Best Life Index › States › North Carolina › Cities › Charlotte

North Carolina city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Charlotte?

What it costs to live in Charlotte, and how it compares with other North Carolina cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

41

48th best value in North Carolina

How much you get for what you pay, versus other North Carolina cities.

Overall livability

60

23rd overall in North Carolina

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Charlotte is home to about 864,871 people. A typical home runs $258,000 and a household earns around $68,400, a price-to-income ratio of 3.8. Among North Carolina's largest cities, it ranks 48th for value and 23rd overall.

Charlotte at a glance

Median home price

$258,000

61st in NC of 71

Median rent

$1,260/mo

Median household income

$68,400

Home price to income

3.8x

Unemployment

4.9%

25th in NC of 71

School rating

5/10

27th in NC of 71

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NC of 71

Walk score

100/100

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‹ See all top North Carolina cities ranked  ยท  North Carolina state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within North Carolina only. Updated 2026.