Located in the state of North Carolina, Charlotte is a highly populated city with a population of 808,834 residents. Individuals of White (51%) and Black or African American (35%) backgrounds make up a significant portion of the population of the city. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Charlotte is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 25 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Charlotte could be a positive experience compared to other cities in North Carolina if you know where to search. With useful information like crime, cost of living, education, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Charlotte and in the areas around Charlotte is a much easier task.
The livability score in Charlotte is 71/100 and the city is ranked in the 69th percentile of all cities across America. Based on the rankings for each individual category, Charlotte has received high marks for amenities (A+), weather (B-) and housing (A-). Charlotte does not score well for the following: crime (F) and education (D). It might be a smart idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
Conveniently located amenities and interesting attractions are a great way to continuously enjoy Charlotte on a regular basis. Knowing that there are an abundance of amenities and things to do can ensure that you always have access to nearby grocery stores, restaurants and coffee shops. Here are some of the more popular things to do in Charlotte: Carowinds, US National Whitewater Center, and NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that Charlotte has an unemployment rate of 0.99% probably means that there are ample job opportunities for you to consider as it is far below the national average.
For buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Charlotte apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are available, most people will need to know if the real estate in Charlotte is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Charlotte come in at $178,000, which is 13.3% higher than the North Carolina average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Charlotte, the home price to income ratio is 3.2, which is 3% lower than the North Carolina average. Purchasing your new home can come with many financial benefits, some of which are more lucrative than others. Perhaps the most notable benefit could be the appreciation of your new home. Home appreciation rates are a good way to generate tax-free equity on a long term basis. The year over year appreciation rates in Charlotte were 10.3%, and the 5 year appreciation rates came in at 9.2%.
| Statistic | Charlotte | North Carolina | National |
| Average one way commute | 25min | 24min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 76.5% | 81.1% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 10.4% | 9.8% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 3.7% | 1.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 2.2% | 1.8% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 5.9% | 4.8% | 4.6% |
| Walk | Bike | Compact | Car | S.U.V. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | |||||
| Duration | |||||
| Cost/Month |
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