Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Norman leads 12 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Norman
Oklahoma
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Households earn $11,221 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
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
Norman, OK
Pros
65% less violent crime than Charlotte
Rent averages $395/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,399)
Homes cost $88k less ($224,900 vs $312,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Charlotte
Cons
Median income trails Charlotte by $11,221/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Median Income
$11,221
$74,070 vs $62,849/yr
Charlotte
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Norman
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Violent Crime
65% lower
260.2 vs 733.2 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$88k less
$224,900 vs $312,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $224,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $62,849 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 45.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 37.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" ✓ Less | 4.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 12 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 11 and Norman 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $224,900 median home), income ($74,070 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Norman, OK are about 931 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.