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Charlotte

The Charlotte metro has jumped back into the top 10 on U.S. News & World Report's annual list of the nation's best places to live.

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Welcome to Charlotte

The Charlotte metro has jumped back into the top 10 on U.S. News & World Report's annual list of the nation's best places to live.

Charlotte placed at No. 8, up 22 spots from its ranking at No. 30 in 2022. That represented the largest top-10 jump this year, U.S. News said. The last time Charlotte ranked within the top 10 was in 2020, when it took the No. 6 spot.

Raleigh-Durham also moved up in the rankings, landing at No. 3. It ranked at No. 6 in 2022.

U.S. News released its 2023-2024 Best Places to Live list this morning. The rankings measure the nation's 150 largest metro areas on quality of life (36% weight), value (23%), desirability (22%), and job market (19%). It pulled outside data from the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Atlanta health and wellness company Sharecare (NASDAQ: SHCR), Federal Emergency Management Agency, and National Weather Service.

U.S. News made a few tweaks to its methodology this year, which included adding a price review of general goods in a particular location compared to the national average. That data point was added to its value index, expanding the assessment of a place's affordability beyond housing costs. It also folded net migration into its desirability index.

Green Bay, Wisconsin, was named the overall top U.S. metro to live in the newest rankings. It unseated Huntsville, Alabama, which moved into the No. 2 spot. The top 10 was rounded out, respectively, by Raleigh-Durham; Boulder, Colorado; Sarasota, Florida; Naples, Florida; Portland, Maine; Charlotte; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Why Charlotte Jumped in Ranking

The biggest reason Charlotte rose in the ranks was due to its desirability, said Devon Thorsby, real estate editor at U.S. News. The desirability index includes factors such as weather temperateness, number of leisure establishments and attractions compared to a place's population, net migration, and a survey asking people where they'd prefer to live.

Charlotte ranked ninth for desirability, due in particular to the survey responses and population growth from net migration, Thorsby said.

Charlotte performed well but not as close to the top in other categories, she added. The area's average monthly unemployment rate came in below the national rate, while the average salary was roughly on par with the national figure. As for affordability, Charlotte fell among the less expensive half of metros on the list.

"The fact that so many people hail the Charlotte area as a desirable place to live, and then the fact that they're acting on that desire, says a lot about livability," Thorsby said. "Like with any major metro area that's seeing a lot of growth, there's always room for improvement, and Charlotte may experience a rising cost of living or other growing pains. But compared with many other parts of the U.S., Charlotte remains affordable and is a large metro area already, able to accommodate a variety of incomes, needs and wants of people who live there already or will in the near future."

How Did Other Metros in Carolinas Fare?

In addition to Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham, six more metros in the Carolinas ranked in the top 50. They are: Myrtle Beach, No. 18; Hickory, No. 25; Asheville, No. 29; Greenville, South Carolina, No. 31; Winston-Salem, No. 41; and Spartanburg, No. 43. The Hickory metro, about 57 miles northwest of Charlotte, moved up from No. 31 last year.

Charleston came in next at No. 53. It was followed by Greensboro, No. 72; Columbia, No. 92; and Fayetteville, No. 135.

Overview for Charlotte, NC

886,283 people live in Charlotte, where the median age is 34.4 and the average individual income is $49,991. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

886,283

Total Population

34.4 years

Median Age

High

Population Density Population Density
This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.

$49,991

Average individual Income

Around Charlotte, NC

There's plenty to do around Charlotte, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.

80

Very Walkable

Walking Score

60

Bikeable

Bike Score

52

Good Transit

Transit Score

Points of Interest

Explore popular things to do in the area, including Detour Coffeebar, Ches Rodnais, and Cloister Honey.

Name	Category	Distance	Reviews	Ratings by Yelp
Visit the Detour Coffeebar page on Yelp Search 3500 Latrobe on Google Maps	Dining	1.89 miles	35 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Ches Rodnais page on Yelp Search 70 Clanton Rd on Google Maps	Dining	2.6 miles	5 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Cloister Honey page on Yelp	Dining · $$	3.61 miles	23 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the RCB Fashion page on Yelp Search 1908 Central Ave on Google Maps	Shopping	1.51 miles	7 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the In Home Chiropractic & Personal Training page on Yelp Search 2122 Sharon Amity Rd on Google Maps	Active	3.55 miles	7 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Charlotte Roller Derby page on Yelp	Active	1.31 miles	9 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Dyme Boxing & Fitness page on Yelp Search 4560 Old Pineville Rd on Google Maps	Active	3.42 miles	19 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the The Jam: CLT page on Yelp	Active	1.47 miles	19 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Jamie Scott Fitness page on Yelp Search 200 W Tremont Ave on Google Maps	Active	1.78 miles	5 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Nakao International page on Yelp Search 411 S Sharon Amity Rd on Google Maps	Beauty	2.87 miles	5 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Get Bodied Wax Studio page on Yelp Search 900 Metropolitan Ave on Google Maps	Beauty	0.47 miles	7 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Champagne Strands page on Yelp Search 2000 S Blvd on Google Maps	Beauty	1.69 miles	10 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Izar Wellness Institute page on Yelp Search 6324 Fairview Rd on Google Maps	Beauty	4.14 miles	7 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the About Face & Body Electrolysis page on Yelp Search 233 S Sharon Amity Rd on Google Maps	Beauty	2.91 miles	7 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the L.rose page on Yelp Search 6324 Fairview Rd on Google Maps	Beauty	4.13 miles	10 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the KUR Health Spa page on Yelp Search 3928 Park Rd on Google Maps	Beauty	2.5 miles	22 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Beauty Asylum Hair & Makeup page on Yelp	Beauty	4.74 miles	10 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the B Shea Vanity page on Yelp Search 1227 W Morehead St on Google Maps	Beauty	2.27 miles	7 reviews	5/5 stars

Demographics and Employment Data for Charlotte, NC

Population Households Employment

Charlotte has 361,100 households, with an average household size of 2.42. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Charlotte do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 886,283 people call Charlotte home. The population density is 2,866.72 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

886,283

Total Population

High

Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.

34.4

Median Age

48.28 / 51.72%

Men vs Women

Population by Age Group

0-9:

0-9 Years

10-17:

10-17 Years

18-24:

18-24 Years

25-64:

25-64 Years

65-74:

65-74 Years

75+:

75+ Years

Education Level

Less Than 9th Grade
High School Degree
Associate Degree
Bachelor Degree
Graduate Degree

361,100

Total Households

2.42

Average Household Size

$49,991

Average individual Income

Households with Children

With Children:

Without Children:

Marital Status

Married

Single

Divorced

Separated

Blue vs White Collar Workers

Blue Collar:

White Collar:

Commute Time

0 to 14 Minutes

15 to 29 Minutes

30 to 59 Minutes

60+ Minutes

Schools in Charlotte, NC

All ()

Primary Schools ()

Middle Schools ()

High Schools ()

Mixed Schools ()

The following schools are within or nearby Charlotte. The rating and statistics can serve as a starting point to make baseline comparisons on the right schools for your family. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Type

Name