Kannapolis 64 Average
Kannapolis Livability #352 ranked city in North Carolina#14,133 ranked city in the USARanks better than 51% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Kannapolis

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.

  • Housing Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Factors like poor air quality and the absence of essential health-related facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and pharmacies could have played a role in the low score in this category.

  • Schools Schools

    Factors such as lower than average graduation rates, lackluster reading and math scores and the limited accessibility of local elementary and high schools could contribute to the low schools score.

What's it like Living in Kannapolis?

Kannapolis, North Carolina is a medium-sized city with a population of 51,586 residents. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (67% White). Given that fact, Kannapolis could be considered less diverse than other cities. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Kannapolis is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 25 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.

Living in Kannapolis can be a good experience for anyone relocating to the town. Having said that, in the state of North Carolina, there are many amazing places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like crime, cost of living, education, employment, you can easily compare the best places to live in Kannapolis and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Kannapolis to North Carolina and the national average.

Kannapolis, NC receives 64 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #341 in North Carolina and #13,749 in the USA. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Kannapolis has higher than average grades for the following: crime (B), cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). There are some categories that Kannapolis does not rank well for, including: amenities (F) and education (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to figure out why.

Low violent crime rates (murder, rape, robbery, assault) provide a safer environment for residents, reducing the risk of personal harm, property theft or violence. Low crime can also lead to increased property values and desirability. With 168 crimes per 100,000 residents, Kannapolis has a violent crime rate that is far below the national average.

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Kannapolis apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

Assuming that Kannapolis meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Kannapolis. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Kannapolis are simply unattainable. The median home price for Kannapolis homes is $296,192, which is 2.3% higher than the North Carolina average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Kannapolis, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.6, which is 12.2% lower than the North Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Kannapolis

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      Kannapolis transportation information

      Statistic Kannapolis North Carolina National
      Average one way commute25min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work79.9%81.1%76.4%
      Workers who carpool11.2%9.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.9%1.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.2%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.2%1.8%2.8%
      Working from home7.0%4.8%4.6%
      Source: The Kannapolis, NC data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.