Good Things To Know Before Moving To Charlotte, North Carolina
Today, we tackle the pros and cons of living in Charlotte, NC. Because this southern city’s popularity has skyrocketed in recent years.
Is Charlotte a good place to live? Should you consider retirement living in Charlotte? How does the Charlotte lifestyle stack up?
These are just some of the questions you will be able to answer. After carefully examining the most important moving to Charlotte pros and cons.
That’s the plan. So, let’s go…
Pros And Cons Of Living In Charlotte, North Carolina
The pros and cons of Charlotte include:
- Productive job market
- Competitive cost of living
- Access to education
- Plenty of fun things to do
- Close to so much more
- Growth comes with a price
- Bad traffic congestion
- Issues with the environment
- Lacking rich cultural roots
- High income and sales taxes
Shortly, we will review each of these points one at a time. But first, I want to address the most important question of the day…
Disclosure: At no cost to you, I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Is Charlotte A Good Place To Live?
Charlotte is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States by reputable sources including U.S. News & World Report, Niche.com, and Livability.com.
These studies indicate that solid job opportunities, good schools, and abundant recreational options add up to a high quality of life for residents living in what is known as the Queen City of North Carolina.
However, the reasons to live in Charlotte may not be for everyone.
So, let’s take a close look at all of the advantages and disadvantages. Then you can decide for yourself…
If this popular city in North Carolina is the right place for you?
As we roll through our top living in Charlotte pros and cons…
Productive Job Market
Let’s start by considering the possibilities for making a living…
First of all, technology, financial services, health care, and transportation are key industries driving the economy here.
Furthermore, the region is the headquarters for almost 20 Fortune 1000 companies.
Finally, the city is one of the largest banking centers in the United States. Trailing only New York City. And comparing closely to San Francisco.
Some of the top employers in the area include:
- American Airlines
- Atrium Health
- Bank of America
- Duke Energy
- Honeywell
- Lowe’s
- Novant Health
- Wells Fargo
Thus, the city has a low unemployment rate. And packs a solid punch for anyone seeking a new job opportunity.
So, be sure to put your best foot forward by presenting your qualifications in a positive light. For this, I like to use MyPerfectResume.
Are you still asking why live in Charlotte? Well then, here is another good reason…
Competitive Cost Of Living
With a population nearing 1 million people strong. Making it the largest city in the state.
And the entire Charlotte metropolitan area swelling to an excess of 2.5 million residents. We are talking about one of the top 25 metro areas in the U.S.
Combining the population density with other desirable traits of the area, one might conclude it’s an expensive place to live. However, the data tells us living in this North Carolina city is quite affordable.
Because both payscale.com and bestplaces.net reflect the average cost of living in Charlotte to range between 1% and 5% below the national average.
Furthermore, if you want to pursue a career in financial services. But desire to avoid the high price tag and hassles of New York City.
Then, according to numbeo.com, you will find the cost of living in Charlotte to be nearly 30% less compared to The Big Apple.
To sum it up, you can stretch your budget a little farther here. When compared to other cities of similar size and scope.
And for pulling your spending and budget together, I suggest using the free online tool from Personal Capital. That way you won’t have any financial surprises after your move.
Next, another one of the benefits of living in Charlotte…
Access To Education
Thus far we have covered making money. And spending that money on a new place to live.
A couple of the basic building blocks of your new Charlotte lifestyle.
But what about education and the schools providing it? That’s next…
K-12 Education When Living In Charlotte
First of all, for anyone with school-age children. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School (CMS) system provides K-12 programs for the cities and towns of Mecklenburg County.
The system has approximately 200 schools. With nearly 140,000 students attending classes.
However, across the greater metropolitan area, there are an additional 9 school districts
So, you will want to choose your new address in the area wisely. Both to get located in one of the best districts. Also, to get your kids placed in a quality school within that district.
Location, location, location as they say in the real estate business. This also applies to getting your kids a quality education in one of the area’s public schools.
Because some of the top-rated K-12 education programs tend to be located outside of the city. For example, these districts are highly thought of:
- Union County public schools – southeast
- Mooresville Graded school district – north
- Carrabus County schools – northeast
There are also some good school districts just across the state border in South Carolina.
