Charlotte city, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Charlotte city is a major urban center located in North Carolina. The total population is 886,283. It ranks as the 1st most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Charlotte city is 34.4 years. This is 12% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Charlotte city is $78,438. This is 12% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is about average. The poverty rate stands at 11.7%. This is 11% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 9% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $351,500. Housing costs are 36% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.5x. 51.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Charlotte city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 33.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (33.7% vs 20.3%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (17.0% vs 10.9%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (6.3% vs 3.1%).

Education

47.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% higher than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.6%. Notably, 17.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Charlotte city, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.