The Charlotte metro area: Anson, Cabarrus, Chester, Gaston, Iredell, Lancaster, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union and York counties · Population 2,768,407 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of the Charlotte area: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in the Charlotte area
Household size in the Charlotte area
| Period | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.60 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.68 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.67 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.62 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.62 people per household, the Charlotte area sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in North Carolina overall, where it has 2.52 people. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the Charlotte area
| Period | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.8 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.6 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.8 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
At 38.8, the median age in the Charlotte area is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.7, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the Charlotte area
| Period | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.3% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in the Charlotte area (11.3%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.9 points, as it has nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the Charlotte area
Renters in the Charlotte area
| Period | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.9% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.4% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.3% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.1% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in the Charlotte area rent their homes (34.1%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 31.8% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the northwest. The renter share is up 3.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the Charlotte area
| Period | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in the Charlotte area is close to the national rate: 8.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in North Carolina overall (11.4%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.1 points, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the Charlotte area
| Period | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1994 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +7 | +6 |
The Charlotte area has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1994, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1986 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the northeast has the oldest housing. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only nine have newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the Charlotte area
| Period | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $875 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $966 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,127 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,552 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$678 | +$528 | +$606 |
Rent in the Charlotte area runs $1,552 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in North Carolina overall ($1,317). Rents are up $678 a month from 2006–10, a 77% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 29.7% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the Charlotte area
Bachelor's degrees in the Charlotte area
| Period | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.6% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.4% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.9% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.6% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.0 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in the Charlotte area than nationally: 40.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 10.0 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the Charlotte area
| Period | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.8% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.3% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.2% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.6% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in the Charlotte area have finished high school as nationally: 90.6%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the Charlotte area
| Period | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in the Charlotte area than nationally: unemployment was 4.3%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 4.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the Charlotte area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte area (all) | 2.62 | 38.8 | 11.3% | 34.1% | 8.3% | 1994 | $1,552 | 40.6% | 90.6% | 4.3% |
| Concord | 2.88 | 36.6 | 13.9% | 32.8% | 11.0% | 1992 | $1,579 | 38.1% | 91.1% | 5.7% |
| Rock Hill | 2.44 | 39.5 | 12.9% | 34.1% | 7.4% | 1991 | $1,395 | 34.1% | 91.1% | 4.9% |
| Gastonia | 2.54 | 39.0 | 17.1% | 41.0% | 9.6% | 1980 | $1,218 | 24.0% | 87.8% | 5.5% |
| Mooresville | 2.61 | 41.3 | 8.3% | 29.0% | 9.2% | 2001 | $1,601 | 47.1% | 95.1% | 4.0% |
| Fort Mill | 2.76 | 39.7 | 7.9% | 21.8% | 4.3% | 2007 | $1,505 | 56.0% | 95.7% | 3.2% |
| Salisbury | 2.48 | 41.0 | 14.8% | 33.9% | 10.6% | 1981 | $1,122 | 25.7% | 89.1% | 6.1% |
| Statesville | 2.56 | 40.2 | 14.2% | 30.2% | 8.9% | 1986 | $1,005 | 22.7% | 87.9% | 5.0% |
| Huntersville | 2.67 | 40.1 | 7.9% | 26.2% | 5.0% | 2005 | $2,062 | 57.9% | 97.0% | 3.2% |
| Kannapolis | 2.55 | 39.4 | 11.8% | 33.6% | 12.0% | 1984 | $1,350 | 27.3% | 89.6% | 3.5% |
| Monroe | 2.89 | 38.2 | 13.2% | 29.7% | 8.8% | 1989 | $1,329 | 21.1% | 81.2% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Las Vegas area · Austin area · Sacramento area · Pittsburgh area · San Antonio area · Orlando area · St. Louis area · Baltimore area · Denver area · Portland area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the Charlotte area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.