RANK #676 / 1001 NAT · #37 / 51 NC · POP 236,133
1YR FORECAST: -0.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
Cabarrus County, North Carolina, is perhaps best known as a center for motorsports, home to Charlotte Motor Speedway and the residence of legendary driver Dale Earnhardt Sr.. Located in the south-central Piedmont region, approximately 18 miles northeast of Charlotte, the county offers a blend of suburban and rural living across its municipalities, including Concord and Kannapolis. The county also provides various outdoor recreation opportunities, with numerous parks, greenways, and trails for hiking, biking, and other activities, set within a landscape of rolling hills. Life in Cabarrus County is characterized by a mix of families and young professionals, with a high rate of homeownership. The public school systems, Cabarrus County Schools and Kannapolis City Schools, are recognized statewide, with Cabarrus County offering a K-12 STEM pipeline. Economically, the county has seen significant investment in manufacturing and commercial/residential development. Tourism also plays a role in the local economy. While the county experiences growth, residents have expressed concerns about the rising cost of housing.
Cabarrus County is one of 43 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -1.2% runs below the profile's typical -0.0%.
See all 43 Sun Belt Exurban Boom counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 15.8x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Eli Lilly and Company Manufacturing Facility
Eli Lilly and Company
|
$1,000M | Under Construction |
|
Red Bull/Rauch North America/Ball Corporation Manufacturing Facility
Red Bull/Rauch North America/Ball Corporation
|
$1,000M | Under Construction |
|
Downtown Kannapolis Revitalization (Streetscape, Linear Park, Baseball Stadium)
City of Kannapolis
|
$113M | Completed |
|
Momentec Brands Customer Success Center
Momentec Brands
|
$50M | Operating |
|
Concord to Kannapolis System Expansion (Natural Gas Pipeline)
Enbridge Gas North Carolina
|
$50M | Completed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 32/100, Cabarrus County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $89,005 combined with job growth of +4.3% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Cabarrus County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $354,800 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.25, with rents averaging $1,414/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Cabarrus County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +2.1% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +4.3% clip. Home values shifted -1.2% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.05% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Cabarrus County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.