Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Charlotte, NC

    Is Charlotte a good place to live?

    Watch Charlotte

    Charlotte ranks #19 of 43 North Carolina cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (48/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.3% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $351,500
    +12.4% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,504
    per month
    Household income
    $78,438
    median
    Unemployment
    4.4%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Charlotte

    The median home value in Charlotte is $351,500 and median rent is $1,504 a month, against a median household income of $78,438. Homes cost about 4.5× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Charlotte crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across North Carolina the 2025 rate was 331 violent and 1,811 property crimes per 100,000 people — #15 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Charlotte, NC

    Charlotte has about 886,283 residents, 4.4% unemployment and 30% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Charlotte with

    Charlotte vs RaleighCharlotte vs GreensboroCharlotte vs DurhamCharlotte vs Winston-SalemCharlotte vs FayettevilleCharlotte vs CaryCharlotte vs WilmingtonCharlotte vs High Point

    More: Where to move in North Carolina · Best counties in North Carolina

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report