Our Top 10 Most Requested Neighborhoods in Charlotte, NC

Welcome to Charlotte, North Carolina—our state’s biggest and most vibrant city! Whether you’re into lively nightlife, mouthwatering food, fun family activities, or relaxing in beautiful parks, Charlotte has something for everyone. It’s not a surprise that it’s one of the top cities people are moving to. 

Looking for the perfect neighborhood to call home? With so many amazing options in North Carolina, it might be hard to pick just one!

To help you with your move to Queen City, we’ve compiled a list of our top ten most requested neighborhoods in Charlotte. These nice neighborhoods are sure to please, from established communities with a rich history to newer developments with all the latest amenities.

Note that these neighborhoods are inside the city limits and do not include suburbs in South Carolina or outside Mecklenburg County. Nor we factoring independent cities like Davidson or Huntersville.

Southend

Buzzy and lively, Southend is one of Charlotte’s most popular neighborhoods. Take a walk around, and it’s easy to see why. This friendly community delivers on all fronts. Colorful murals brighten historic, 18th-century buildings. Art galleries sit next to cafes and restaurants with patio dining. A farmer’s market brings people together on a Saturday morning, while the 3.5-mile Rail Trail and Wilmore Centennial Park are gathering spaces. And it’s all a short drive from Uptown Charlotte on the other side of I-277.

The beginning of Charlotte’s entrepreneurial history can be traced to the South End. Since the mid-1800s, this dynamic community on the outskirts of Uptown has been a place of possibility and risk-taking. With a long history in gold, textiles, transportation, and technology, it’s a place where creative minds and innovative businesses have always been welcome.

The nation’s first gold rush happened here and prompted the city’s first railroad, which ran through South End in 1852. It was home to the area’s first industrial park, which opened its doors in 1892.

Modern South End combines everything to create a unique place to live in Charlotte. A robust community association offers all the perks of hosting neighborhood meetings, events, and festivals. 

The housing market in Southend is strong. With its host of community amenities, it’s highly desirable area with its prime near-Uptown location. Homes include historic single-family homes and new-development multi-family living. The median list price in August 2024 was $602,500.

Dilworth Uptown

Dilworth is one of the more desirable historic neighborhoods in Charlotte. Not only that, but it ranked as the fifth-best neighborhood to live in all of North Carolina. Sitting beside Southend, this walkable neighborhood has some of the city’s best independent boutique shopping and delicious dining. The cherry on top is the quality of the public schools.

Dilworth was Charlotte’s first suburb, as well as the city’s first suburb with a trolley link to downtown. Edward Dilworth Latta had an idea for urbanizing Charlotte by creating a residential community with convenient access to the city center. He purchased 442 acres that became Dilworth.

Today, over 1,000 structures are considered historically significant and contribute to its historic district. You can see some during the local community association’s annual home tour.

Some more advantages to living in Dilworth: this neighborhood boasts one of the city’s lowest crime rates. The Levine Children’s Hospital, Latta Park, and Midtown Park are inside the community. Its annual Greek festival is one of the city’s largest cultural events. 

The housing market in Dilworth Uptown is diverse, with a wide variety of homes available. In August 2024, there were 49 listings. The cost of housing was a median $475,000.

NoDa

“NoDa,” this is a great place to live!  As the Queen City’s arts and entertainment area, NoDa is one unique place in Charlotte.

The name comes from its main drag, North Davidson Street. With a reputation as a hipster refuge, expect liveliness from the color to the things to do. Take a walking tour to see all the bright murals and art installations, wandering from gallery to gallery of local art.

Many live performance spaces add to the vibe. Catch a performance at The Neighborhood Theatre or The Evening Muse, two local theaters that feature nightly performances ranging from live music to slam poetry and stand-up comedy. Optimist Hall, one of Charlotte’s favorite dining destinations with 14,000 square feet of food and beverage choices, is located at the rear of NoDa.

A delicious dining scene complements all that. Explore some of Charlotte’s best local breweries at the NoDa Beer Trail or taste the creations of local chefs at the restaurants.

The NoDa neighborhood and business association fosters the district’s commitment to artistic expression, sustainable living, and local entrepreneurship. It works to increase cultural diversity and arrange culturally enriching activities for the area.

Best of all, NoDa is just a few minutes drive or LYNX light rail north of the city center.

The housing market in this trendy neighborhood had 45 homes for sale in August 2024, ranging from $299K to $2.5M. Housing prices were a median of $625,300.

Elizabeth

The second-oldest of Charlotte’s streetcar neighborhoods, Elizabeth dates back to 1891. Draw a line south-east from Uptown, and it lands right in Elizabeth. Locals benefit from living near the Charlotte City Center, South End, and East Over neighborhoods.

