Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Charlotte leads 13 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($312,800 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $763/mo less ($1,399 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $37,647/yr
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
Tracy, CA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Charlotte
Households earn $37,647 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Charlotte
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Median Home Value
$305k less
$312,800 vs $617,300
Charlotte
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Tracy
Median Income
$37,647
$111,717 vs $74,070/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
59% lower
301.4 vs 733.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charlotte leads 13 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 13 and Tracy wins 10. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $617,300 median home), income ($74,070 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Tracy, CA are about 2,246 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.