Charlotte, NC vs Raleigh, NC
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Oct 2026
Report card
| Category | CharlotteCharlotte, NC | RaleighRaleigh, NC | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | Same |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | High Risk | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
25.5% of Charlotte, NC workers telecommute, while Raleigh, NC reports 14.5%, a gap of 11.0 points that places Charlotte in the 92nd percentile for remote work against Raleigh’s 68th in 2023 Census figures. Job growth over the past year runs +1.0% in Charlotte versus +2.1% in Raleigh, a 1.1-point difference, with Raleigh’s 78th percentile well above Charlotte’s 46th. Traffic deaths per 100,000 people stand at 18 in Charlotte and 7 in Raleigh, a 2.5× higher rate for the former, while violent crime per 100,000 reaches 559 in Charlotte against 391 in Raleigh, a 43% higher figure, and property crime per 100,000 totals 3,419 versus 2,296, a 49% gap.
Charlotte’s air quality index of 51 runs 11% higher than Raleigh’s 46, placing the two at the 82nd and 68th percentiles respectively, though both earn an A- grade for air quality. Average household size is 2.4 in Charlotte and 2.3 in Raleigh, a 5% larger figure for the former. Median home values differ by 7%, with Raleigh at $377,800 and Charlotte at $351,500, while median rents sit close at $1,468 and $1,504. Median household income reaches $82,424 in Raleigh versus $78,438 in Charlotte, and the comfortable income for a single person is $73,400 in Raleigh and $68,290 in Charlotte.
Unemployment runs 3.2% in Raleigh and 3.7% in Charlotte, with per-capita income nearly identical at $49,948 and $49,991. Population density is 8% higher in Raleigh at 3,071 per square mile versus 2,840 in Charlotte, though Charlotte’s population of 886,283 is 88% larger than Raleigh’s 470,763. Bachelor’s degree attainment reaches 52.9% in Raleigh and 47.4% in Charlotte, a 5.5-point difference. Both cities carry an F grade for national disaster risk and a D for strategic location in the 2023 assessment.
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 | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 12766th pctl | 12967th pctl | About the same |
| Home valueMedian home value | $351,50065th pctl | $377,80069th pctl | Median home value: Charlotte, NC $351,500; Raleigh, NC $377,800; Raleigh is 7% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,50471st pctl | $1,46869th pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $78,43857th pctl | $82,42462nd pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $68,29065th pctl | $73,40070th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Charlotte, NC $68,290; Raleigh, NC $73,400; Raleigh is 7% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $100,38765th pctl | $107,89870th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Charlotte, NC $100,387; Raleigh, NC $107,898; Raleigh is 7% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Raleigh needs about
$76,200
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 127 vs 129). 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 | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.7%52nd pctl | 3.2%29th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.0%46th pctl | +2.1%78th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Charlotte, NC +1.0%; Raleigh, NC +2.1%; Raleigh is 1.1 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $49,99178th pctl | $49,94877th pctl | About the same |
| Poverty rate | 11.7%51st pctl | 11.4%49th pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 25 min60th pctl | 25.1 min62nd pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 25.5%92nd pctl | 14.5%68th pctl | Work from home: Charlotte, NC 25.5%; Raleigh, NC 14.5%; Charlotte is 11.0 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | Job market: Charlotte, NC B+; Raleigh, NC A+; Raleigh is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 55989th pctl | 39177th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Charlotte, NC 559; Raleigh, NC 391; Charlotte is 43% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,41995th pctl | 2,29683rd pctl | Property crime per 100k: Charlotte, NC 3,419; Raleigh, NC 2,296; Charlotte is 49% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Fair | Crime & safety: Charlotte, NC D-; Raleigh, NC C-; Raleigh is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Charlotte, NC B-; Raleigh, NC A+; Raleigh is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Raleigh, NC | 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 |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Humid | Humid | 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 | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: 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
Both are in North Carolina, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See North Carolina →
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 | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 1 mi2nd pctl | 4 mi3rd pctl | Nearest large city: Charlotte, NC 1 mi; Raleigh, NC 4 mi; Raleigh is 2.6 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | Target proximity: Charlotte, NC C; Raleigh, NC D+; Charlotte is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 532 mi73rd pctl | 493 mi68th pctl | Distance to international border: Charlotte, NC 532 mi; Raleigh, NC 493 mi; Charlotte is 8% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 152 mi37th pctl | 117 mi31st pctl | Distance to coastline: Charlotte, NC 152 mi; Raleigh, NC 117 mi; Charlotte is 29% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 886,28399th pctl | 470,76398th pctl | Population: Charlotte, NC 886,283; Raleigh, NC 470,763; Charlotte is 88% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,84075th pctl | 3,07179th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Charlotte, NC 2,840; Raleigh, NC 3,071; Raleigh is 8% higher. |
| Median age | 34.421st pctl | 34.723rd pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.4%76th pctl | 52.9%83rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Charlotte, NC 47.4%; Raleigh, NC 52.9%; Raleigh is 5.5 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.447th pctl | 2.331st pctl | Average household size: Charlotte, NC 2.4; Raleigh, NC 2.3; Charlotte is 5% larger. |
More about Charlotte's residents · Raleigh'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 Raleigh
- Median rent: $1,504 in Charlotte, $1,468 in Raleigh
- Median home value: $351,500 in Charlotte, $377,800 in Raleigh
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 127 in Charlotte, 129 in Raleigh
- Median household income: $78,438 in Charlotte, $82,424 in Raleigh
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $100,387 in Charlotte, $107,898 in Raleigh
- Unemployment: 3.7% in Charlotte, 3.2% in Raleigh
- Average commute: 25 min in Charlotte, 25.1 min in Raleigh
- Violent crime per 100k: 559 in Charlotte, 391 in Raleigh
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- 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: 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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