Nearly a million people live in Charlotte, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Charlotte, the 14th largest city in the country, has a total population of 964,784 people, the data shows. It gained 20,731 residents between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025 — a larger increase than any other city in the country.
Within the Charlotte metro area, Fort Mill’s growth rate was the largest, increasing at a rate of 6.8% over the same time period.
Making the case for Charlotte
Why are so many people moving here? Charlotte offers the right combination of a high quality of life and a cost-friendly business environment. People want to live here, and in turn, companies want to be here.
The Queen City is the second-largest financial center in the U.S. The region’s financial sector is one of the most diverse in the country, ranging from traditional investment banking and wealth management to a rapidly growing fintech scene, making the region a magnet for high-paying financial services jobs that attract talent from across the U.S.
From 2024 to 2025, the finance and insurance industry added over 2,200 jobs, with some financial subsectors seeing growth as high as 13%. In addition, this year alone, the arrivals of Capital Group and SMBC have added more than 2,600 jobs within the finance industry.
In the health care space, the Charlotte Region’s primary providers, Atrium Health and Novant Health, continue to expand and create jobs in specialized areas. The two health care giants have added 4,000 jobs over that same period, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors in the region.
Strong growth across a wide variety of advanced manufacturing subsectors has also made the broader Charlotte Region an increasingly attractive place to live and work. From 2024 to 2025, the region has seen a 6% increase in food and beverage manufacturing, 5% growth in aerospace, and 2% growth in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The growth in these sectors has spurred significant new opportunities in the construction industry, which has added nearly 2,000 jobs to keep pace with demand.
Keeping up with the growth
Rising costs often come with rising demand, a phenomenon that Charlotte and the greater region are not immune to. Still, Charlotte is considered affordable, especially compared to peer cities of similar size. Certain economic factors can make it feel more expensive (i.e., tariffs, geopolitical influences, rising construction costs), but Charlotte still maintains a baseline cost of living below the national average.
Charlotte has invested and continues to invest in the right areas to make sure we stay ahead of our growth. Investments decades ago in the light rail and the public transit system are big factors in alleviating traffic, and they’re part of why people are continually drawn to the region.
When it comes to housing, Charlotte has generally kept up with demand throughout the region. From 2024 to 2025, more than 28,000 new units were built, and more are being delivered every day.
For Charlotte to keep up with its success, leaders must get ahead of its growth. Initiatives like the transportation referendum passed in November are a great example of the decisions needed to shape the future.
