Have you dreamed of living in Charlotte, the Queen City of North Carolina? Surprisingly, Charlotte retains its quaint small-city vibe while boasting the amenities of a booming city. First and foremost, Charlotte is a friendly place. Without reservation, locals in the Charlotte area are kind-hearted and inviting, making this an ideal locale for raising children. Secondly, this progressive city is affordable. In fact, life in Charlotte is 2% cheaper than the national cost of living. Thirdly, expect to be dazzled by culture, history, and a vibrant social scene.
Regarding culture, attractions, and things to do, Charlotte delivers. The fourth benefit of living in Charlotte is about adventure; Charlotteans have it made. The Queen City reigns supreme in hiking, lip-smacking barbeque, sports, and recreation. Saving the best for last, Charlotte has a thriving economy. Proof of this is the ample job market in various industries ranging from textiles and tobacco to biotech and aerospace. As a result, the workforce opportunity in this unique city is abundant and ever-evolving.
Let’s deep-dive and explore the 5 Benefits of Living In Charlotte, NC.
1. Living in Charlotte is Friendly
In today’s modern era, southern hospitality is rare. Yet, despite Charlotte being the largest city in North Carolina, visitors are regularly greeted with genuine smiles and approachable faces. Charlotte’s diverse, family-friendly environment is proven to be true by combining safe, clean streets, top-ranking schools, furry friends, and southern charm; what’s not to love?
According to StudyFinds, this metro city is among America’s top 5 cleanest cities. When it comes to education, Charlotte isn’t messing around. Proof of this is the 86% average graduation rate within all public schools in North Carolina. The kids will love visiting the Discovery Place to learn more about insects and the scientific wonders of the world.
Additionally, Charlotte welcomes your four-legged friends. Charlotte is known for being dog-friendly, and according to Yelp, they have 22 dog parks to prove it. Whether potential Charlotans are single and ready to mingle or large families needing affordable housing and amenities to suit the broad range of each family member, the Queen City has a neighborhood to suit.
2. Living in Charlotte is Affordable
Imagine living in an affordable city. Affordability is laughable for many Americans surviving in the modern era of inflation. As a solution, Charlotte’s cost of living is 3% lower than the national average, and housing is 11% less than other American cities. According to PayScale, on average, Charlatans pay 8% less for utilities and 3% less at the grocery store.
Additionally, transportation and fuel costs are 7% more affordable than anywhere in the nation. Given these points, it’s easy to see why Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. Due to its gorgeous location, abundant resources, thriving economic opportunities, and low cost of living, resettling in Charlotte makes sense.
3. Living in Charlotte is Exciting
Life in Charlotte provides a unique urban experience by blending southern charm and vibrant energy. The overall draw to Charlotte is its ironclad business scene, dynamic job market, countless entertainment options, and bursting social opportunities. For ages, people from all around the world have found their ideal homesteads in Queen City.
Check out these lively entertainment options.
Sports: Athletic and event facilities include Spectrum Center, Truist Field, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Bank of America Stadium, Bojangles’ Coliseum, American Legion Memorial Stadium, and BB&T Ballpark.
Professional Sports Teams: Carolina Panthers (NFL), Charlotte Hornets (NBA), Charlotte Checkers (AHL), Charlotte FC (MLS), Charlotte Knights (AAA Minor League Baseball), and Charlotte Independence (professional soccer).
Gardens, Parks, Arts & History: Charlotte is teeming with talent, from local theatrical performances to award-winning Broadway shows. There are numerous galleries, theaters, museums, and historical sites to explore in the city and surrounding areas. Visitors uncover the hidden treasures of history by journeying through renowned art museums featuring exhibits from around the world.
