Kannapolis, NC
Census place 3735200 · pop 57,890
A former Cannon Mills company town that was once the world's largest maker of towels, now home to the N.C. Research Campus.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
12.4% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
15.1% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
26 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
18.0% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
36.3% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.44 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
12.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
25.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$73,836 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
29.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$276,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
91.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
65.6% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,667/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.87% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
80/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.2% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+19.0% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
Not measured for Kannapolis: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Kannapolis, NC a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Kannapolis scores 51/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is population growth (5yr) and its weakest is uninsured adults. North Carolina overall ranks #16 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Kannapolis, NC expensive to live in?
- Kannapolis has a median home value of $276,400 and typical rent around $1,667/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Kannapolis, NC?
- Its weakest measured area is uninsured adults (12.4%) — 29/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Kannapolis, NC best at?
- Its strongest measured area is population growth (5yr) (+19.0%) — 92/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: A former Cannon Mills company town that was once the world's largest maker of towels, now home to the N.C. Research Campus.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.