North Carolina's largest city, with over half a million residents (1.3 million in the greater metro area), Charlotte is a great place to call home. But don't take our word for it.it has been rated by numerous publications as one of the best places to live in America. Recently, Charlotte was designated the "Most Livable City" by the Partners for Livable Communities, and Money Magazine has rated it one of the top three places to live in the country based on quality of life, housing options and affordability.
Quality of Life
In the Queen City, as Charlotte is known, Southern friendliness mixes with urban amenities to create a unique and welcoming place to make your home. Charlotte's residents enjoy the small-town appeal of their city, where they're likely to see their neighbors out of doors enjoying the fresh air and year-round mild climate. If you.re interested in sports, you.ll have a lot of local teams to enjoy and root for with Charlotte's pro sports teams. The NFL Carolina Panthers are being joined by the NBA Charlotte Bobcats, playing their first season in 2004 and scheduled to move into a new multi-million dollar arena in 2005. NASCAR fans will be thrilled by Lowe's Motor Speedway, home to two of NASCAR's largest races. Looking for something more cultured to enjoy? Pay a visit to the Mint Museum of Art, Discovery Place Science Museum or the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.
Where the Jobs Are
In recent years, Charlotte has grown to become the second-largest banking center in the nation. Two of the United States' leading banks, Wachovia and Bank of America, are headquartered here and are major employers for the city. There are also a lot of jobs to be found in education, healthcare, government, technology and a few high-tech industries. Major corporations include Carolina Broadband, Goodrich, Nordstrom, Carrier Corporation, Hearst Corporation, Transamerica and GM Onstar.
Cost of Living & Apartment Prices
When it comes to apartment rentals in Charlotte, you'll find a nice variety of locations, prices and amenities, from basic studio apartments for rent to luxury complexes with pools, tennis courts, clubhouses and planned social events for residents to get to know one another. Rentals range from $400 for one-bedroom apartments up to $3,000 for really snazzy three-bedroom places (but don't worry if $3,000 sounds like more than you'd be willing to pay—.the average cost is $725). With almost 100,000 apartments and condos in the area, it shouldn.t be hard to find the place that's right for you.
Neighborhoods to Explore
Charlotte is full of diverse neighborhoods, from historic tree-lined streets punctuated with interesting architecture to new housing complexes and modern apartment rentals. Take a look at pedestrian-friendly Dilworth, which has everything from bungalows to mansions with apartments sprinkled throughout. Another neighborhood to explore is First Ward, where a wealth of new construction is providing all kinds of housing options. There are hundreds of new townhouse-style apartments for rent, as well as more traditional houses and apartments worth looking at in this growing neighborhood.
Equal Housing Opportunity
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