The Charlotte metropolitan area is a thriving and exciting city center that lives up to its designation as "Queen City." Complete with a stunning skyline, residents within this downtown complex have easy access to an array of shopping, dining, performing arts, cultural events, thrilling nightlife, and professional sports. This world-class city, near the border of North Carolina, is booming with economic vitality.

The city of Charlotte is one of the most rapidly growing metropolitans in the nation and currently supports a population of over 540,000 residents, whose median age is 32 years old. Along with individuals, companies are finding Charlotte to be a highly desirable place to be. During the past ten years, 8,869 new firms have invested $8.6 billion in new Charlotte facilities. The metro area of Charlotte is renowned for being a financial mecca. With more than $1.1 trillion in assets, it is the second largest financial center in the entire country, behind only New York.

Residents in Charlotte enjoy the benefits of having a strong economic environment with high wages that are well above the national average. While many cities across the country experienced a recession during the past years, Charlotte's economy continued to thrive. During this time, Charlotte ranked as one of the wealthiest municipalities in household income. Currently the average household earns $58,862 per year. Housing costs are affordable with the average two bedroom two bath apartment renting for $626 a month and the average cost of a house is $185,192. The strong economic environment coupled with the affordable cost of living makes Charlotte an exciting relocation option!

The year-round fabulous climate and state of the art facilities combine as the perfect setting for sporting events throughout the city. Get ready to play all day in Charlotte! For starters, there's a new cat in town - Charlotte Bobcats NBA franchise - that will play its first season in 2004 and move into its towering, new $265 million center city arena in 2005. Charlotte's NFL winning team, the Carolina Panthers, are hot, hot, hot.with an impressive roster of talent and have tackled their way to become one of the top teams in the league. If it's baseball or hockey that makes your heart race then catch the AAA Charlotte Knights or Charlotte Checkers teams. If it's golf you are seeking, then tee off at any one of 80 golf courses in the city limits.

Residents of the metro area also delight in many other popular attractions including the Levine Museum of the New South which is an interactive museum showcasing the nation's most comprehensive interpretation of post-Civil War Southern history. Travel through the award-winning exhibit "Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers" to discover how the New South reinvented from field to factory to finance. Also Lowe's Motor Speedway is truly the "Icon of Motor Sports". The speedway annually hosts NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series races, gigantic auto fairs, a 10-week Legends Car Summer Shootout Series, stock car driving schools and a variety of annual events at The Dirt Track.

Recently named among the "Top 50 Cities that Sizzle" by Nation's Restaurant News magazine, Charlotte's dining venues will make your taste buds soar to new levels of pleasure. Along with fine meals there is also fine shopping in the metro area. You can shop at one of many malls such as Carolina Place Mall, which has a very impressive array of shops. In addition to great malls that are expanding with new stores, Charlotte has upscale boutiques, unique gift shops, antique villages, factory outlets, art galleries and outdoor markets.

Education is a cornerstone to the success of the Charlotte metro area. Administering to 112,000 students annually the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District. is the largest district throughout the Carolinas and is the 23rd largest in the nation. The district honors parents' right to freedom and options when deciding on their child's educational future and therefore offers the Family Choice Plan. This progressive program allows families the flexibility to choose which school their child will attend. Offerings range from traditional school settings to magnet schools with specialized curriculum.

Choices are also abundant when it comes to higher education. Residents within Charlotte are in the enviable position of choosing between over 35 colleges and universities. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is known to be one of the best education values available. Central Piedmont Community College is one of the top five two-year institutions in the country. Other colleges and universities include The Art Institute of Charlotte, Brookstone College, Carolinas College of Health Sciences, Davidson College, ECPI College of Technology, Gardner-Webb University, Johnson & Wales University, Johnson C. Smith University, King's College, Lee University, Montreat College, Pfeiffer University, Queens University, Strayer University, Wingate University and University North Carolina.


If you're thinking of moving to Charlotte Metro, North Carolina, our relocation packet is yours for the asking!