Moving To Charlotte, NC: Things To Do + Things To Know
Before we get into things to do in Charlotte, North Carolina – here are some basic facts about the city to set the scene.
Charlotte is the biggest city in North Carolina with a population of close to a million people. It’s one of the most popular places in the South to move to and continuously ranks as one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the United States.
There are plenty of things to do in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte is famous for its sports teams, its booming business opportunities, and its range of entertainment options. There’s truly something for everyone in Charlotte.
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Real Estate Market Overview
For those looking to move to Charlotte, you should know that its popularity has affected its housing market.
If you’re not sure about living in Charlotte long-term, you may consider renting one of Charlotte’s numerous beautiful apartments until you’ve decided. If you’re ready to settle there, here are some numbers to consider.
Home Purchasing Cost in Charlotte
There’s some discrepancy from experts about what the median home price is in Charlotte, but it’s safe to say that you’ll likely spend between $350,000-$400,000 if you’re looking to buy a home there.
That’s about $217 per square foot. Of course, the location and condition of the home will affect prices, but Charlotte’s popularity doesn’t show any signs of slowing down–it’s likely that home prices will only rise.
Renting Cost in Charlotte
Rent in Charlotte, however, is much more variable.
On average, rent in Charlotte, North Carolina is about $1,600-$1,700 with an average size of about 944 square feet.
There are some more boutique apartments that raise that average–the median price of apartments is closer to $1,100. Depending on your needs, anticipating spending anywhere between $1,000-$1,700 is probably healthy.
That said, some neighborhoods are more expensive than others.
According to NeighborhoodScout, a website that collects data on cities and neighborhoods for prospective movers, Charlotte has some 258 separate neighborhoods.
The most expensive of these neighborhoods is Myers Park North, located in the dead middle of Charlotte. Some of the more affordable neighborhoods, on the other hand, include Avensong, Bradfield Farms, and Cedarbrook Acres.
Charlotte is split in half in terms of home ownership versus renting. If there’s an apartment that you’re really interested in, it may be good to set alerts for availability since the leasing process moves quickly.
A word to the wise, if you decide to rent through an agency, check their reviews before you commit yourself to a lease. Charlotte has several high-end apartment complexes that likely have a standard process, but if you go for a smaller leasing agency or an independent landlord, it’s worth doing your research in advance.
Schools In Charlotte, North Carolina
Just in case you’re a parent that’s looking to move, we’ll go over some of the schools in the Charlotte area that you may like to know about.
Your one-stop-shop for most things school related is the Charles-Mecklenburg Schools website.
This site doesn’t go into detail about each individual school, but it does give updates on all school or educational events, provide information about the student population, and answer enrollment questions (among a number of other things).
If you’re looking for general reviews of schools, Niche.com’s public school information page can help.
Charlotte’s public school system serves nearly 150,000 students. There are 178 K-12 schools in total, and Charlotte’s high schools have excellent graduation rates.
If you’re interested in options other than just public schools, there are other options available in Charlotte including a wide array of dynamic, albeit expensive, private schools.
If you’re a student, however, there are a couple of colleges in the area that might interest you. The University of North Carolina has a campus in Charlotte, but there are also a number of smaller colleges based in Charlotte too.
If you’re a parent moving to Charlotte, it’s not a bad idea to factor education costs into your other cost of living expenses.
Cost Of Living In Charlotte, North Carolina
If the rental numbers previously mentioned sound decent to you, but you’re still wondering about the general cost of living, we’ve got you covered.
For the most part, Charlotte ranks lower than the national average across the board for living expenses. Payscale.com, a cost of living estimator, says that Charlotte ranks 3% lower than the national average for general living costs.
In more detail, that means that Charlotte’s housing is about 11% lower than the national average. Utility costs are around 8% lower than the national average and transportation costs are just about 7% lower.
It’s worth saying, however, that even though Charlotte’s transportation costs rank lower than the national average–you must have a car to live there. Unlike other major metropolitan cities, Charlotte doesn’t have a big public transportation system. The cost of your personal transportation will affect your monthly budget. Don’t neglect to put extra money away for gas and other car-related costs.
The only thing that ranks higher than the national average is healthcare costs (11% higher than the national average). In practice, that means more expensive doctor and dentist appointments and more expensive prescriptions after those appointments.
Lifestyle, of course, affects the total cost of living. For a single person with no “extras”, the average cost of living, without rent, is close to $1,200.
If you have a family, that cost jumps up to $4,000-$4,200 a month.
For quick reference, Charlotte’s stats look something like this:
Regardless of where you fall on the cost of living calculator, it’s a good idea to factor some flexibility into your moving budget. Charlotte is a huge city, one of the biggest in the Southeast, with tons of things to do. Some of the must-do things in Charlotte involve spending some extra cash (Panthers football game anyone?) – give yourself some wiggle room to enjoy them.
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Finding The Neighborhood For You: Some Tips
As we mentioned before, Charlotte is a big city with hundreds of great neighborhoods. If you’re planning to move to Charlotte, but don’t know where to start, these tips can steer you in the right direction–before you ever set foot there.
First, check real estate and neighborhood watch websites like NeighborhoodScout and Niche for statistics and descriptions of potential neighborhoods. A lot of websites like these also have a review page where residents, transplants, and locals can comment about their thoughts and complaints.
Of course, not everyone living in Charlotte has left a review, so take them with a grain of salt.
Similarly, you may want to check out the discussion boards on Reddit for ongoing, real-time discussions about a place. Platforms like Reddit are likely to give you some very unfiltered, honest commentary–and it’s possible to directly message other users about questions you may have. Be careful with who you choose to engage though. Some users can be incredibly helpful, but it’s good to do some self-moderating if you choose to participate.
