885,708
Population
Sunny Days: 218
46100 Affordability
89100 Schools
59100 Diversity
64100 Safety
Make Yourself At Home. Toss Your Bike Anywhere
--Mark Washburn, Charlotte Observer
Charlotte, North Carolina
The Hornet's Nest
Charlotte Sunset, Credit: Daniel Weiss
Uptown Charlotte, Credit: Kyo H. Nam
Downtown Charlotte Art Scene, Credit: Alex Grichenko
Camp North End, Credit: Camden & Hailey George
The Best Thing About Charlotte?
Work Hard. Play Hard.
Charlotte is a small town with big city feels. Most known for being the biggest banking city outside of NYC and SF, Charlotte can also be summed up with the phrase “banks and beer.” The city boasts a relatively low cost of living alongside ample job opportunities in banking and medical fields. If you work that hard, you have to play harder. If anyone asks a local what there is to do in Charlotte, they’ll probably roll their eyes, take a big breath, and rattle off one of the many tourist attractions Charlotte is known for: go to a Panthers or Hornets game, visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame, go to the U.S. National Whitewater Center, or visit the Bechtler Museum Modern Art. You’ll say thank you and then they’ll continue on their way to one of the amazing, and likely dog-friendly, breweries in Charlotte with their faithful companion to enjoy the amazing weather.
Review of town from a local: Things I like about Charlotte: It still has a small town feel but with way more to do. It's growing, fast, so thanks to that there's always something new to check out. There are too many weekend getaway destinations to even list. We get most major tours, our local symphony is fantastic. Traffic isn't that bad compared to many places. The climate is mild. Cost of living is rising, but is affordable. We own a home, utilities are inexpensive, taxes aren't bad.
For more reviews from locals check out: The Reviews.
The Worst Thing About Charlotte?
Making room for all the expansion
Charlotte is not exempt from the same lack of city-planning that plagues it's larger southern counterparts (we’re looking at you, ATL). Locals will complain about traffic getting exponentially worse as time goes on and a lot of that has to do with trying to make room for the vast amount of people who are looking to make Charlotte their new home. As expansion takes over the city, many Charlotteans are moving to the suburbs to get away from rising costs of living and constant construction.
A couple notes from locals on the growth issue:
Growth: CLT is visibly a growing city. You can see new luxury apartment building sprouting up everywhere.
City growth -- fast, cranes everywhere, estimates of 1 million new residents in the next 10 years I've heard
For more reviews from locals check out: The Reviews.
Lifestyle of Charlotte
Charlotte is a small town with big city feels. In addition to the tourist attractions mentioned earlier, large shopping centers, amusement parks, and nearby surfing and skiing hotspots provide residents with a massive list of things to do socially. A surprise to no locals, Charlotte consistently finds itself cemented near the top of the nation for foodies, with a wide range of highly rated options, many of which are dog friendly!
Some downsides to social life in Charlotte include nightlife and public transit. Despite its large population of young professionals (Charlotte is a magnet for UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, and Davidson grads), a common complaint from younger generations of Charlotteans is the lack of things to do past midnight. If you do find something to do that late, be sure to find a designated driver or call an Uber, because a lackluster public transit system likely won’t be doing you any favors.
https://www.hellolanding.com/blog/the-pros-and-cons-of-living-in-charlotte/
Check out the calendar of events for Charlotte if you want to see the happenings:
Worklife of Charlotte
It’s not just bankers in Buzz City. Charlotte boasts a steady job market in a solid variety of sectors for a southern spot. A substantially sized healthcare sector, headlined by Atrium Health and Novant Health, is growing rapidly. Lowe’s, Honeywell International, Duke Energy and Sonic Automotive are another handful of Fortune 500s that call Charlotte their home. The big players in Charlotte’s finance sector are Bank of America, Truist Financial and Wells Fargo, with other banking options around Charlotte’s downtown. With solid pay and an unemployment rate well below the national average, Charlotte is a great place to look for your next career move.
Why You Should Move Here Now?
Be a part of something bigger!
As with most hidden gem cities, you want to move before it's too late! More than that, Charlotte has been called a city "searching for its soul as it grows'' and that couldn't be more true. Although life-long Charlottans are few and far between, everyone who moves here moved for gorgeous weather, affordability (relatively), and the ease and allure of the many weekend getaway spots. Don't count Charlotte out - as it grows, we think it'll find its place amongst the best little cities in the US.
Living in Charlotte
Neighborhoods in Charlotte
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The Area
Charlotte is centrally located, just north of the South Carolina border. Similar to Jacksonville, Charlotte is incredibly large. It’s the largest city in North Carolina and the second-most populous city in the Southeast. Being that large, it’s bound to have a lot of neighborhoods…199 to be exact.
University City
College Kids
There are plenty of neighborhoods within easy walking distance to UNC and all of them have a great selection of apartments. If you want to stay close to campus, we suggest starting in University City. The good thing about this neighborhood is that it’s broken down into even smaller micro-neighborhoods. If you’re an avid tailgater, check out a place on Tryon Street. If you like being at the center of weekend and late-night activities, choose somewhere close to The Shoppes (Tryon and Harris).
- University City
- Mallard Creek
- NoDa
Uptown
Young Professionals
Uptown is a good place to start your search. It’s home to the city’s growing financial center with banking corps all here. It also has wonderful rooftop bars for happy hour cocktails and plenty of other restaurants and bars, including the 7th Street Public Market. It’s also the center of condo and apartment building options.
- Uptown
- South End
- First Ward
Fourth Ward
DINKs/SINKs
If you want to be in the city but turn the volume down from eleven to maybe a 6 then check out the Fourth Ward. One of the city’s historic districts, the streets are lined with Victorian homes, beautifully preserved and part of blocks that are protected from overdevelopment. There are tons of cafes, restaurants and bars within walking distance so even though you’re turning things down a bit you’re still in the game.
- Fourth Ward
- South End
NoDa
LGBTQ+
North Davidson, also known as NoDa, is the most popular neighborhood for the LGBTQ+ community. It has plenty of arts and culture as well as music venues, boutique shopping and tons of restaurants and bars for socializing.
- NoDa
- Plaza Midwood
Dilworth
Families
Dilworth is one of the most popular neighborhoods for families in the city. Built in a simple grid-like pattern, it also has a streetcar system so cars are not required! Beautiful bungalows with sidewalks for the kiddos and big front porches for neighborly conversations. It also has a commercial district on East Boulevard with plenty of restaurants, cafes and shopping. Mint Hill is another great option for families who favor a more peaceful and private experience. The neighborhoods are more rural with big brick homes and significant yards. It is also home to Pine Lake Country Club for those who favor a genteel lifestyle.
- Dilworth
- Mint Hill
- Ballantyne