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Charlotte, NC

Westport is part of the Charlotte area. This page covers the whole metro.

Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

Around Charlotte

Aerial view of Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte
Aerial view of Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte · Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
Bechtler Museum Charlotte
Bechtler Museum Charlotte · Photo: Prasit Frazee, CC BY-SA 3.0
Carolinas Medical Center
Carolinas Medical Center · Photo: Atrium Health, CC BY-SA 4.0
Carowinds aerial view, September
Carowinds aerial view, September · Photo: Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
Discovery Place
Discovery Place · Photo: Ken Thomas, Public domain
Featured Photo of the
Featured Photo of the · Photo: the US National Whitewater Center, CC BY-SA 4.0
Harvey B. Gantt Center on Opening Day
Harvey B. Gantt Center on Opening Day · Photo: Mark Clifton, CC BY-SA 2.0
I I turbine interchange construction aerial
I I turbine interchange construction aerial · Photo: NCDOTcommunications, CC BY 2.0
Imaginon
Lynx Bland Street
Lynx Bland Street · Photo: Prasit Frazee, CC BY-SA 3.0
Mint Museum in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina
Mint Museum in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina · Photo: Bz3rk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame · Photo: Jeffrey Hayes, CC BY 2.0
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Where it is
Charlotte
Charlotte in North Carolina
North Carolina in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of the center of the Charlotte area.

40
grocery stores
200+
restaurants
104
coffee shops
121
parks
200+
playgrounds
15
libraries
4
movie theaters
21
live theaters
13
museums
20
bookstores
62
gyms
147
bars
15
pharmacies
13
hospitals

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of the Charlotte area.

Bike lanes and bike paths
125 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
162 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

What rent costs

Of about 343,323 rented homes in the Charlotte area, 86% rent for under $2,000 a month and 98% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 23%
$1,000 to $1,499: 37%
$1,500 to $1,999: 27%
$2,000 to $2,499: 9%
$2,500 to $2,999: 3%
$3,000 or more: 2%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in the Charlotte area rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. First month plus a one-month deposit comes to about $2,000 to $2,998 before you get the keys.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Your first weeks in North Carolina

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the North Carolina DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: North Carolina voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Public schools

2 public school districts in this county, with about 144,333 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools · Charlotte
144,197 students · 16.6 students per teacher · 180 schools · grades Pre-K to 13
Niner University Elementary School · Charlotte
136 students · 1 school · grades K to 4

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

North Carolina keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Search licensed childcare in North Carolina →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

17 colleges in the county and the wider metro around Charlotte. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte
Public, 4-year · 30,298 students · $7,214 in-state, $21,876 out-of-state
Central Piedmont Community College · Charlotte
Public, 2-year (community college) · 18,446 students · $2,792 in-state, $8,936 out-of-state
Davidson College · Davidson
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 1,904 students · $60,050 a year
Queens University of Charlotte · Charlotte
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 1,846 students · $42,790 a year
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte · Charlotte
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 1,128 students · $39,992 a year

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$384,458
What a typical home sells for across the Charlotte area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026
Cost of living
About 3% below the U.S. average
Everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $97 here for what costs $100 nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 97.3 (U.S. = 100), 2024
Average commute
27 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Data centers nearby
5 within 15 miles
The nearest is about 6.6 miles from the town center. The largest is about 94,000 sq ft.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL), loaded July 2026
Homeowners insurance
About $3,124 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in NC. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively High
Hail is a real cost here: roof claims are common and some insurers charge a separate, higher deductible for wind and hail. Covered parking helps protect a car.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
13 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
16 per 100,000 people a year
193 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. NC average: 20.2 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$83,765
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.75% of home value a year
About $750 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Flat 3.99%
NC's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

More towns in North Carolina →