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 73/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, North Carolina ranks #27 for homesteading and #40 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 County73
    2. 2Caldwell County70
    3. 3Macon County70
    4. 4Gates County69
    5. 5Camden County69
    6. 6Carteret County68
    7. 7Alleghany County68
    8. 8Washington County68
    9. 9Beaufort County68
    10. 10Mitchell County67
    11. 11Jones County67
    12. 12Pasquotank County67
    13. 13Currituck County66
    14. 14Perquimans County66
    15. 15Ashe County66
    16. 16Tyrrell County66
    17. 17Watauga County66
    18. 18Yancey County65
    19. 19Bertie County65
    20. 20Northampton County64
    21. 21Chowan County64
    22. 22Cherokee County64
    23. 23Avery County64
    24. 24Jackson County63
    25. 25Graham County63
    26. 26Craven County63
    27. 27Warren County63
    28. 28Stokes County63
    29. 29Wilkes County62
    30. 30Clay County62
    31. 31Person County62
    32. 32Martin County62
    33. 33Transylvania County62
    34. 34Hyde County61
    35. 35Robeson County61
    36. 36Duplin County61
    37. 37Vance County61
    38. 38Granville County60
    39. 39Rutherford County60
    40. 40Swain County60
    41. 41Brunswick County60
    42. 42Halifax County60
    43. 43Hertford County59
    44. 44Columbus County59
    45. 45Anson County58
    46. 46Polk County57
    47. 47Surry County57
    48. 48McDowell County56
    49. 49Alexander County56
    50. 50Franklin County56
    51. 51Bladen County56
    52. 52Sampson County56
    53. 53Haywood County56
    54. 54Pender County56
    55. 55Edgecombe County55
    56. 56Onslow County55
    57. 57Madison County55
    58. 58Dare County55
    59. 59Richmond County55
    60. 60Nash County54
    61. 61Caswell County54
    62. 62Rockingham County54
    63. 63Burke County54
    64. 64Stanly County54
    65. 65Alamance County53
    66. 66Yadkin County53
    67. 67Pitt County52
    68. 68Montgomery County52
    69. 69Hoke County52
    70. 70Iredell County52
    71. 71Lenoir County51
    72. 72Moore County51
    73. 73Buncombe County51
    74. 74Chatham County51
    75. 75Cleveland County50
    76. 76Henderson County50
    77. 77Scotland County50
    78. 78Wayne County49
    79. 79Wilson County49
    80. 80New Hanover County49
    81. 81Rowan County48
    82. 82Cumberland County48
    83. 83Durham County48
    84. 84Harnett County48
    85. 85Lee County48
    86. 86Greene County48
    87. 87Union County48
    88. 88Johnston County48
    89. 89Lincoln County47
    90. 90Davie County47
    91. 91Catawba County46
    92. 92Orange County46
    93. 93Randolph County46
    94. 94Cabarrus County46
    95. 95Forsyth County46
    96. 96Davidson County44
    97. 97Gaston County43
    98. 98Wake County43
    99. 99Guilford County43
    100. 100Mecklenburg County40

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