10 Reasons You’ll Love Living in Charlotte, NC
- Clean & Green
- Cultural Diversity
- Recreation
- Sports Galore
- Local Dining and Craft Beer
- Small Town Feel (Big City Amenities)
- Charming Neighborhoods
- Job Growth
- Mild Weather
- Great People
Charlotte, NC has everything going for it. Consistently ranked as one of the best places in the U.S. to live, the Queen City is one of the country’s fastest growing cities and the largest in North Carolina. In addition to amazing neighborhoods, trendy restaurants, hip coffee shops, lots of green space, cool things to do, and beautiful new homes, Charlotte is home to more than ten Fortune 1000 companies and is ranked 9th in the country for job openings. It’s an attractive place if you love working and playing hard. There’s plenty more we can say about Charlotte, so let’s dive in!
Best Things About Living in Charlotte, NC
1. Clean & Green
Charlotte is a notoriously clean city — which is no easy feat in a metro of over 900,000 people! The city council prioritizes initiatives like street and sidewalk repair, storm drain maintenance, and debris clean up. All this contributes to the beautiful green space that’s everywhere you look in Charlotte. Mecklenburg County, where Charlotte is located, is home to more than 230 parks on 12,000 acres of parkland. There are also more than 56 miles of developed trails that are part of the Mecklenburg County Greenway System. From anywhere in the city, it’s easy to find a park or a trail to get fresh air and exercise.
2. Cultural Diversity
In 2021, Charlotte was ranked as the 9th most diverse large city in America. Here, all cultures are welcomed and celebrated. Together, they represent the past, present and future, and all contribute to the popularity and growth of our dynamic city.
3. Recreation
You’ll never get bored in Charlotte – there’s something for everyone to do, explore, and enjoy! The youngest residents love Carowinds, North Carolina’s premier amusement park, and Discovery Place, a hands-on learning museum. For the about-towner, there’s no shortage of dining, cultural, and entertainment options. And outdoor enthusiasts can’t get enough of the recreation choices like the US National Whitewater Center, Lake Norman, and Lake Wylie.
4. Sports Galore
No matter which sport you love (or if you love them all), there’s a game for you to catch in Charlotte! The city’s two professional teams are the NBA’s Hornets and the NFL’s Panthers. For baseball fans there’s the minor league Charlotte Knights, hockey enthusiasts will love checking out the Charlotte Checkers, and soccer lovers will appreciate the Charlotte Independence!
5. Local Dining and Craft Beer
From down-home fish and chips to cuisine from around the world, trendy Uptown restaurants are buzzing with flavor and popularity. A few of our favorites are Amélie’s French Bakery & Café for strong coffee and quiche du jour, 5Church for New American cuisine with a twist, and Stoke for soul-warming, made-from-scratch food. The craft beer scene has also burgeoned along with the growth of the city. Today there are more than 30 local breweries in the Charlotte area with relaxed ambiances, plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and enough craft beer varieties to satisfy any palate.
6. Small Town Feel with Big City Amenities
More than 100 people move to Charlotte every day, yet we still manage to maintain our small town feel and southern hospitality. It’s the perfect balance of measured growth and quality of life. Here, you have access to all the latest technology, trends, and opportunities, yet you’ll still find yourself waving to neighbors at the local grocery store.
7. Charming Neighborhoods
Charlotte is made up of 19 neighborhoods, all of them special and distinct. The Fourth Ward, for example, offers a mix of gorgeous Victorians and new construction homes that both lend the area interest and charm. Ballantyne is an upscale neighborhood with golfing, office space, and event facilities, and is one of the most desirable locations in Charlotte. Dilworth is a historic neighborhood whose streets are lined with mature oaks, restaurants, and coffee shops.
8. Job Growth
Over the last year, Charlotte has experienced a 2.7% increase in job growth. And with so many top companies with either headquarters or satellite offices here, it’s no surprise. The banking sector is particularly strong, with the corporate headquarters of both Bank of America and Wachovia located here. Salaries for jobs in many other industries — including management, business, insurance, healthcare, and computer technology — are competitive with the national average. Future job growth in Charlotte is expected to far outpace the national average at a whopping 45.2% over the next 10 years. If you are looking to advance in your career, Charlotte is the place to make it happen.
9. Mild Weather
While the weather can be unpredictable day-to-day in Charlotte (think sunny skies that give way to a sudden downpour), it’s never too extreme. Temperatures remain comfortable year round, with summer highs rarely topping 95 degrees, and winter lows hardly going below the 20s. There are typically about 218 days of sunshine a year in Charlotte – more than the US average and offering plenty of opportunities to enjoy all the green spaces.
10. Great People
Everything on this list stands alone as a reason to live in Charlotte, but the biggest reason of them all is the people! Charlotteans are friendly, caring, and work hard to live their best lives — and they want the same for you!
If you are thinking of moving to Charlotte, you really can’t go wrong. With a strong economy, balanced cost of living, educational and entertainment opportunities, and beautiful weather, it’s one of the top cities to relocate to. Whether you’re considering buying in a new home community in Charlotte or building on your lot, you’ll love your new lifestyle.
