Charlotte, North Carolina

Dudmuffin88
Living in Charlotte
6mo ago
✭✭✭✭

My first few years i hated it, but it was more about where i was mentally than physically. Then i met my now wife and started putting roots down. Now, i am not sure there are many places i would prefer to live.

You get three and a half seasons, with winter occasionally making an appearance, and when it does it is usually polite, and doesn’t stay long. Growing up in the Midwest i was used to steel gray skies and snow mounds for six months of the year. You can be at some of the best beaches in a few hours or the mountains in less time. The airport, i hear is a nightmare to fly through but as an origin and destination facility is amazing. Just about anywhere you want to go is a direct flight, including international locations. It’s a small big city, or a big small city. You can find culture everywhere if you look. The food scene is getting better. Most people are nice.

What I always tell people is Charlotte is a great place to live, but not a great place to visit. It's not a destination. But Charlotte was great for me in my 20's, and is also great for me in my 30's. Depending on where you live, your lifestyle can be completely different.

AlliFitz
Living in Charlotte
3y ago
✭✭✭

Fair disclaimer: I am from here (as is my husband) so our families are here, I have lived in different places but made my way back to Charlotte.

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.

What I always tell people is Charlotte is a great place to live, but not a great place to visit. It's not a destination. But Charlotte was great for me in my 20's, and is also great for me in my 30's. Depending on where you live, your lifestyle can be completely different.

FireEatingDragon
Living in Charlotte
6mo ago
✭✭✭✭

Proximity to ocean, lakes, mountains, other cities.

Centralized downtown as opposed sprawling

Climate is nice

Relatively smaller city with lighter traffic than places I've lived before

Tons of trees and greenery around

Nice variety of restaurants for the size of city

Whitewater center

Lots of breweries

Necessary-Thought-66
Living in Charlotte
6mo ago
✭✭✭✭

It’s a town of American immigrants. Most people have moved here for a better life and they actually have one though they complain about what they left behind—much of that stuff comes at a huge cost. I grew up in New Orleans which is incomparable but I don’t want to live there—it’s dangerous and lacks economic opportunity for nearly everyone there. I love it here. I can easily visit New Orleans or NYC or California and come back to a clean, safe, lover place to live.

Benefits:

Can fly almost anywhere direct!

Can get in and out of Uptown from the burbs with relative ease and parking is affordable.

Low crime.

Broad selection of performances and sports.

Nice variety of good restaurants and in the last decade they’ve tended to be less formal and more accessible.

Nice mild weather with 4 seasons.

Generally good quality of life.

The city is well-maintained/well-kept—not many areas are run down or sketchy.

Nice tree canopy.

It’s not a thrilling tourist destination in any way. It’s just a great place to live and work.
If you have money to live in the ‘cool’ areas (NoDa, for example), it’s fine. Myers Park is nice but very pricey. Who wants to live in Ballantyne? Rich folks, and it’s far from everything except Matthews and Mint Hill, but it'll put you an hour closer to the beach. Like large city, there are areas of poverty and high crime, so be aware. Keep your car and house locked.

Pros and Cons of Living in Charlotte NC