Culinary: Charlotte’s restaurants and bars are innovative and irresistible. With thousands of restaurants and nightspots, visitors and residents will indeed find their favorites. According to Google Arts & Culture, “It is the combination of classic burger joints combined with good ol’ southern BBQ spots. It’s the fact that folks will never agree on who makes the best fried chicken. It’s the mix of inspiration from up north with breakfast tacos from the West Coast. Essentially, it is the mesh of old and new. And every bite is something to remember.”
Family Fun: Six children-dedicated learning attractions: Discovery Place, Discovery Place Nature, ImaginOn, The Schiele Museum of Natural History, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, and Carolina Raptor Center (in the nearby town of Huntersville, NC.)
4. Living in Charlotte is Adventurous
Ample outdoor activities, amusement parks, and recreation possibilities await in North Carolina. Charlotte is a large city with beautiful parks, greenways, and lakes. AllTrails lists 80 top hiking trails surrounding the Charlotte area alone. The short commute from the bustling city and vibrant culture to the quaint shores of Lake Norman proves that Charlotte does have it all. This manufactured lake offers nature lovers 500 miles of shoreline accompanied by golfing, biking trails, and fishing adventures.
Amusement Parks & Adventure for all ages:
Carowinds is an amusement park offering live entertainment and family-fun adventures. Carowinds is a popular destination for families and thrill-seekers, offering attractions for all ages.
Carolina Harbor is a water park offering giant water slides, wave pools, lazy rivers, play structures, and a three-acre children’s area.
The U.S. National Whitewater Center offers outdoor adventures such as whitewater rafting, ziplining, rock climbing, and mountain biking, as well as family-friendly festivals and events.
Charlotte Motor Speedway is an auto enthusiast’s dreamland that hosts NASCAR races, car shows, and family-friendly events like movie nights and holiday light displays.
5. Living in Charlotte is Empowering
Charlotte’s thriving economy is backed by the power of banking and the world of finance. For those ready to boost their careers, Uptown contains 33 million+ sqft of office space. This powerhouse of a district is home to countless areas of business and commerce. As home to the second-largest banking center in the country and multiple Fortune 500 companies, Charlotte offers a solid job market.
Beyond finance, commerce in transportation, insurance, healthcare, technology, and real estate are all booming industries in the area. Additionally, some of the largest, well-known corporations call Charlotte, North Carolina, their home: Coca-Cola, Honeywell, Food Lion, Wells Fargo, Nucor, Lowe’s, Bank of America, and many, many more. There’s no denying it—numerous job opportunities are ripe for the taking.
The Hottest Neighborhoods in Charlotte
Did you know that Charlotte has nearly 200 official city-designated neighborhoods? Since the early 1700s, Charlotte originated as a central trading center. One step into the city center places visitors at the first crossroads of the city, Trade and Tyron Streets. These original crossroads divide the heart of Charlotte into four separate wards and remain a buzzing hub of commerce to this day. Most towns label the center of the city downtown. However, Charlatans named the Uptown district as the heart of their city.
Finding the “right” neighborhood is subjective to the lifestyle of the person asking. With this in mind, let’s break down a few of the hottest neighborhoods for living in Charlotte.
Uptown
Uptown offers it all for homeowners looking for action! It radiates with lively entertainment options, boasting parks and restaurants of all flavors. Uptown has many pro-sporting events, including the 33-acre NFL Carolina Panthers stadium and Charlotte Motor Speedway, home to NASCAR’s key events. Uptown is also home to the Charlotte Hornets. Residents enjoy opera, ballet, symphony, museums, galleries, and local and national visual performing arts. Uptown doesn’t sound so bad, right?
For outdoor lovers, the Skyline Trail runs along Romare Bearden Park, a 5.4-acre park that hosts a 30 ft Spiral Odyssey sculpture, and the Childhood Muse Plaza, which has interactive water features and a lighted waterfall. Since Uptown Charlotte is the central business hub of the area, people moving from big cities like New York often find relocating to Uptown a great fit. Uptown emanates liveliness with nightlife, tech startups, and the hustle and bustle of entertainment options, bars, and chic high rises. Most Uptown residents are young professionals, singles, and students from nearby colleges and universities.
