

2024 presidential margin: Rep +3.21 in North Carolina vs Rep +29.63 in Tennessee.

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Government Control

Tennessee has a trifecta

Tennessee currently has republican trifecta, while North Carolina does not. That usually means state laws can move faster in Tennessee.

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Alcohol Laws

North Carolina uses a control-state system

North Carolina uses a control-state system for liquor sales, while Tennessee uses a license-state system.

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Lower Taxes

Tennessee has no state income tax

Tennessee charges no state income tax. North Carolina levies up to 4.50% at the top marginal rate.

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More Space

Tennessee feels less crowded

Population density: 164.0 per sq mi in Tennessee vs 194.0 per sq mi in North Carolina. Lower density usually means more space and less day-to-day congestion.

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Shorter Commute

Tennessee has the shorter commute

Average commute: 25.0 min in Tennessee vs 25.4 min in North Carolina.

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Job Opportunities

Tennessee looks better for job seekers

Unemployment rate: 3.6% in Tennessee vs 3.9% in North Carolina.

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Remote Workers

North Carolina looks better for remote workers

Livability score: 52.32 in North Carolina vs 47.02 in Tennessee.

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Families

North Carolina looks better for families

North Carolina wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including violent crime rate, life expectancy, uninsured rate compared with Tennessee.

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Warmer Climate

North Carolina is warmer overall

Average annual temperature: 59.0°F in North Carolina vs 57.6°F in Tennessee.

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More Sunshine

North Carolina gets more sun

Sunny days per year: 109 days in North Carolina vs 102 days in Tennessee.

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Detailed Metric Pages

Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.

Population

North Carolina has a larger population than Tennessee by 3,528,548 people.

Population Density

North Carolina is more densely populated than Tennessee.

Bachelor's Degree

North Carolina has a higher college-educated share than Tennessee.

Advanced Degree

North Carolina has a higher advanced-degree share than Tennessee.

North Carolina vs Tennessee - Common Questions

Q Is North Carolina cheaper to live in than Tennessee?

Tennessee has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Tennessee scores 92.0 versus 96.4 for North Carolina - a gap of 4.4 points.

Q Which state is bigger - North Carolina or Tennessee?

North Carolina is larger, covering 53,819 sq mi compared with 42,144 sq mi for Tennessee - roughly 1.3x the size.

Q Does North Carolina or Tennessee have more people?

North Carolina has the larger population at 10,439,388, compared with 6,910,840 in Tennessee.

Q Which state has higher household income - North Carolina or Tennessee?

North Carolina has the higher median household income at $63,947, versus $62,166 in Tennessee.

Q Which state has lower income taxes - North Carolina or Tennessee?

Tennessee has no state income tax, while North Carolina charges up to 4.50%.

Q Is housing cheaper in North Carolina or Tennessee?

Homes are cheaper in Tennessee, where the median home value is $269,600, versus $273,600 in North Carolina.

Q Which state is more densely populated - North Carolina or Tennessee?

North Carolina is more densely populated at 194.0 per sq mi people per sq mi. Tennessee is more spread out at 164.0 per sq mi people per sq mi.

Related Comparisons

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Arkansas vs Tennessee

Methodology

All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.

Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset, with minimum wage data from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.