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Living in
Kannapolis.
About
Life in Kannapolis
Kannapolis works well if you want suburban Charlotte living without the intensity or cost of the city itself—you're looking at a median home value around $276,000 and median rents near $1,319, which is reasonable for the region. The job market is solid with low unemployment, and many residents commute 25-30 minutes to Charlotte or Greensboro for work. The North Carolina Research Campus has brought some economic diversification, and there's a growing population (up 16% in recent years) that suggests people see real opportunity here.
Kannapolis at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.6%
Foreign-Born
9.6%
Broadband Internet
91.8%
of households
Population Growth
+16.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Kannapolis: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Kannapolis, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (19.8%), and 11.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.3%
of residents
65 and Older
14.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.6%
of households
Married Couples
50.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.56
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 7% above NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Kannapolis
In Kannapolis, rent runs 7% above the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,407
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $275,989 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NC
Unemployment in Kannapolis and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Kannapolis is close to the NC average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Kannapolis Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area
Commute26.2 min avg
How Kannapolis residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Kannapolis, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA)
Regional airport · few flights196k passengers boarded in 2025
- 27 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 48% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Kannapolis runs 48% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
169.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,512.5
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Kannapolis Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 7 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cabarrus County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cabarrus County, which includes Kannapolis, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 7 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $97,000 |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $232,000 |
| 2022 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2021 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,000 |
| 2020 | 12 | Flood | $575,000 |
| 2019 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $41,000 |
| 2018 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cabarrus County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Rowan County, NC (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 13 miles from Kannapolis) is typically good — 269 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
269
per year
Moderate Days
96
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Rowan County, NC (13 mi away)
Climate90°F summers, 31°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Kannapolis has hot summers (avg high 90°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
74°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
55°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.5"
Annual Snowfall
3.3"
Hot Days/Year
61
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
74
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
109
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53°F | 29°F | 3.68" |
| Feb | 57°F | 31°F | 3.12" |
| Mar | 65°F | 38°F | 4.10" |
| Apr | 74°F | 47°F | 4.03" |
| May | 81°F | 56°F | 3.71" |
| Jun | 88°F | 65°F | 4.67" |
| Jul | 92°F | 69°F | 5.31" |
| Aug | 90°F | 67°F | 4.53" |
| Sep | 84°F | 61°F | 4.24" |
| Oct | 74°F | 48°F | 3.49" |
| Nov | 64°F | 37°F | 3.48" |
| Dec | 56°F | 32°F | 3.51" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Kannapolis
Uninsured
8.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Kannapolis's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Carolinas Medical Center-northeast
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Concord
Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13 mi away · Mooresville
Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.4 mi away · Huntersville
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Kannapolis
Kannapolis's student/teacher ratio is 16.4:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 29.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Kannapolis (within 15 miles)
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
13.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 24,453 students · in-state tuition $7,317 · 69% graduate · median earnings $63,486 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,867 students · in-state tuition $69,315 · 91% graduate · median earnings $89,297 (10 yrs after entry)
Universal Technical Institute-Mooresville
14.9 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 1,345 students · 62% graduate · median earnings $62,466 (10 yrs after entry)
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
3.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 712 students · in-state tuition $17,030 · 72% graduate · median earnings $62,982 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Kings Mountain National Military Park, 48 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Kannapolis
Kannapolis has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Kings Mountain National Military Park (48 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Kings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
48 mi awayOvermountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
48 mi awayGuilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
63 mi awayCowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
70 mi awayPublic Libraries in Kannapolis
Kannapolis Branch Library
850 Mountain St, Kannapolis
Cities Near Kannapolis
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Kannapolis?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Kannapolis FAQ
Is Kannapolis, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Kannapolis's median rent is $1,319/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $73,836/year. Median home value is $276,400.
Is Kannapolis, North Carolina safe?⌄
Kannapolis's violent crime rate was 170 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1513 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Kannapolis, North Carolina?⌄
Kannapolis has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Kannapolis, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Kannapolis is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,319/month and median household income is $73,836/year. The median home value is $276,400. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Kannapolis, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Kannapolis is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from