Then, when the kids (or you) are ready for college. You will find this next topic another one of the advantages of moving to Charlotte…
Higher Education When Living In Charlotte
Know that by choosing to move to Charlotte you will have plenty of good higher education options here. Such as…
- Johnson and Wales University
- Johnson C. Smith University
- Queens University of Charlotte
- UNC-Charlotte
- Winthrop University
Better yet, know that you are less than 3 hours away from what is known as North Carolina’s triangle region. It is home to the flagship campuses of 3 prestigious research universities:
- Duke University – Durham
- NC State University – Raleigh
- University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
So, get the kids out of the house and let them experience campus life in Raleigh or Durham. While benefiting from the reduced cost of in-state tuition.
On the other hand, Duke is a private institution. So instate vs out of state tuition rates do not apply.
Next, you won’t lack entertainment options. Another one of the reasons to move to Charlotte…
Plenty Of Fun Things To Do
And because there are many ways to enjoy your leisure time here. I want to break them down into several areas. Partly because the weather plays an important role when planning your play days.
Outdoor Activities For Your Life In Charlotte
Speaking of the weather, the year-round climate is great.
With mild winters and little snowfall to speak of here. Also, amazing springs, and stunning fall foliage.
Which can only mean one thing. Specifically, plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors. So, consider these options.
Because this is a city with lots of green spaces and plenty of outdoor activities that go with them…
- Carowinds amusement park
- Catawaba River greenway
- Crowders Mountain State Park
- Lake Norman
- Little Sugar Creek greenway trail
- McDowell Nature Center and Preserve
- Romare Bearden park
- Rosedale Plantation
- Top-notch golf courses
- Wing Haven Garden and Bird Sanctuary
Indoor Activities For Charlotte Living
On the flip side, the peak summer months are hot and humid. Thus, you need to have a menu of things to do when you just don’t feel like being outside.
Why move to Charlotte? Here are more reasons why.
This time we focus on fun things to do indoors. Live music, museums, and the like…
- Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
- Dining and shopping at Optimist Hall
- Discovery Place science museum
- Hendrick Motorsports complex
- Levine Museum of the new south
- Mint Museum Uptown
- NASCAR Hall of Fame
- Wells Fargo History Museum
Moving right along, for some residents, this next topic might be one of the best things about the Charlotte lifestyle…
Pro Sports When Living In Charlotte
Because no matter the weather. This is a sports town.
With a variety of options for heading out to the big game. Or, summoning your inner couch potato to cheer on your favorite team.
And here are the local sports heroes Charlotte offers…
- American Hockey League’s Checkers
- Minor league baseball’s Knights
- NASCAR at the Charlotte Motor Speedway
- NBA’s Hornets
- NFL’s Panthers
- PGA Golf Tournaments
- Pro Soccer’s Charlotte FC
Next, regardless of where you live. There are times when you just need to get away.
And that’s no problem here. Another one of the great things about living in Charlotte…
Close To So Much More
First of all, just drive an hour and a half to the west. And find yourself in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Furthermore, for something completely different. Head 3-4 hours east to check out the amazing beaches. And find your favorite beach town on the Atlantic coastline.
Finally, for getting outside of the region. You must know that Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a world-class travel center.
Based on arrivals and departures, it is one of the busiest airports in the world. Also, a major hub for American Airlines.
Okay. That completes our discussion on the best things about living in The Queen City.
However, this article covers the pros and cons of living in Charlotte. So, to present a balanced scorecard, here are the disadvantages of living here…
Growth Comes At A Price
The economy and business are booming. So, people are moving to the area for jobs and the mild year-round climate.
But the downside to being one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas is that the cost of living has been rising.
Most noticeably due to the competition for housing. Increasing apartment rents and median home prices.
What used to be an inexpensive city to live in. Now offers what I call a competitive cost of living.
It compares favorably to some of the most expensive east coast cities. But it is no longer a bargain. Or a secret low-cost gem.
As a result, when searching for a new home or apartment. Be sure to put your best foot forward. Do so by making sure your credit score is in good shape.
You can check your credit for free now using Credit Karma.
For some people, this next point might be one of the big reasons not to move to Charlotte…
Bad Traffic Congestion
Unless you plan to live, work, and play in Uptown. Which is the central business district. Things get more spread out as you move away from the city center.
It makes Charlotte life car-centric where driving is usually required to get where you need to go. Leading to some of the worst traffic in the southeast United States.
Thus, expect heavy congestion during peak driving times. As commuters make their way along Route 74, Interstate 77, and Interstate 485.
The latter of which forms a loop around the city.
Aside from the traffic backups, Charlotte residents can also agree on one thing.
Specifically, there are plenty of bad drivers. Also, aggressive ones that seem to get a thrill out of tailgating.
