Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Lubbock, TX
🏆 Lubbock leads 12 of 22 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Lubbock
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
11% less violent crime than Lubbock
Households earn $15,336 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($181,600 vs $312,800)
Rent averages $306/mo less ($1,093 vs $1,399)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Charlotte
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Charlotte by $15,336/yr
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Median Income
$15,336
$74,070 vs $58,734/yr
Charlotte
Violent Crime
11% lower
733.2 vs 821.0 per 100k
Lubbock
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$131k less
$181,600 vs $312,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Lubbock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $181,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $1,093 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $58,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | LUBBOCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 20.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" ✓ Less | 7.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 258,190 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 30.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 51.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Lubbock's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 12 of 22 categories. Charlotte wins 10 and Lubbock wins 12. 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 Lubbock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $181,600 median home), income ($74,070 vs $58,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Lubbock, TX are about 1,204 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.