A new study from U.S. News & World Report ranks Charlotte in the top five out of 150 major cities for the best places to live in the United States.
The 2024-2025 Best Places to Live rankings measure a variety of indicators, including value, job market, quality of life, and desirability. Charlotte leapfrogged Raleigh, which ranked third last year, to take the No. 5 spot. The Queen City’s ranking rose from No. 8 last year and No. 30 in 2022. Raleigh finished in the No. 6 position this year.
“Although its economy and rapid development make Charlotte a thoroughly 21st-century metro area, Southern charm is still very much alive, and making friends with neighbors isn’t the Sisyphean task it can be in other large cities,” the report stated. “Its geographical location, generally temperate weather, relative affordability and local culture are all draws to the Queen City. Pro sports representation in the NBA and NFL give residents something to root for, while museums, parks and an exploding brewery scene offer more diversions for people with varying interests.”
Home to 18 Fortune 500 and 1000 companies, the Charlotte Region’s strong “economic identity,” diversity and cleanliness are features that the study points out as contributing to the city’s rapid growth and high ranking.
“Despite being a financial hub, Charlotte is not completely composed of bankers,” the report stated. “In fact, there’s some real diversity in the economy, with a strong health care sector that rivals its finance industry. Atrium Health and Novant Health are two of the largest employers in the area, providing tens of thousands of jobs in hospitals, medical centers, pharmacies, labs and physicians’ offices.”
Although the real estate market has recently appreciated, the median home price in Charlotte is $359,446, offering “relative affordability” to the city’s residents. Rent prices are also within the range of the national average.
Rounding out the top five are Naples, Florida, in the top spot, followed by Boise, Idaho; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Greenville, South Carolina.