Public Transportation Doesn’t Make Life In Charlotte Any Easier
You might be asking, what about public transportation? And I say, yes, it exists.
However, it’s not overly convenient for getting where you need to go when you need to get there.
Options provided by the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) include a bus system. Running approximately 70 local and regional fixed routes.
CATS also operates a light rail system. Including the blue line and the gold line. However, neither provide service to the airport.
Next, moving to Charlotte means putting up with some environmental issues. Depending on your priorities they might be more reasons not to live in Charlotte in the first place…
Issues With The Environment
Allergies. One downside to all the green spaces is the pollen. During the spring and early summer it gets so thick it coats outdoor surfaces in a sticky green haze.
Hurricanes. Fortunately, the city is far enough removed from the Atlantic ocean it does not take direct hits from these violent storms.
However, heavy rains can cause flooding. Also, damaging high winds take out trees and power lines. Thus, these events are common when a storm hits the North Carolina coastal area.
Summer heat and humidity. It’s hot here in the summer. And the humidity levels make it feel even more uncomfortable.
Mosquitos. Whether you like the summer heat or not. I can guarantee you the mosquitos love it. They stand ready to ruin your summer outdoor plans.
Development. Green spaces are giving up ground to more and more urban development. For homes, businesses, and infrastructure.
Crime Rates. Every big U.S. city has issues with crime. And, this city is no different.
The Charlotte Observer reports crime has been on the increase. And CrimeGrade.org gives Charlotte an overall grade of D+.
Yes, there are plenty of safe places to live in Charlotte. But you need to do your homework and choose your location wisely.
Next, I like a city that is rich in history, culture, and personality. So, if you are like me, you may find this next item one of the disadvantages of living in Charlotte…
Lacking Rich Cultural Roots
For the most part, Charlotte has become a city of transplants. As a result, native Charlotteans are in the minority.
So, unlike other southern cities in the region, it lacks deep cultural roots. And the traditions that are developed and carried on through generations of families staying in the area.
The city can also feel lonely for new residents. So you have to be of the mindset of actively engaging to find your people.
Last but not least, save some of your budget dollars for taxes. Another one of the cons of moving to Charlotte…
High Income And Sales Taxes
Because you need to be prepared for some hefty tax bills when living here.
Income taxes – First, North Carolina has a flat tax. That’s just a fancy way to say everyone pays the same income tax rate. Regardless of the amount of money you make.
Thus you can plan on paying between 4% and 5% of your household income to the state in the form of an income tax. I give a range because fortunately, the state government has been slowly lowering the tax rate in recent years.
On the other hand, I still think it’s a lot to pay. Because you can jump the state’s west border by moving to the state of Tennessee. And not have to pay a penny of state income tax.
Then there are sales taxes – Combining the state and the county rate, you will owe an additional 7.25% in sales tax. On top of the purchase price of the things you buy.
We do our best to offset sales taxes by saving on everything we buy online. Using the cash-back rebate app from Rakuten.
Why pay more if you don’t have to? So, learn more about Rakuten now.
Okay. That concludes the disadvantages of living in Charlotte. Not too bad. Right? Especially considering all the good things about living here.
Next, let’s wrap it up with a few parting thoughts…
Pros And Cons Of Living In Charlotte, NC: Wrap Up
There’s a lot to like about Charlotte living. From the jobs, schools, mild winters, and fun things to do. However, all the good things have brought in plenty of new residents. Creating some growing pains along the way.
For quick reference, here is a recap of the pros and cons in table form…
Living In Charlotte Pros And Cons
| 10 Charlotte Pros | 10 Charlotte Cons |
| Job market | Costs are rising |
| Cost of living | Bad traffic |
| Public schools | Limited public transit |
| Higher education | Summer heat |
| Green spaces | Spring pollen |
| Outdoor activities | Mosquitos |
| Museums & arts | Urban development |
| Pro sports | Crime rates |
| Access to mountains | Few native Charlotteans |
| Access to beaches | Higher taxes |
Answering Your Questions About Charlotte Living
Most of all, thanks for reading. I hope this article has helped you address some important questions. Such as…
1) How is living in Charlotte?
and
2) Should I move to Charlotte?
More Reading About Living Beyond Charlotte
If you are still on the fence, then check out our…
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…to find your perfect place to live.
Author Bio: Tom Scott founded the consulting and coaching firm Dividends Diversify, LLC. He leverages his expertise and decades of experience in goal setting, relocation assistance, and investing for long-term wealth to help clients reach their full potential.