NoDa
NoDa is one of the hottest districts in the Charlotte area. Creativity is the pulse that drives this historic art district. Proof of this is their vibrant art scene, eye-catching murals, eclectic shops, and boutiques. Combining old south influences and modern cosmopolitan flair comes naturally to this neighborhood.
Myers Park
If tree-lined, clean streets and single-family homes pique some interest, Myers Park may have you dial a realtor. Did we mention the top-notch schools surrounding the neighborhood? With an overall Niche Grade of a solid A, Meyers Park offers a dense suburban feel with various coffee shops, restaurants, bars, and parks.
Historic Belmont
Nestled between bustling Uptown and Plaza-Midwood is Bellmont, one of the first planned neighborhoods in Charlotte. This ideal location is perfect for young professionals, retirees, and entrepreneurs seeking affordable property and easy access to the plethora of activity within the city; Belmont’s green space, restaurants, museums, and art venues are all walkably accessed.
Dilworth
Known as Charlotte’s first streetcar suburb, Dillworth sits south of Uptown. Home to over 1,00 historically significant structures, Dillworth’s tree-lined streets and restaurants are among the very best, and Freedom Park is steps away. Homebuyers will find signature bungalows chocked full of history and charm coupled with a close-knit community vibe.
South End
Homebuyers looking for a quiet, peaceful neighborhood with a thriving art scene and plenty of nightlife options enjoy living in the quaint nature of South End. This affluent neighborhood offers wine rooms and mouthwatering culinary options and is known for its diverse cultural restaurants. South Enders have a cornucopia of arts, food, and recreation at their fingertips.
Charlatan’s Top Picks
Ride the Rail
As a side note, within this big city is the LYNX Blue Line light rail Station. Lynx offers public transportation running 29 miles through the town and has 26 stations, including ten free park-and-ride locations. Since parking is free at the stations, travelers can access concerts, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, museums, and mouth-watering restaurants and even commute without ever needing to put the kiddos in a car.
Take in the Nightlife
Ready for a date night? Charlotte is one of the best cities around the world for finding dates and entertainment. Check out the NoDA Craft Beer Trail. Here, beer enthusiasts can download the map and enjoy over two and a half miles of craft beer, breweries, taprooms, mouth-watering food, and street art, all within a vibrant atmosphere with some of the friendliest bartenders. For adventurous couples, Charlotte offers Top Golf, Escape Rooms, and iFly Indoor Skydiving. Got kids? Bambino can introduce quality babysitting options so couples can enjoy kid-free alone time.
Ready to Move to Charlotte NC?
With all that Charlotte offers, there is no doubt that relocation is enticing. The Queen City lives up to the hype. Undeniably, this area’s southern charm and friendly nature offer a unique blend of hospitality and friendship opportunities; with the affordability of living, coupled with exciting events, culture, and adventure, there’s plenty to fall in love with.
This North Carolina powerhouse boasts a buzzing economy and career opportunity for all walks of life. Why not get the ball rolling and connect with a lender who can improve your quality of life, fund your next real estate adventure, and finance a beautiful new home? Taking the plunge and buying a new property in an exciting new city like Charlotte is just a click or a phone call away.
Let’s Connect With a Lender Who Can Help
The Steps are Simple:
Schedule a Call: An experienced loan officer can discuss your needs and guide you through the possibilities.
Get Approved: We’ll help you through the application process and facilitate the steps for approval.
Exhale: Put your feet up and feel secure knowing you made the best decisions about your home loan.
With proper guidance, you can get your first home, accommodate your growing family, and start that renovation project—whatever goal is on the horizon. An alliance with Mortgage Insiders will give you the confidence to know that your mortgage loan is setting you up for financial success. Mortgage Insiders offers today’s latest financial news and mortgage trends. Check out our channel for current events.