The current neighborhood grew up around the Elizabeth Avenue-Hawthorne Lane-Seventh Street trolley line and the Central Avenue trolley line in the 1920s. It was home to Elizabeth College. Today it is described as quaint and welcoming, with historic homes and venues scattered around it.

Eclectic dining venues, tons of boutique shops, and breweries are among the tree-lined streets. Its restaurants frequently wind up listed as Charlotte’s best or top reader’s choice destinations.

Its Independence Park is a historic landmark, as it was Charlotte’s first public park. Other historic landmarks are the Belk House and The Adams House. It’s also home to the Charlotte Independence United Soccer League team.

An active community association runs an 8k road race, Easter Egg Hunt, Great Pumpkin Craving Party, and more. There were 25 homes for sale in August 2024, with housing costs ranging from $215K to $2M. The median list price was $749,000.

Myers Park

Myers Park is one of Charlotte’s most recognizable neighborhoods. As one of its first suburbs, the century-old oak trees tower over lawns and historic mansion homes.

Modern Myers Park is renowned for its abundance of beautiful homes from the 1920s Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival periods. The historic charm, period mansions and gardens on Queens Road West, are iconic parts of south Charlotte.

Myers Park is more than opulent residential homes. Children attend top-rated public schools or one of the two private day schools. They live near Discovery Place, an interactive children’s museum. Students walk the streets on the way to classes at Queen’s University of Charlotte.

For those who love art, visit the collections at the Mint Museum or wander the Duke Mansions gardens.  The landmark Manor Theater shows indie films.

For added perks, the Levine Children’s Hospital is just north of the neighborhood.

The Myers Park Country Club is a private course with a high-end membership. 

Take walks around Freedom Park, one of the best public parks in Charlotte. This 98-acre green space surrounds a lake and has an iconic stone bridge over the waters. The facilities include a walking trail, tennis courts, and playgrounds.

For even more convenience, Myers Park residents aren’t too far from the South Park Mall, with anchor retailers like Nordstrom and Macy’s.  The mall has popular chain dining like The Cheesecake Factory and Maggiano’s. Across the street is Symphony Park, Charlotte’s outdoor concert venue.

In August 2024, 64 homes were for sale in Myers Park, with prices ranging from $300K to $6.5M. The cost of housing is overall higher, at a median $1.8 million.

Plaza Midwood

A central trolley line once took residents from Uptown into two neighborhoods. Those communities have become Plaza Midwood, a quirky area a mile from Uptown. Bike or stroll down the main Central Avenue, and you’ll find a quirky mix of architecture and activities. Artsy second-hand stores and murals decorate historic buildings. Coffee shops, craft breweries, and low-key dining venues create a welcoming ambiance. Beside these sit upscale boutiques and specialty marketplaces. Charlotte Country Club sits along the eastern border, and Veterans Park part of the southern border.

Find a welcoming community that has events to bring people together. Take art walks to the galleries, or come to Midwood Park for a festival in the spring and fall. Bring the kids for the holiday candy cane crawl and tree lighting. 

The housing market has historic homes and new construction. In August 2024, Plaza Midwood had 41 homes for sale, with housing prices ranging from $309K to $4.5M. The median price was $1 million.

Ballantyne

Ballantyne consistently ranks high on our list of most requested family-friendly communities. Developed from a hunting preserve in the 1990s, the newer developed Ballantyne balances a suburban feeling with metropolitan amenities. While 17 miles from Uptown, it’s an inclusive mixed-use community that has all you need.

Several well-known firms, like Liberty Mutual, Wells Fargo, and Campbell Snacks, have set up offices around Ballatyne’s 500-acre business district.

Ballantyne ReImagined is bringing more restaurants, parks, entertainment options, and apartments over the next decade. The area already has over 200 restaurants, a resort at The Ballantyne Hotel, and a golf club. Ballantyne Village, The Shops at Piper Glen, and Toringdon Market Shopping Center deliver high-end shopping options.

Twenty miles of trails wander through the green spaces, which include 20 parks and ponds. The Carolina Threat Trail and McAlpine Creek Greenway are two more places to run or bike. 

Ballantyne’s public art installations consist of four 30-foot clay Monuments of Ballantyne. These eye-catching landmarks commemorate Charlotte’s history: transportation, technology, finance, and the human spirit. Peter Woytuk’s The Bulls is a must-see public art installation. Additionally, the campus has an outdoor amphitheater for live shows and festivals. 

For families, students are zoned for some of Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s most consistently rated high-performing public schools. These top-rated schools include Ardrey Kell High, which carries an “A” rating.

The housing market in Ballantyne had a total of 198 homes available in August 2024 at a median of $606,755. That includes Ballantyne West, East, Meadows, and Country Club. The construction comes in a range of styles.