It’s also a great idea to join a Facebook group, check out the city’s website, and follow the city on social media to get a feel for the place.
Alternatively, if you want to check out the landscape, or get a good glimpse of a typical streetscape (especially if you have a specific address in mind!) Google Maps Street View tool is incredibly useful–just check the date on the pictures to make sure they’re relevant.
If you get the chance, however, we’d really recommend taking a trip to Charlotte. There’s nothing quite like walking the streets of a place, grabbing a drink with locals, and driving through the neighborhoods you’re considering.
Things To Do In Charlotte, NC
Alright, if you’ve already got your heart set on Charlotte then the apartment and home shopping will come naturally. After you’ve settled in, here are our top recommendations for things to do, things for families, and things to eat.
Fun Things To Do
No matter who you are or what you’re interested in, Charlotte is guaranteed to have something for you.
If you have some time to sift through a giant list of recommendations, or you need a quick reference for an upcoming trip, a very helpful Reddit user compiled hundreds of recommendations into one master list. If you’re just interested in our picks, stick around.
For outdoor enthusiasts:
You’ve gotta check out the Whitewater Center. There are tons of different activities for any age and ability range at Whitewater. From rafting to trail-riding, yoga to ropes courses, the Whitewater Center offers weeks worth of experiences that would be great with friends or solo.
Charlotte is a great headquarters for hikers. There are various trailheads spread throughout the Charlotte area. Check out the Parks and Recreation website for trail updates and maps. If you wanna split your hiking into segments or want an accessible and easier starting point, we’ve heard only good things about the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.
For the artsy friend:
Charlotte is home to a number of interesting art museums. The most popular is the Mint Museum. There are always new exhibitions, classes, and workshops going on. Spend a day, spread the visits out, or sign up for one of their many events and find something you love.
Alternatively, and if you’re willing to drive a little ways from Charlotte, the Biltmore Estate is an incredible place for architecture. Pack a picnic and enjoy the grounds, or, if you’re a photography nerd, grab some beautiful detail shots.
For music lovers:
If you need good music to keep you going, there’s also a variety of options for you in Charlotte. For live rock music and a great bar scene, Snug Harbor is your best bet. For a more mixed music option, keep up with the calendar at The Neighborhood Theatre and grab tickets to your favorite artists.
Things To Do With Kids
One of Charlotte’s biggest highlights is its family-friendly nature. There are tons of family-focused locations sprinkled around Charlotte, including the nation’s top-rated children’s museum and theater, ImaginOn.
That’s not the only children’s museum in Charlotte either. Discovery Place Science is another fan favorite. The museum has numerous interactive exhibits, as well as summer camps and topic-specific classes for any curious kid.
For more adventurous families, Charlotte is also home to Carowinds, an amusement park specializing in larger-than-life rollercoasters. If your kids are waterbugs, perhaps the water parks at Ray’s Splash Planet or Great Wolf Lodge would be best.
For daily activities, Charlotte has a number of beautiful parks and playgrounds that would inspire any child.
Don’t forget to take advantage of Charlotte’s sports scene. There are all kinds of sporting events year-round that are worth bringing kids to. Watch the Carolina Panthers play at the Bank of America Stadium or become a soccer fan at a Charlotte FC soccer match.
These are only some of the great things to do in Charlotte, North Carolina. You and your family will have years’ worth of fun, no matter what you enjoy.
Things To Eat
Speaking of enjoying things–Charlotte has some seriously delicious restaurants. For the culturally curious, there are a ton of Charlotte restaurants to help you kick your craving.
If you simply can’t decide which direction to go, here’s our top pick for a variety of flavors.
Asian – Musashi Japanese
Burgers – ACE No. 3
Latin – Cabo Fish Taco
BBQ – Midwood Smokehouse
If you want some drinks with your meal, Charlotte also has a number of breweries, bars, and wine spots. Some are self-serve, like Pinhouse, while others have a more speakeasy feel.
There’s also plenty for sweet-toothed people. Villani’s is famous for pastries, but don’t discount the ice cream and custard shops not too far from there.
Conclusion
There are lots of awesome things to do in Charlotte, North Carolina no matter what kind of interests you have.
As the biggest city in North Carolina, it’s almost guaranteed that there will be something in Charlotte for you. If you’re looking to move to Charlotte, keep in mind the housing market can be competitive.
Regardless of how long you live in Charlotte, don’t forget to check out some of the must-do things there.
Check out the Discovery Place Science center!
Go to the Whitewater Center for sure!
Charlotte is the biggest city in North, Carolina. It’s consistently growing and has a population of close to a million people.
It totally depends on the area you’re looking to buy in and the condition of the home. The median price for a house in Charlotte is between $350,000 and $400,000. Charlotte’s popularity has been rising recently though, so if you’re looking to buy a home, you may want to start seriously looking so that prices don’t get higher.
Absolutely. Charlotte’s public school system serves nearly 150,000 students. There are 178 K-12 schools in total, and Charlotte’s high schools have excellent graduation rates. You can check out Charlotte’s education website to see about schools close to neighborhoods you’re considering. If private schools are more your speed, Charlotte’s got those too.
Barbecue is huge in the South. You should go to Midwood Smokehouse. Order any of their sandwiches and see what you think!
Grace currently lives in Nashville, TN. She grew up in the Southeastern United States and graduated from College of Charleston, in Charleston, South Carolina. Her degree is in Political Science with a focus in International Relations, but she has a passion for all things communication and writing.
