Living in Charlotte offers the perfect blend of enjoying slow Southern living and the modern cosmopolitan lifestyle. Even with so many people moving to Charlotte every day for its financial market, job opportunities, and other big city advantages, the city and each of its individual neighborhoods still retain its warm, small-town feel. The city’s reputation for being home to some of the friendliest and most caring residents is what keeps it ranked highly on several Happiest Cities lists.
So, what makes Charlotte, North Carolina one of the best places to live and why do so many people move here every day?
1. A Place for Everyone
Charlotte, like many cities, is made up of a collection of neighborhoods that each offer a different lifestyle. Whether you're a family with young children, approaching your retirement years, looking to settle into your career, or just looking for an opportunity to move to a place where there’s always something to do, there’s a perfect neighborhood for you.
In NoDa, short for North Davidson, the area is just plain cool, with a wealth of live music, dining, bars, and a vibrant local art scene. Spend an entire weekend perusing murals and dining at some of the best local eateries from sun up to well after sun down. The NoDa housing market offers just about any type of home you could want, like lots of apartments, townhouses, and single family homes. For a more laid-back, community vibe, Plaza Midwood is your spot. Breweries, the best eateries, bookstores, yoga studios, second hand shops, and locally made treasures fill this neighborhood to the brim.
If a more family-friendly environment is your aim, Dilworth is a great spot to settle, with its spacious homes that are ready for your family to make their own and high safety ranking. Cruise this charming area on foot and check out its collection of shops, bakeries, popular wine spots, and restaurants. Barclay Downs is another great place for families for its highly ranked schools. This area is also great for those wanting access to the city but prefer a quieter everyday life, filled with shopping, playing golf, and fine dining. The Providence Crossing neighborhood is another ideal option for families and those looking to live out their retirement years. The gorgeous homes, top schools, high safety ranking, and myriad of outdoor activities and restaurants make this neighborhood very desirable.
For a neighborhood that strikes an excellent balance, the neighborhood of Chantilly boasts an array of affordable homes, from contemporary to quirky. Nearby areas offer dining and shopping, while Chantilly offers art, music, and rich outdoor life.
2. Clean and Green
Charlotte is known for its high standard of cleanliness. To keep the city clean and polished, the city council focuses on initiatives that prioritize regular repairs and maintenance to streets, sidewalks, storm drains, and other infrastructure. This modern environmental outlook also makes Charlotte home to innovative building and construction methods and materials. Charlotte’s outdoor scene is greatly responsible for the city’s desire to keep it beautiful. There are more than 56 miles of trails, dozens of parks, and lots of other opportunities to enjoy the sprawling green spaces that make up Charlotte.
3. Sports Fan’s Paradise
Charlotte is a sports enthusiast’s dream! Home to the Charlotte Checkers, the Charlotte Knights, the Charlotte Hornets, the Charlotte Football Club, and, of course, the Carolina Panthers, this is the sports fan’s paradise. Charlotte also hosts some of sports biggest events, like the Wells Fargo Golf Tournament, the PGA Golf Championship, the Belk Bowl Game, and the NBA All-Star Game. The Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, and the Charlotte Knights all call Charlotte their home base and the stadiums are each in the city’s Uptown.
4. Top-Notch Schools
From preschool to universities, Charlotte offers some of the state’s best schools. The city’s high school graduation rate is higher than the national average. There is a strong public school system as well as plenty of private school options. As for universities, Charlotte is home to ten! Of those are Queens University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Wake Forest University Charlotte Center, and Davidson College. If you'd like to take advantage of this wealth of quality education, let a reliable custom home builder and remodeler update your home while you get to know your new city.
5. Superb Quality of Life
The city’s job market and financial opportunities are booming. This is partly due to the city’s strong banking sector, which is only second to New York City. Charlotte is home to the corporate headquarters of some of the top banks, as well as many other industries, such as healthcare, tech, and insurance.
Job growth in Charlotte greatly outpaces the national average, making it a perfect place to move at any point in your career. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better economic environment than Charlotte. In Charlotte, both the cost of living and the housing prices are just below the national average. So, whether you’ve just graduated college or are a retiree looking for a unique place to settle down, Charlotte is truly the ideal option.
6. Outdoor Adventures Galore
The city center is seated within a few hours of the white sandy East coast beaches and the Appalachian Mountains. However, within the city limits and its surrounding county, Charlotte is home to over 200 parks and dozens of miles of developed trails. There are biking trails for every level of skill as well as the best single-track mountain biking in the region in the U.S. National Whitewater Center. More outdoor activities include kayaking, whitewater rafting, hiking, zip-lining, and rock climbing.
Whether you're an avid hiker or just picked up the hobby, Crowders Mountain State Park is the place to be. Crowders also offers rock climbing and bouldering, with a permit, and back country camping. Do you enjoy camping a little less ruggedly? Morrow Mountain hosts cabins and RV spots, along with a pool and showers. Bring the canoe along and catch dinner on Lake Tillery or enjoy both the hiking trails and bridle trails of a variety of skill levels.
The U.S. National Whitewater Center, which is on the Catawba River, also offers paddle boarding, climbing, running trails, and even a summer concert series. With the wealth of outdoor fun to be had in and around Charlotte, it’s no wonder the residents truly love to spend so much time outside! For a different pace, Freedom Park offers playgrounds, racket courts, and plenty of trails.
Ready to Call Charlotte, North Carolina Your Home?
With all that Charlotte has to offer its residents, what are you waiting for? There's a style of home for everyone in Charlotte, even if that home needs a little updating to make it just right. Let Hopedale Builders be the custom builder and remodeler to really make it yours by working with you to update the kitchen, bathroom, and more. Hopedale Builders has the skills, knowledge, and expertise to make your move to our beautiful city as seamless as possible by working with you to deliver the home that feels like it was built just for you from the start. Interested in having a custom home built instead of taking on a remodeling project? Hopedale Builders was founded on the principle of unparalleled customer service to exceed your expectations. Contact Hopedale Builders to discuss your home design goals.
