Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Greensboro, NC
🏆 Charlotte leads 15 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Greensboro
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Households earn $19,019 more per year on average
21% less violent crime than Greensboro
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($197,200 vs $312,800)
Rent averages $351/mo less ($1,048 vs $1,399)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Charlotte
Cons
Median income trails Charlotte by $19,019/yr
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Median Income
$19,019
$74,070 vs $55,051/yr
Charlotte
Violent Crime
21% lower
733.2 vs 923.7 per 100k
Charlotte
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Greensboro
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Median Home Value
$116k less
$197,200 vs $312,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Greensboro, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $1,048 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $55,051 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 161⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 90.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Guilford County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" ✓ Less | 7.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 297,202 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 34.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 49.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 22.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Greensboro's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charlotte leads 15 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 15 and Greensboro wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Charlotte to Greensboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $197,200 median home), income ($74,070 vs $55,051), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Greensboro, NC are about 83 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.