Situated along the Eno River is Durham, about 10 miles northeast of Chapel Hill and 25 miles northwest of Raleigh. The three cities form the Research Triangle, the regional metropolitan area that embraces cultural, scientific, and educational activities. Durham is also the original home of the American Tobacco Company, which produced Bull Durham Tobacco, spawning the city’s nickname, “Bull City.” Durham was incorporated in 1869. It now covers 116.2 square miles, and has a median age of 34.1 (2022).

Fayetteville, North Carolina, is a historic city tucked into the Sandhills region of southeastern North Carolina on the Cape Fear River. It’s best known for being the home of Fort Bragg military base. Founded by Scottish immigrants in 1739, Fayetteville today spans 150.1 square miles, and is a three-time recipient of the All-America City Award from the National Civic League. Its median age is 30.1 (2022), and its economy is mainly driven by Fort Bragg and manufacturing.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is the result of merging the two neighboring towns of Winston and Salem in 1913. Salem was founded in 1766 and Winston in 1849. The area now covers 134.7 square miles and is known as the “Twin City.” Its median age is 35.9 (2022), and its main industries are technology, finance, healthcare and tobacco.

Named in honor of German princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Charlotte, North Carolina, is a major city and commercial hub in the state. Incorporated 1768, it now spans 312 square miles and has a median age of 34.4 (2022). Its main industries include retail, energy, healthcare, automotive, manufacturing, technology, and banking/financial services.

Wilmington is a port city in North Carolina, known as being a gateway to beaches on the Cape Fear coast. Lying across 52.9 square miles, Wilmington was incorporated in 1739. Its nicknames are “Port City,” due to the Port of Wilmington downtown, and “Hollywood East,” thanks to the presence of EUE/Screen Gems Studios. Its median age is 37.1 (2022). Tourism, pharmaceuticals, nuclear fuel, and food processing bolster its economy.

The medium-sized city of Greensboro is nestled within the rolling hills of North Carolina's Piedmont region. Founded in 1808, it has been nicknamed the “Gate City” because of its historic railroads and because many major highways intersect here. Spanning 136.7 square miles, its median age is 34.4 (2022). Industries such as furniture, textiles, tobacco, finance, and insurance are the main drivers of its economy.

Raleigh stands as North Carolina’s capital. It’s one of the three cities — along with Durham and Chapel Hill — that form the Research Triangle, thanks to the amount of academic and technology institutions in the region. Raleigh is also known for its gently rolling hills, North Carolina State University, and for being the “City of Oaks” – there are a lot of oak trees here. Established in 1792, it covers 149.6 square miles today, and has a median age of 34 (2022). Its main industries include government, healthcare, and education.

Asheville is a city in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, known for a vibrant arts scene and historic architecture. Incorporated in 1797, it lies across 45.8 square miles, and has a median age of 39.6 (2022). Its main industries include tourism, healthcare, science and technology, and arts and culture.