The Town FilesCharlotte, North Carolina
City in Mecklenburg County · population 874,579 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $385,700
- Household income
- $82,068
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 34.5
Charlotte is a city of 874,579 people in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $385,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 99% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 99% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 98% of North Carolina towns.
How Charlotte ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Charlotte is worth $385,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $82,068, which is more affordable than 22% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,612 a month. 51.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charlotte | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $385,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,612 | $969 |
| Median household income | $82,068 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 51.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Charlotte
| People | Charlotte | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.7% | — |
| Work from home | 28.8% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Charlotte
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 31.8°F. About 43.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charlotte since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 3, 2012 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 16, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 88 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 3, 1974.
Severe weather in Mecklenburg County since 1996
Mecklenburg County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County had 788,436 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $88,111 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Charlotte itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Charlotte
180 public schools with 131,466 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ardrey Kell High School | 9-12 | 3,605 | 21.1 |
| Myers Park High School | 9-12 | 3,430 | 20.3 |
| South Mecklenburg High School | 9-12 | 3,244 | 18.0 |
| East Mecklenburg High School | 9-12 | 2,372 | 18.4 |
| Julius L. Chambers High School | 9-12 | 2,316 | 20.3 |
| Palisades High School | 9-12 | 2,241 | 20.4 |
| Providence High School | 9-12 | 2,126 | 21.5 |
| Mallard Creek High School | 9-12 | 2,099 | 18.6 |
| Independence High School | 9-12 | 2,020 | 17.1 |
| Garinger High School | 9-12 | 1,803 | 16.9 |
| West Charlotte High School | 9-12 | 1,674 | 16.4 |
| Sugar Creek Charter (charter) | K-12 | 1,573 | 21.8 |
Towns near Charlotte
- Pineville, NC8.7 mi · 10,602 people · home $395,100
- Matthews, NC9.2 mi · 29,435 people · home $445,100
- Mint Hill, NC10.1 mi · 26,450 people · home $428,900
- Stallings, NC11.8 mi · 16,112 people · home $428,000
- Belmont, NC11.9 mi · 15,010 people · home $395,000
- Mount Holly, NC12.3 mi · 17,703 people · home $337,800
- Harrisburg, NC12.5 mi · 18,967 people · home $478,000
- Cramerton, NC13.8 mi · 5,296 people · home $343,400
Charlotte questions
Is Charlotte, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charlotte scores better for retirees than 9% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 2%. 11.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.5).
How much does a house cost in Charlotte?
The median owner-occupied home in Charlotte is valued at $385,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,068, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $1,612 a month.
What is the weather like in Charlotte?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 31.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 3.5 inches of snow.
Does Charlotte get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charlotte since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 3, 2012. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)