Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 14 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Raleigh
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Homes cost $34k less ($312,800 vs $347,000)
Cons
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
Median income trails Raleigh by $4,561/yr
Raleigh, NC
Pros
33% less violent crime than Charlotte
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,561 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Median Home Value
$34k less
$312,800 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Median Income
$4,561
$78,631 vs $74,070/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
33% lower
488.8 vs 733.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 20.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 465,517 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 14 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 9 and Raleigh wins 14. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $347,000 median home), income ($74,070 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Raleigh, NC are about 130 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.