Population 1,154,681 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Mecklenburg County
Household size in Mecklenburg County
| Period | Mecklenburg County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.51 | 2.60 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.61 | 2.68 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.62 | 2.67 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.53 | 2.62 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Mecklenburg County run a little small, averaging 2.53 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the center. Compared with other North Carolina counties, though, Mecklenburg County has larger households than most.
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 Mecklenburg County
| Period | Mecklenburg County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.1 | 36.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.7 | 37.8 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.4 | 38.6 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.5 | 38.8 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +2.0 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Mecklenburg County is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 36.5, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.1, mirroring the country. Only five of North Carolina's 100 counties are younger.
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 Mecklenburg County
| Period | Mecklenburg County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.8% | 12.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 11.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Mecklenburg County (11.5%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 1.9 points since 2006–10, 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 Mecklenburg County
Renters in Mecklenburg County
| Period | Mecklenburg County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.4% | 30.9% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 41.3% | 33.4% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.6% | 34.3% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 44.9% | 34.1% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Mecklenburg County than nationally: 44.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. More than a quarter of owners (27.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 7.5 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of North Carolina's 100 counties, only two have a higher share of renters.
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 Mecklenburg County
| Period | Mecklenburg County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 10.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 10.0% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 8.6% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 8.3% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −2.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Mecklenburg County than nationally: 8.1%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.3 points, in line with the national trend. Few North Carolina counties have a lower vacancy rate: only six of 100.
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 Mecklenburg County
| Period | Mecklenburg County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1986 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1988 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1989 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1995 | 1994 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +8 | +7 | +6 |
Mecklenburg County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1995, 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 northeast, while the west has the oldest housing.
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 Mecklenburg County
| Period | Mecklenburg County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $977 | $875 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,063 | $966 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,275 | $1,127 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,767 | $1,552 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$790 | +$678 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Mecklenburg County costs $1,767 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $790 a month since 2006–10, up 81%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 30.5% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Only one other North Carolina county has higher rents.
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 Mecklenburg County
Bachelor's degrees in Mecklenburg County
| Period | Mecklenburg County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.9% | 30.6% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 41.6% | 32.4% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.5% | 35.9% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 49.0% | 40.6% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.1 pts | +10.0 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Mecklenburg County: 49.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 9.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Few North Carolina counties have a higher share of college graduates: only five of 100.
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 Mecklenburg County
| Period | Mecklenburg County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.3% | 85.8% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.0% | 87.3% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.4% | 89.2% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.4% | 90.6% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +4.8 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Mecklenburg County have finished high school as nationally: 90.4%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 2.1 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 Mecklenburg County
| Period | Mecklenburg County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 9.1% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 10.8% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 4.3% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −4.8 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Mecklenburg County runs below the national rate: 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 4.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Mecklenburg County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County | 2.53 | 36.5 | 11.5% | 44.9% | 8.1% | 1995 | $1,767 | 49.0% | 90.4% | 4.2% |
| Cabarrus County | 2.85 | 38.2 | 11.3% | 28.8% | 10.6% | 1993 | $1,628 | 38.9% | 92.0% | 4.6% |
| Gaston County | 2.52 | 40.2 | 13.9% | 33.2% | 8.7% | 1984 | $1,249 | 26.9% | 88.5% | 4.9% |
| Stanly County | 2.53 | 41.3 | 11.4% | 25.5% | 11.0% | 1976 | $898 | 19.4% | 88.0% | 4.4% |
| Cleveland County | 2.62 | 41.4 | 13.9% | 29.1% | 12.7% | 1980 | $966 | 21.7% | 88.2% | 5.1% |
| Montgomery County | 2.41 | 44.4 | 12.4% | 25.0% | 24.2% | 1983 | $789 | 19.3% | 85.0% | 3.3% |
| Rutherford County | 2.44 | 44.9 | 12.5% | 26.1% | 15.9% | 1981 | $815 | 21.2% | 87.4% | 6.0% |
| Polk County | 2.22 | 52.9 | 7.8% | 23.1% | 17.9% | 1984 | $1,310 | 34.3% | 92.3% | 5.2% |
| Moore County | 2.42 | 44.7 | 7.6% | 23.6% | 12.5% | 1993 | $1,352 | 41.5% | 93.8% | 4.8% |
| Henderson County | 2.37 | 47.1 | 10.5% | 25.0% | 11.9% | 1989 | $1,256 | 35.6% | 90.9% | 3.5% |
| Transylvania County | 2.27 | 49.5 | 8.8% | 25.3% | 20.7% | 1982 | $1,225 | 38.9% | 93.7% | 2.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Tarrant County, TX · Montgomery County, MD · Broward County, FL · Fairfax County, VA · Hillsborough County, FL · Allegheny County, PA · Orange County, FL · Fresno County, CA · Nassau County, NY · Cuyahoga County, OH
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 Mecklenburg County. 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.
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