Did you know that more than 900,000 people live in Charlotte, North Carolina? The city is one of the most beautiful and historic locations in all of the United States, drawing new citizens from all over the world.
There are countless reasons to consider moving to Charlotte NC; from the gorgeous weather to the soaring job market.
If you've been thinking about moving to Charlotte NC, we're here to help. Here are ten tips for your big move to the Hornet's Nest!
1. Know the Locale
As with any move, one of the first things you should do is check out the local scene to know what to expect. Charlotte is a hotbed of culture and entertainment, making it so that you'll never run out of things to experience. Looking into what you'll be moving into is vital to make sure you want to join us in the Queen City.
The locale varies from community to community. Over in Myers Park, you'll find shopping, fine dining, and riveting museums. You can spend your nights at the Manor Theatre to catch a film before visiting one of the stellar pubs within walking distance.
If you'd prefer to spend your walking within nature, check out Dilworth and South End. The former is famous for Freedom Park while the latter has more hiking and biking trails than you'll know what to do with. For some sports or performing arts, head to Uptown to enjoy the heart of the city itself.
No matter where you go in Charlotte, you won't run out of things to do. Look into which of the communities best suits your interests to know exactly where you'd like to spend your time with us.
2. Expect Strange Weather
In many places of the United States, you can reliably predict the weather and know what to expect. Here on the East Coast, it isn't quite that simple. Charlotte is renowned for its tumultuous weather taking turns you never expect it to take, as is the case for much of the East Coast.
You can never be too prepared - take an umbrella with you no matter where you go in Charlotte. One minute the sky is clear, the next it's pouring - only to clear up within twenty minutes. Temperatures can also vary wildly from day to evening, so keep a coat with you as well.
As you spend more time in the city, you'll adjust to the constantly changing weather. Just try not to get caught in too many rain storms on the way.
3. Calculate Cost of Living
Having a beautiful city to live in is important, but knowing your budget is still crucial. Charlotte has one of the most expensive costs of living in North Carolina if you're looking for a home to rent. That said, it's still slightly below the national average for the cost of living.
If you're moving to get into Charlotte property management, knowing the ups and downs of the cost of living is even more important. The housing market in Charlotte is constantly changing, and it may take some looking to find something that fits your budget.
4. Join the Job Market
Charlotte's job market is booming with unemployment considerably lower than the average across the United States. Job growth is also higher than the national average, currently around 45% and still growing.
There's a high chance that you're part of that growing job market. If you're moving to Charlotte NC to join the job market, you'll enjoy a robust and ever-changing industry that grows with you. If your move is bringing you here for other reasons, it's practically a guarantee that you'll find your place in the job market before long.
North Carolina at large is known to pull in new residents for its job market, but Charlotte excels even amongst the rest of the state. The region was placed in the top ten national spots to find a job and remains so even in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. Uptown, Not Downtown
It may seem nitpicky to some, but it's important to know that we refer to our city as Uptown rather than Downtown. You might face a bit of animosity from locals if you mix up the names. That's because Uptown gets its name from historical and cultural roots, making it a symbol of local pride.
In the mid-1700s, there was a trading path that ran through the middle of what would become Uptown. Due to the geography around this path, nearly any way of approaching it would have one going uphill. It's believed that local lingo of "heading up to town" slowly changed the area's name to Uptown.
In 1974, the Charlotte City Council declared that the business district would officially be known as Uptown. Since then, Charlotte has been the only major city in the nation to refer to its downtown business district as Uptown. While other cities use the name for other regions, Charlotte is the only city to incorporate it so deeply.
So if you're going to join us, make sure you remove "downtown" from your vocabulary. You'll be hearing the locals talk about heading to Uptown every day, and saying otherwise will get you a mixture of confused looks and sneers.
6. Stellar Cuisine
Charlotte's cuisine is as varied as it gets, but seafood is one of the most common things you'll find here. A coastal state means easy access to the Atlantic ocean, and our cuisine reflects that with chowders, gumbo, jambalaya, and countless more seafood dishes.
Once summer hits, you'll enjoy some of the most mouth-watering barbecues you've ever experienced. The Carolinas are renowned for their rich barbecue culture of all sorts. Pork, chicken, lamb, brisket, coleslaw, homemade pickles, and more wait for you in your new favorite restaurant.
Charlotte is home to more authentic restaurants than you'll know what to do with. Your days of relying on chain restaurants are over from the moment you cross into our city.
7. Local Sports
No matter what sport is your favorite, you'll find it here in Charlotte. If you like football, the Carolina Panthers call Charlotte their home. In the NBA's Eastern Conference, you'll find the Charlotte Hornets occupying the city as well.
If you prefer hockey, the Charlotte Checkers are worth checking out as members of the American Hockey League. Soccer has the Charlotte Independence, baseball has the Knights, and even lacrosse has a home here with the Hounds.
Undoubtedly, one of the most popular sports in Charlotte is NASCAR. Charlotte is home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and is considered to be the "Home of Nascar." The Charlotte Motor Speedway is one of the most popular in the sport, earning the title America's Home for Racing.
8. Best in Banking
Charlotte is well-known as a locus for banking. Bank of America and Wachovia both have headquarters in the city, as well as the east coast headquarters for Wells Fargo. There are few if any banks that don't have a branch in the city.
If you're in the finance sector, this means a reliable job market and growing industry. For everyone else, it's a great source of convenience to have whatever bank you want always around the corner.
9. Historic Settings
Charlotte is one of the oldest locations in the United States. Settled in 1750, Charlotte was founded eight years before the United States in 1768. Named for Princess Charlotte Sophia, the city has a deep history older than the nation itself.
You can find this history celebrated in dozens of museums and historic buildings across the city. Historical districts and tours dot the city as well so you can learn about your new home. Whether you're a history buff or not, Charlotte has an incredible history to learn and be proud of.
10. Beautiful Diversity
The United States is known for its diversity, and few cities hold true to that feature more than Charlotte. Serving as such a hotbed for drawing in new residents means that your neighbor could come from anywhere. Charlotte holds one of the highest diversity scores in the nation at 91/100.
Northern communities lose a bit of the diversity, but even at its most homogenous, you'll find dozens of peoples represented. If you're looking to enjoy more ways of life than your own and see some beautiful diversity, Charlotte is among the best places in the world to do so.
Moving to Charlotte NC
Whether you're moving to Charlotte NC for a job or a change of pace, you'll love your new home. The booming job market and diverse cultures can help fill your days with happiness and culture. You can find homes for rent in Charlotte NC without breaking your bank and join in on the constantly-booming Charlotte property management industry.
For more information on North Carolina and the fantastic life waiting for you here, feel free to contact us. You can also browse our website to learn more.
