You get Charlotte and it’s many diverse and unique neighborhoods.
The largest city in North Carolina is known for its banking industry, love for NASCAR and booming food, arts and entertainment scene.
The most popular Charlotte neighborhoods and nearby cities for renters
Whether your weekends involve cheering on the Panthers, boating on nearby Lake Norman or simply enjoying the handful of acclaimed local bars and restaurants, there’s something for everyone in Queen City.
So, grab your retro Hornets jacket and learn about the best places to live in this city, and then take our Charlotte neighborhoods quiz to find out which is best for you.
Uptown
Uptown is Charlotte’s “downtown,” with four historic wards centered on the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets.
Once a Native American trade route, this district is now a financial powerhouse. With the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and Levine Museum of the New South within walking distance, Uptown is for mover-shakers who want to be in the middle of it all.
To live in Uptown, you’ll pay about $1,820 a month for a one-bedroom apartment.
Dilworth
Charlotte’s first “streetcar suburb” southwest of Uptown, Dilworth connects to downtown via electric streetcar.
Originating at the turn of the 20th century, Dilworth retains its Victorian showplaces, Queen Anne bungalows and picket fences. There’s a kid-friendly “sprayground” in historic Latta Park at the heart of this district and Carolinas Medical Center flanks its eastern border.
Walkable and friendly, Dilworth is home to families and young professionals who prize knowing their neighbors.
You can find a one-bedroom apartment in Dilworth for about $1,830 a month.
University City
At the northeast terminus of Charlotte’s LYNX Blue Line light rail, this district is home to the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and Fortune 500 headquarters, including TIAA-CREF and Duke Energy.
Locals here are green-and-gold on game days for the Charlotte 49ers, and the street fare ranges from zesty Mediterranean at Le Kabob Grill to the proudly odd UFO Club at Flying Saucer Draught Emporium.
A one-bedroom apartment in University City will run you about $1,180 each month.
Elizabeth
Just southeast of Uptown, Charlotte’s second streetcar suburb of Elizabeth still features trolley transit with the modern-day CityLYNX Gold Line. Craftsman-style bungalows and prime access to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway trail system make this neighborhood feel walkable and health-wealthy.
On date night, Elizabethans head to one of the signature restaurants housed in historic homes. Then it’s off to the Visulite Theater, one of the city’s longest-standing concert halls.
It costs about $1,610 a month for an average one-bedroom apartment in Elizabeth.
Plaza Midwood
Plaza Midwood is where soul meets swank.
It’s totally Plaza, for example, to find a $400 vintage vest on the rack with a string of $10 sunglasses at Boris & Natasha boutique. With sunset vistas of the Uptown skyline, the rooftop bars at the Peculiar Rabbit and Coaltrane’s Char Grill capture Plaza’s laid-back mystique.
Offering home styles ranging from 1920s ranchers to new-old townhomes, Plaza Midwood attracts those who like their “modern” shaken, not stirred.
Find your inner Plaza in a one-bedroom apartment that averages about $2,500 a month.
Myers Park
Among Charlotte’s most coveted ZIP codes, Myers Park has the look and feel of a mature rose garden, each exquisite bush set just so — by design.
1920s landowner John Springs Myer hired expert city planners to bring his vision to life, attracting Charlotte’s elite to build elegant Colonial and Tudor Revival estates and to plant trees. Locals enjoy having Myers’ own palatial gardens as green space in the center of this district, as well as the Mint Museum Randolf, a U.S. Mint branch turned art collection, and the contemporary Shain Gallery.
Considering its elite past, one-bedroom apartments are fairly reasonably priced in this neighborhood. You can expect to pay an average of $1,500 each month.
Ballantyne
On the southern skirts of Charlotte, Ballantyne is one of the city’s most modern suburbs, with immaculately planned communities spread across the landscape of a former hunting preserve.
Here the schools are stellar and the amenities keep kid-hours. Ballantyne Corporate Park features 16 miles of sidewalks and bike lanes, fishing ponds, USGA-caliber putting greens and LimeBike — a dockless, GPS- and 3G-enabled bikeshare program. If your family life is as fast-tracked as your career, Ballantyne is the place to start your engine.
A one-bedroom home in Ballantyne will cost you about $1,450 a month.
Huntersville
About 20 minutes north of Charlotte lies small-town gem Huntersville on the shores of Lake Norman.
Huntersville is known for the 1,290-acre Latta Plantation Nature Preserve, featuring a living-history glimpse into 1800s plantation life, as well as the Carolina Raptor Center, where 37 species of eagles, hawks, owls and more display their instincts and flight training in lush wooded environs. If small-town is your flavor, take a trip up north to find a perfect fit.
A one-bedroom apartment in Huntersville costs under $1,200 a month on average.
Finding the best Charlotte neighborhood for you
There are a lot of Charlotte neighborhoods that would be great places to live. Simply answer a few questions to see which is perfect for you.
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Whatever neighborhood fits your needs, take a look at the apartments for rent and homes for sale in Charleston to get a head start on finding your new home.
