Charlotte is a beautiful city located in southern North Carolina. With a population of 874,579, it is the most populous city in the state and the 15th-most populous city in the United States. Charlotte is known for its thriving economy, amazing food scene, and historic landmarks. If you are thinking about moving to Charlotte, then you’ll need to find a neighborhood that best fits your needs. We’ve compiled a list of the best neighborhoods in Charlotte NC for families, retirees, young professionals, and more. No matter what you are looking for, Charlotte has it all.
Table of Contents
Uptown Charlotte – Best For Young Professionals
Why is Uptown Charlotte one of Charlotte’s best neighborhoods? Uptown Charlotte, also known as Center City, is one of the best neighborhoods in Charlotte for young professionals. This area is incredibly walkable and is the destination for some of Charlotte’s top employers, such as Bank of America, Duke Energy, and Nucor Steel. The neighborhood is split into four wards, with the Fourth Ward being considered the most walkable. This area is home to several small shops and restaurants as well as many apartment living options.
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Uptown Charlotte is a very young area, with an average household size of one. Of the 7,545 households in Uptown Charlotte, only 7% have children, while 93% do not have any kids living in the residence. The young crowd in Uptown Charlotte makes apartment living very popular. Some luxury apartment complexes in the neighborhood include Circa Uptown Apartments, Ascent Uptown, and Uptown 550. The median rent in Uptown Charlotte is $2,139, according to RentCafe.
- Population: 13,162
- Median household income: $93,150
- Median home price: $385,000
- Homes for sale in Uptown Charlotte
Ballantyne – Best Charlotte Neighborhood for Families
Ballantyne is one of the best Charlotte neighborhoods for families. This upscale neighborhood has a violent crime rate that is 39% below the national average, making it one of the safest neighborhoods in Charlotte NC. Ballantyne is only 17 miles from Downtown Charlotte, providing you with easy access to the city. The neighborhood of Ballantyne is home to several upscale shopping centers, such as Ballantyne Village and Ballantyne Commons East.
This neighborhood is made up of three smaller neighborhoods: Ballantyne West, Ballantyne East, and Ivy Ridge. Ballantyne West is made up of mostly subdivisions close to several schools such as Ballantyne Elementary School and The Goddard School of Charlotte (Ballantyne). Ballantyne East is well-known for its beautiful parks, such as Ballantyne’s Backyard and Big Rock Nature Preserve. Ivy Ridge is a more urban area and is home to the aforementioned shopping centers.
- Population: 71,321
- Median household income: $111,242
- Median home price: $457,500
- Homes for sale in Ballantyne
Myers Park – Best Neighborhood for Those Who Want Plenty of Green Space
When searching for the best Charlotte NC neighborhoods, look no further than Myers Park. Myers Park is known as one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Charlotte, and the median household income of $101,827 is well above the Charlotte average of $74,070. The homes in this area are large and spacious, and most sell for over $1 million.
Myers Park is one of the best neighborhoods in Charlotte NC for those who love to get out and enjoy the outdoors. The neighborhood is home to Freedom Park, which is a 98-acre park featuring sports fields, a lake, playgrounds, and miles of walking and running trails. Myers Park also contains the Myers Park Country Club, which is a prestigious golf club featuring an 18-hole golf course, a swimming pool, and a clubhouse.
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- Population: 12,264
- Median household income: $101,827
- Median home price: $1.4 million
- Homes for sale in Myers Park
Dilworth – Best for Both Rural and Urban Living
If you are looking for the best Charlotte North Carolina neighborhoods to enjoy both urban and rural living, then check out Dilworth. Dilworth is located just 2.2 miles from Center City, and residents can easily walk into the Uptown area to enjoy all of the amazing amenities the city has to offer. Dilworth, however, features gorgeous tree-lined streets and boasts a relaxed, laid-back vibe. Dilworth is a great place to enjoy peace and quiet while still being close to all of the action.
Why is Dilworth one of Charlotte’s best neighborhoods? Although Dilworth is largely residential, you will find a few retail plazas in the area, including Kenilworth Commons and Park Square. At these places, you will find many local retail stores and restaurants for you to enjoy at any time of year.
- Population: 8,544
- Median household income: $82,034
- Median home price: $635,000
- Homes for sale in Dilworth
Plaza Midwood – Best Diverse Neighborhood
The eclectic neighborhood of Plaza Midwood is known for its artsy vibe and diverse population. Nearly 20% of the population in Plaza Midwood is foreign-born, and almost 50% of the population has never been married. Plaza Midwood is one of the best Charlotte neighborhoods for foodies, and you’ll find several trendy eateries in the area, such as Zada Jane’s Corner Cafe and milkbread.
Plaza Midwood is one of the best places to live in Charlotte NC, due to all of the amazing housing options it has to offer. Of the 21,826 housing units in Plaza Midwood, 42.33% are owner-occupied, while 57.67% are renter-occupied. If you are looking for apartment-living options, then you can check out Midwood Station and Overton Row Apartments.
