| City | Population | Overall Rank | Cost of Living Rank | Home Value Rank | Gross Rent % Rank | Affordability Ratio | Averaged Score |
| Zebulon | 4,535 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2.25 |
| Knightdale | 12,133 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4.00 |
| Clayton | 16,648 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 4.75 |
| Holly Springs | 26,035 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4.75 |
| Garner | 26,213 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 5.75 |
| Wendell | 5,996 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 6.00 |
| Apex | 39,134 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 7.00 |
| Rolesville | 4,065 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7.25 |
| Morrisville | 19,720 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 8.00 |
| Fuquay-Varina | 19,164 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 8.25 |
| Wake Forest | 31,632 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 9.50 |
| Cary | 141,292 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 10.00 |