Charlotte, NC vs Nashville, TN
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | CharlotteCharlotte, NC | NashvilleNashville, TN | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | High Risk | Elevated | |
| Education | Same | ||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Moderate | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 3,419 property crimes per 100,000 people, Charlotte, NC records a rate roughly 2.1× higher than Nashville, TN’s 1,641, placing Charlotte in the 95th percentile and Nashville in the 64th. Violent crime also differs, with Charlotte at 559 per 100,000 versus Nashville’s 491, a 14% gap, though both cities show falling five-year trends. Unemployment in Charlotte stands at 3.7%, which is 0.9 points higher than Nashville’s 2.8%—a figure that puts Nashville in the 15th percentile. Poverty rates follow a similar pattern: 11.7% in Charlotte against 14.1% in Nashville, a 2.4-point difference.
Population density separates the two sharply, with Charlotte at 2,840 people per square mile versus Nashville’s 1,439, making Charlotte 97% denser and placing it in the 75th percentile. Average household size is also larger in Charlotte at 2.4 compared to Nashville’s 2.2, an 11% difference. Work-from-home rates show Charlotte at 25.5% (92nd percentile) versus Nashville’s 18.3% (79th percentile), a 7.2-point gap. Distance to the coastline is the reverse: Nashville sits 384 miles away, which is 2.5× farther than Charlotte’s 152 miles. Median home values from 2023 Census figures are $351,500 in Charlotte and $383,100 in Nashville, a 9% gap, while median rents are nearly identical at $1,504 and $1,486. Per-capita income is higher in Charlotte at $49,991 versus $46,820, a 7% difference.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 12766th pctl | 13168th pctl | About the same |
| Home valueMedian home value | $351,50065th pctl | $383,10069th pctl | Median home value: Charlotte, NC $351,500; Nashville, TN $383,100; Nashville is 9% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,50471st pctl | $1,48670th pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $78,43857th pctl | $75,19753rd pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $68,29065th pctl | $74,42971st pctl | Comfortable income (single): Charlotte, NC $68,290; Nashville, TN $74,429; Nashville is 9% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $100,38765th pctl | $109,41171st pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Charlotte, NC $100,387; Nashville, TN $109,411; Nashville is 9% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Stretched | Housing affordability: Charlotte, NC B+; Nashville, TN C+; Charlotte is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Nashville needs about
$77,400
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 127 vs 131). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.7%52nd pctl | 2.8%15th pctl | Unemployment: Charlotte, NC 3.7%; Nashville, TN 2.8%; Charlotte is 0.9 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.0%46th pctl | +1.1%50th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $49,99178th pctl | $46,82072nd pctl | Per-capita income: Charlotte, NC $49,991; Nashville, TN $46,820; Charlotte is 7% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 11.7%51st pctl | 14.1%62nd pctl | Poverty rate: Charlotte, NC 11.7%; Nashville, TN 14.1%; Nashville is 2.4 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 25 min60th pctl | 24.9 min60th pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 25.5%92nd pctl | 18.3%79th pctl | Work from home: Charlotte, NC 25.5%; Nashville, TN 18.3%; Charlotte is 7.2 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 55989th pctl | 49185th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Charlotte, NC 559; Nashville, TN 491; Charlotte is 14% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,41995th pctl | 1,64164th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Charlotte, NC 3,419; Nashville, TN 1,641; Charlotte is 2.1 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Fair | Crime & safety: Charlotte, NC D-; Nashville, TN C-; Nashville is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | Homesteading potential: Charlotte, NC A+; Nashville, TN B+; Charlotte is graded higher. |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort isn't available for Nashville, TN; broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | highState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | C-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | D-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
1 row not shown: taxes isn't available for Nashville, TN.
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 1 mi2nd pctl | 1 mi1st pctl | Nearest large city: Charlotte, NC 1 mi; Nashville, TN 1 mi; Charlotte is 2.3 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Poor | Target proximity: Charlotte, NC C; Nashville, TN F; Charlotte is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 532 mi73rd pctl | 528 mi72nd pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 152 mi37th pctl | 384 mi61st pctl | Distance to coastline: Charlotte, NC 152 mi; Nashville, TN 384 mi; Nashville is 2.5 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 886,28399th pctl | 684,29899th pctl | Population: Charlotte, NC 886,283; Nashville, TN 684,298; Charlotte is 30% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,84075th pctl | 1,43943rd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Charlotte, NC 2,840; Nashville, TN 1,439; Charlotte is 97% higher. |
| Median age | 34.421st pctl | 34.421st pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.4%76th pctl | 46.9%76th pctl | About the same |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.447th pctl | 2.218th pctl | Average household size: Charlotte, NC 2.4; Nashville, TN 2.2; Charlotte is 11% larger. |
More about Charlotte's residents · Nashville's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Charlotte and Nashville
- Median rent: $1,504 in Charlotte, $1,486 in Nashville
- Median home value: $351,500 in Charlotte, $383,100 in Nashville
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 127 in Charlotte, 131 in Nashville
- Median household income: $78,438 in Charlotte, $75,197 in Nashville
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $100,387 in Charlotte, $109,411 in Nashville
- Unemployment: 3.7% in Charlotte, 2.8% in Nashville
- Average commute: 25 min in Charlotte, 24.9 min in Nashville
- Violent crime per 100k: 559 in Charlotte, 491 in Nashville
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More places like Charlotte and Nashville
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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