Charlotte, NC vs Washington, DC

Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.

Score Snapshot

No universal winner

Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.

Charlotte

68.1

#1344 nationally

vs

Washington

66.2

#1580 nationally

Washington leads in walk score (98 vs 26). Charlotte leads in cost of living index (102 vs 181). Washington leads in median household income ($101,722 vs $71,659).

Metric-by-Metric Breakdown

Metric Charlotte, NC Washington, DC
WhereAtHome Score 68.1 (#1344) 66.2 (#1580)
Population 897,720 678,972
Typical Home Value (ZHVI) $397,231 $576,796
Median Household Income $71,659 $101,722
Average Commute 27.1 min 30.5 min
Walk Score 26 98
Crime Level Moderate 25.4
School Rating 6.5 N/A
Cost of Living Index 102 181
Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored D+32.9 D+86.1