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- Population: 51,418
- Median household income: $61,525
- Median home price: $760,000
- Homes for sale in Plaza Midwood
South End – Best Charlotte Neighborhood for Nightlife
South End is one of the best neighborhoods in Charlotte NC for those who love to hit the town. This lively neighborhood is known for its vibrant nightlife scene and is home to several bars and lounges, such as Canopy Cocktails & Garden, Broken Promises, and VINYL. The area also houses several craft breweries and laid-back pubs for residents to enjoy.
Perhaps surprisingly, South End is also one of the best neighborhoods in Charlotte North Carolina for outdoor lovers. The South End is at the start of the Charlotte Rail Trail, which is a 3.5-mile trail connecting South End to the Uptown neighborhood. This trail is popular among cyclists and runners and provides easy access to the Center City.
- Population: 2,041
- Median household income: $92,358
- Median home price: $712,000
- Homes for sale in South End
NoDa – Best Neighborhood for Renters
Why is NoDa one of Charlotte’s best neighborhoods? NoDa comes in as one of the best Charlotte neighborhoods for many reasons. NoDa is known for being one of the trendiest hipster communities in Charlotte. This artsy neighborhood is very walkable and is known for its cozy small businesses, such as Boris & Natasha, Smitten Boutique, and Milk Money Vintage. NoDa is only one mile from Uptown, so you can head into the Center City any time you want.
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NoDa is also one of the best places to live in Charlotte for renters. The median rent in NoDa is $1,314 per month, which is lower than the Charlotte average of $1,653. You will find plenty of incredible apartment complexes in NoDa, such as 30Six NoDa, Yards at Noda Apartments, and Mercury NoDa. All of these apartment complexes are close to some of the best restaurants in Charlotte, such as Haberdish, Boudreaux’s Louisiana Kitchen, and JackBeagle’s Noda.
- Population: 3,866
- Median household income: $67,346
- Median home price: $461,378
- Homes for sale in NoDa
Chantilly – Best for Retirees
The post-war neighborhood of Chantilly is one of the best neighborhoods in Charlotte for older adults looking to settle down. The average household size in Chantilly is two persons, and almost 25% of households have children. Chantilly is known for its gorgeous oak-lined street with historic homes. These homes typically come with large front and backyards, providing plenty of space for gardening, playing outside, and relaxing in the sun.
Chantilly is largely residential, making it one of the best neighborhoods in Charlotte NC for those who want to stay outside of all the hustle and bustle of the city. Within the neighborhood, you’ll find fun outdoor attractions such as Chantilly Park and Briar Creek. However, if you want to head into the city, then you can easily hop on I-74, which will take you directly into the Center City area.
- Population: 51,418
- Median household income: $41,525
- Median home price: $771,000
- Homes for sale in Chantilly
Elizabeth – Best for Historic Homes
Located between the neighborhoods of Cherry and Chantilly, sits the neighborhood of Elizabeth. Why is Elizabeth one of Charlotte’s best neighborhoods? Elizabeth is one of the best places to live in Charlotte NC for those who are looking for a gorgeous, historic home. Many of the homes in Elizabeth were built before 1940 and feature spacious front porches and beautiful architecture.
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Although many of the streets in Elizabeth are calm and quiet, the neighborhood has a small downtown area for you to explore. The quaint Downtown Elizabeth has several casual restaurants, such as Customshop and Caswell Station. In this area, you will also find Independence Park, which is a public 19-acre park featuring baseball, soccer, and tennis areas, as well as a wedding rose garden and a pond.
- Population: 5,603
- Median household income: $132,500
- Median home price: $660,130
- Homes for sale in Elizabeth
Cherry – Best Neighborhood for Walkability
Although there are several walkable Charlotte NC neighborhoods, Cherry is the best of the best. Cherry is only 1.7 miles from Uptown, so you can walk to top attractions in under 30 minutes. The neighborhood of Cherry itself is also lined with easy-to-navigate streets and sidewalks. The Metropolitan shopping mall is at the center of Cherry and has everything you could ever need. At The Met, you will find familiar chain stores, several restaurants, a dry cleaner, and even a dance studio!
Cherry is also one of the best neighborhoods in Charlotte NC for those who prefer to be close to healthcare facilities. The neighborhood is just a few minutes away from both Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center and Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center. Cherry is also one of the most affluent Charlotte neighborhoods, with a median household income of $132,500. This is far more than the Charlotte average of $74,070.
- Population: 1,572
- Median household income: $132,500
- Median home price: $415,950
- Homes for sale in Wilmore
Charlotte Neighborhoods Map
Check out this Charlotte NC neighborhoods map.
Now that you know all of the best neighborhoods in Charlotte NC, which one will you choose to settle down in? Once you have found the best place to live in Charlotte NC, then get in touch with the team at Make a Move. Give our expert Charlotte movers a call today at 704-378-8588 to get started with a free estimate.