Berewick

Berewick is a newer Charlotte neighborhood near Lake Wylie and the Catawba River in the Steele Creek area of the Queen City. This master-planned community has a Junior Olympic-sized pool, two beach volleyball courts, a playground, and walking trails. With all the amenities, it’s a family-friendly neighborhood that really tries to give its residents a sense of community.

Berewick boasts immediate access to Highway 485, giving residents a 10-minute commute to Uptown Charlotte. The adjacent Charlotte Premium Outlets and the Berewick town center add shopping and dining options nearby.

Berewick is divided into distinct “villages” with townhomes and single-family homes available. August 2024 had 16 homes for sale, ranging from $369K to $569K.

Sharon Woods

Sharon Woods was rated the fourth-best area to live in North Carolina. It ranked among the top 100 greatest neighborhoods to live in the United States by Niche.com in 2019.

Sharon Woods is a unique, diverse, and active family-friendly suburb with approximately 200 homes. It’s near the Southpark area, which has tons of entertainment, boutiques, and retail outlets. The community is a long-standing neighborhood in a developing part of Charlotte near excellent schools, restaurants, and diverse businesses.

Being a mid-sized neighborhood, Sharon Woods had 16 properties for sale, starting at $197K for a condo and going up to $1.4 million for a single-family home. It also had low-cost townhomes and low-cost three-bedroom listings. The August 2024 median list price was $418,500.

Providence Crossing

Providence Crossing is a newer family-friendly neighborhood that has quickly become one of the most popular outlying suburbs. Ranked the no. 1 neighborhood to buy a home by Niche.com in 2022, this is a short drive from Ballantyne and Matthews. Find the neighborhood near the Providence Country Club and High Gate areas.

Providence Crossing was founded in 1991. It has 288 homes, and the major builders were DR Horton, Cherry Homes, and Lewis Homes. The houses are between 1,800 and 4,200 square feet, have stucco or brick exteriors, and have two—and three-car garages.

Providence Crossing is approximately 1.5 miles from Blakeney and Stonecrest Shopping Centers. It’s less than two miles from two major new developments on Providence and I-485. Other nearby areas are Waxhaw, one of the nation’s top-rated communities. Uptown Charlotte is a longer commute at about half an hour depending on traffic. 

Among its perks are top-rated schools and low crime rates. When looking for homes, you’ll see it’s broken into many neighborhoods, like Providence Plantation, Providence Estates East, Providence Crossing, and Providence Park. 

Where to Live in Charlotte

These neighborhoods are just a glimpse of what Charlotte, North Carolina, offers. Find something for everyone in this energetic and growing city. Ready to explore more? Reach out to us today—we’re here to help you discover the perfect community to call home.

FAQs

Does Charlotte have good public schools?

Like most cities, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System is a sprawling public school district with nearly 150,000 students enrolled. Its size allows it to run specialty charter schools and magnet programs to meet diverse learner needs. The quality of said public schools does vary. Providence High School is the highest-rated locally, at 12th in the state for 2024. However, you can see in North Carolina School Report Cards a number of CMS schools earn “A” rankings and are classified as excellent schools.  Charlotte also has a collection of private highly-rated schools, like the Charlotte Country Day School and Providence Day School. 

What colleges are in Charlotte, North Carolina?

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) is the city’s largest institution of higher education. Its campus is far northeast from Uptown. The closest neighborhoods are University Place, University City North, College Downs, and Newell. Queens University of Charlotte, a smaller private university, is known for its personalized education and beautiful, historic campus. Selwyn Park, Madison Park, and Barclay Downs are some of its nearby communities. Johnson & Wales University specializes in culinary arts and hospitality management, attracting students from across the country. It’s based in Uptown Charlotte not far from Center City. Additionally, Central Piedmont Community College provides excellent opportunities for vocational training, associate degrees, and continuing education. Its campus is in Elizabeth and close to Cherry.

Does Charlotte have a good park system?

Mecklenburg Parks and Recreation oversees 230 and counting parks and facilities across the Charlotte metro. These parks cater to the diverse needs of the community, with playgrounds, disc golf, biking, skate parks, BMW, and dog parks. Greenways are multi-use paths spanning several miles that connect Charlotte’s many neighborhoods. Perhaps the most well-known parks are Freedom Park, McDowell Nature Center and Preserve, and Romare Bearden Park.

Does Charlotte have a good public transportation system?

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) operates a network of buses that serve the entire metropolitan area, connecting neighborhoods, shopping centers, and business districts. The LYNX Blue Line light rail is a popular option for commuters and visitors alike, stretching from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the north to the southern suburbs. The light rail offers a quick and efficient way to travel through key parts of the city. The city also provides bike-sharing programs and pedestrian-friendly pathways. With these options, Charlotte’s public transportation system offers a reliable and eco-friendly way to navigate the Queen City.