Building Net Worth in North Carolina
Net worth is the single most comprehensive measure of financial health โ it captures everything you own (assets) minus everything you owe (liabilities). In North Carolina, with a cost of living index of 97.9 and a median home price of $382K, housing is typically the dominant asset for middle-income households.
The price-to-income ratio in North Carolina is 5.2ร โ meaning the median home costs 5.2 years of the median household's gross income. This is a manageable ratio suggesting homeownership is accessible for median-income households with disciplined saving.
Net Worth Targets by Age in North Carolina
| Age | Benchmark (ร income) | At $74K/yr |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1ร annual income | $73,958 |
| 40 | 3ร annual income | $221,874 |
| 50 | 6ร annual income | $443,748 |
| 60 | 8ร annual income | $591,664 |
| 67 (retirement) | 10ร annual income | $739,580 |
Targets apply to investable assets (retirement accounts + savings), not including home equity.
North Carolina vs. National Wealth Context
| Metric | North Carolina | National |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $73,958 | $74,580 |
| Median Home Price | $382,000 | $420,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 97.9 | 100 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 5.2ร | 5.6ร |
| National Median Net Worth | โ | $192,700 |