Charlotte, NC Homes For Rent

Rental Homes in Charlotte, NC: What You Need to Know

Charlotte, located in central North Carolina, is known as the Queen City—not just for its regal charm, but because it was named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III of Great Britain and Ireland.

Strong Job Opportunities

A tradition of bank-friendly regulations combined with enterprising bankers has made Charlotte the second-largest banking center in the U.S., behind only New York. Bank of America (worth about $78 billion), NewDominion Bank, and Carolina Premier Bank are based in Charlotte. The city’s other key employers are Lowe’s Inc. (home improvement stores), Duke Energy (utility company), Nucor (steel manufacturing), and Compass Group USA (commercial foodservice).

The Cost of Living in Charlotte

Charlotte is a large city (population: 885,708) with a cost of living that’s 3.5% lower than the national average. However, food and transportation costs are 11.1% and 3.5% higher than the national average, respectively. Median gross rent (median rent plus estimated utilities) in Charlotte is $1,086 while the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,214. North Carolina collects a flat state income tax rate of 5.25% and sales tax ranging from 6.75% to 7.50%.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Take note that in Charlotte, downtown is officially called Uptown because it’s the highest elevation point in the city. Uptown boasts of high-rise apartment buildings that are drawing young professionals who want to be close to work but also to restaurants and bars. The historic Dilworth neighborhood is popular for its tree-lined streets, great schools, and an array of housing options, from bungalows to modern apartments.

Suburbanites love Ballantyne, which used to be a hunting preserve, for its beautiful homes and excellent public schools. The eastside offers custom houses that are pricier while the westside has more apartments and affordable homes. 

The Local Sports Scene

Charlotte residents are passionate about their sports teams: Carolina Panthers (NFL), Charlotte Hornets (NBA), and Charlotte Checkers (AHL). The Panthers have won two National Football Conference (NFC) championships, but the team has yet to win a Super Bowl title. The NASCAR All-Star Race is held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, 13 miles from Charlotte.

Living in Charlotte: Schools and Education

Charlotte is a bonafide college town. It’s home to the University of North Carolina-Charlotte with 29,710 students, Central Piedmont Community College with 18,824 students, and Queens University of Charlotte with 2,536 students. In all, there are 98 colleges within 100 miles of Charlotte.

The city has 177 public schools serving 132,573 students. Among Charlotte’s highly rated schools are Providence Spring Elementary School, Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy, and Ardrey Kell High School.