Charlotte, North Carolina

Banking capital of the South

Southeast Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metro

U.S. News (2025)

#22 Best Places to Live

Forbes (2024)

#5 Best Places for Business

WhereAtHome Score

68.1

D+

out of 100

Overview

Charlotte has grown into the second-largest banking center in the United States, hosting Bank of America and Truist headquarters. The city offers a business-friendly environment, relatively affordable housing for a major metro, and mild winters. Rapid population growth continues to reshape the city with new neighborhoods and amenities.

Key Highlights

  • Major banking and finance hub
  • NASCAR Hall of Fame and racing culture
  • Growing arts scene in NoDa and South End
  • Affordable relative to other banking centers
  • Charlotte Douglas - major airline hub
  • Strong job growth and business climate

Key Metrics

Population 2024

897,720

Source: Census ACS

Median Home Value 2026

$397,231

Source: Zillow ZHVI

Median Household Income 2023

$71,659

Source: Census ACS

Average Commute 2023

27.1 min

Source: Census ACS

Walk Score 2025

26

Source: Walk Score

Crime Level 2024

Moderate

Source: FBI CDE

School Rating

2025

B- (6.5/10)

Source: Curated

Cost of Living Index 2025

102 (100 = U.S. avg)

Source: Curated

2024 Presidential Election

Mecklenburg County (county-level results)

66%
33%
Democrat 376,454
Republican 187,770
Leans D+32.9

Source: County-level results from MIT Election Data + Science Lab. Learn more

Climate

Summer High

90°F

Winter Low

31°F

Annual Rainfall

43"

Sunny Days

218

Amenities & Infrastructure

210+ Parks

Green spaces and recreation

8 Major Hospitals

Healthcare access

4 Universities

Higher education institutions

Public Transit Available

Bus, rail, or metro service

Major Employers

Bank of America Truist Atrium Health Duke Energy

Score Breakdown

6 of 6 score factors available. Missing factors are excluded and available weights are rescaled.

Housing Affordability 51.7/100

Median home value relative to national average (Weight: 20%)

Income vs Housing 49.7/100

How affordable housing is relative to local incomes (Weight: 20%)

Commute Time 51.5/100

Average commute time compared to national average (Weight: 15%)

Crime 50/100

Overall crime levels based on FBI crime statistics (Weight: 20%)

Walkability 26/100

Walk Score — ease of daily errands on foot (Weight: 15%)

Purchasing Power 48.5/100

Median income relative to national average, adjusted for cost of living (Weight: 10%)

WhereAtHome Score 68.1

Location

Charlotte, NC (35.2271, -80.8431)
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Compare with another city

Start Comparison

Last Updated: 2026-07-01

Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, FBI Crime Data Explorer, Walk Score, and Niche.

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