Bolthole Index

Bolthole Index · North Carolina

Best Places to Live in North Carolina

Every North Carolina county scored on the Bolthole Index for seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost. Pamlico County leads at 72/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, North Carolina ranks #28 for homesteading and #38 for off-grid living.

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Counties by Index Score

    Off-grid & homestead laws in North Carolina

    How North Carolina treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. State law also feeds each county’s admin, autonomy, and carry factors; rules often vary by county.

    General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.

    All 100 North Carolina counties, ranked

    1. 1Pamlico County72
    2. 2Gates County71
    3. 3Camden County71
    4. 4Alleghany County70
    5. 5Beaufort County69
    6. 6Mitchell County69
    7. 7Pasquotank County69
    8. 8Jones County69
    9. 9Currituck County68
    10. 10Perquimans County68
    11. 11Ashe County68
    12. 12Watauga County67
    13. 13Tyrrell County67
    14. 14Macon County67
    15. 15Washington County67
    16. 16Yancey County67
    17. 17Bertie County66
    18. 18Northampton County66
    19. 19Chowan County66
    20. 20Cherokee County66
    21. 21Avery County65
    22. 22Jackson County65
    23. 23Warren County65
    24. 24Stokes County65
    25. 25Craven County64
    26. 26Clay County64
    27. 27Wilkes County64
    28. 28Carteret County64
    29. 29Person County64
    30. 30Martin County64
    31. 31Transylvania County64
    32. 32Caldwell County63
    33. 33Robeson County63
    34. 34Duplin County63
    35. 35Vance County63
    36. 36Granville County62
    37. 37Rutherford County62
    38. 38Halifax County62
    39. 39Swain County62
    40. 40Brunswick County62
    41. 41Hertford County61
    42. 42Columbus County61
    43. 43Graham County60
    44. 44Anson County60
    45. 45Hyde County60
    46. 46Polk County59
    47. 47Surry County59
    48. 48McDowell County58
    49. 49Alexander County58
    50. 50Franklin County58
    51. 51Sampson County58
    52. 52Haywood County58
    53. 53Bladen County58
    54. 54Edgecombe County57
    55. 55Pender County57
    56. 56Madison County57
    57. 57Onslow County57
    58. 58Richmond County56
    59. 59Caswell County56
    60. 60Nash County56
    61. 61Rockingham County56
    62. 62Burke County56
    63. 63Stanly County56
    64. 64Alamance County55
    65. 65Yadkin County55
    66. 66Dare County54
    67. 67Pitt County54
    68. 68Montgomery County54
    69. 69Hoke County54
    70. 70Iredell County53
    71. 71Lenoir County53
    72. 72Moore County53
    73. 73Buncombe County53
    74. 74Chatham County53
    75. 75Cleveland County52
    76. 76Scotland County52
    77. 77Henderson County52
    78. 78Wayne County51
    79. 79Wilson County51
    80. 80New Hanover County51
    81. 81Rowan County50
    82. 82Cumberland County50
    83. 83Durham County50
    84. 84Harnett County50
    85. 85Lee County50
    86. 86Greene County50
    87. 87Union County50
    88. 88Johnston County49
    89. 89Lincoln County48
    90. 90Davie County48
    91. 91Catawba County48
    92. 92Orange County48
    93. 93Randolph County48
    94. 94Cabarrus County47
    95. 95Forsyth County47
    96. 96Davidson County45
    97. 97Gaston County45
    98. 98Wake County44
    99. 99Guilford County44
    100. 100Mecklenburg County42

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