Charlotte, NC

Lot of posts here indicate and elaborate on the opinion of Charlotte as a boring city. Wellll, it certainly isn't the most happening city in the country, it is young and hasn't grown into itself yet. (Basically it appears to have grown too quick, with too many transplants arriving at one time). You can find things to do in Charlotte almost every night / weekend, it is certainly not dead. There are activities, night spots, choice in entertainment, and it is fairly progressive. A good deal of the elements anyway. I think what gets boring and uninspiring are THE PEOPLE! It can be so damn cliquish! All the Charlotte natives / southerners stay within their own inner circles. They remain low-profile in the shadow of the nonstop influx of transients coming in. So don't count on being adopted into these folds. The transplants, making friends with them, well, that's hit and miss. Many of them are either retirees or mid-age professionals that move to Charlotte for a job transfer with their f... Read more

I've lived in Charlotte, NC, or as I call it---Hell, my whole entire life....And I hate almost everything about it. It is overpopulated, dirty, and hectic. Not to mention that the schools are just horrible-take it from someone who knows. The teachers really don't care if your left behind in a subject, and even if you fail your finals ; they'll pass you anyways. Only because the school systems can't afford to hold you back. So don't expect your kids to be the next Albert Einstein's.Traffic is a nightmare too, and it's only getting worse as more un-needed shopping centers are being put in. I live in the suburbs of Charlotte's west side ; in a nice neigborhood. So I'm doing fine, but I wouldn't recommend anyone coming to live here. But if you do, prepare for plenty of Mc'Donald's lovers who make 3AM trips to Wally world ever so often. The only thing I do like however, is the people. I've met some amazing friends that I'll carry with me for the rest of my life here in Charlotte. But still,... Read more

The short version, Charlotte sucks!!!! If you want to read the longer version- read on. Reasons to live in Charlotte: -Big house in suburbs -Nice people -Suburbs are nice if you are a pregnant mom with a rich husband that is twice your age (very common here) Reasons not to live in Charlotte: -Boardom- Anything and everything cost an arm and a leg in Charlotte - Nice people- hah! Only to your face. Then they will talk about you behind your back. They truly hate northeners here. - They are still pissed off about the civil war- no seriuosly they are -You will eventually get robbed or car jacked- - Schools are the worst in the country by far, gov't continues to rob from the schools budget to fill their fat paychecks- NC Education Lottery fund was exhausted twice for "general purposes", not education- They are looking to close schools even while they are still in session -How about a Charter school- They suck too, especially if your child is having any problems in any subject. If your c... Read more

I Think Charlotte is awesome Place to live. I live in upstate New York and I can't wait to move there the weather is very chilling and cold here and so are the people the taxes are rediculus here. I had a opportunity to conversate with several people at the airport while visiting my futer home which is(Charlotte)the people are so friendly. I sat down in the airport to eat my KFC(chicken)they all came around slowly ask where I was from and began telling about all the good locations to eat in Charlotte and It's beautiful there as well. My home is now up for sale can't wait to see you Charlotte!!!!!!! Oh I forgot Anyone looking to purchase a 3bdrm 2 ba colonial home in Rochester N.Y. It has to go and be sold so I can go and be seen in Charlotte. Please respond!!!!! [email protected]

Well i lived in Pittsburgh all my life. Still do. I am lookin' to move. Sick of the same old people, same drama, Same everything. I really don't have much family here so i am ready to go and try something else. I heard ALOT of good things about Charlotte. Everytime i mention that i want to move, everyone talks about Charlotte. But after reading these reviews- i think i don't want to move there. I want to move some place that i dont have to worry about hurricanes or earthquakes- somewhere clean- friendly- great job opp- not too cold, and cost of living isnt too bad. Anyone have any suggestions for me- please e-mail me. Thank you. [email protected]

Pros:Affordable housing; friendly people; beautiful springs and falls; and close to mountains and coast Cons: Boring despite an effort to try and become more cultural; if you like the great outdoors-limited choices; not pedestrian or bike friendly; too much concrete-excessive shopping centers and chains; crime; and lots of "wanna be's" and "what can you give me's"

Although it does have that feeling that is has no sense of place. Like I said, wouldn't expect much friendliness from a big city but it has a little less than I'd expect being it's from the south. It doesn't feel like the nc I know and love.. Sent from my iPod.

I moved here in 1988 after living in South Florida for a few years. Originally from NY, I guess that makes me a Half Back. First of all there are many transplants here, most from New York. Most of these people tend to locate way out in the Burban Hellholes that most new cities have. Why ? Because they want their GIANT McMansion home with the yard. Well if that's what you want then you have to accept all the boredom that comes with it. Miles and miles of chain restaurants and zero cultural events. The reason your neighbors don't want to talk to you is because they are just as pissed off as you because they moved to Burban Hell. I know, this was me for about half of my time here in Charlotte. Then it all changed. I moved into Uptown and have watched it grow into a great livable neighborhood. Flashy hirises, cool Victorian houses, over 200 bars and restaurants. The NFL stadium and NBA arena are within a few blocks walk from my condo. I've got movies, bowling, New York pizza ( a must). ... Read more

Move to Southern California people, no place better too live, always sunny, lifestyle is outstanding, everyone is so laid back and relaxed. I have been to almost every state and every major city and nothing beats so cal, I promise. Might be costly to live here but its sure worth it.

Ten Good reasons not to move to Charlotte NC. 1. No jobs 2. Highly disriminating in their hiring processes 3. Bad drivers 4. No good food 5. Strange people..all pretty sad..its because they live here 6. As modern as the city looks, all that is there is bars 7. All in All..they believe the south will rise again Dont let the big houses fool you..this is nowhere for anyone with a brain would want to live. Dont buy any real estate here..you will be stuck with it forever.. its a hellhole full of scammers and crime

I have travel all over the east side and so far this place is bad news if you have to come here. People walking around on the streets at every block trying to sale you something you don't even want. I was living at Intown Suit. I arrived at night and there was a black guy asking me if I wanted some weed! wtf!? OK...NO! Then first thing in the morning I thought it was my TV screaming don't kill him but instead it was a black lady screaming at a white guy trying to save her from her abuse husband trying to kill her. After that the cops come and he was still screaming until they took away. Damn if this isn't terrible then it probably one of the worst.

Charlotte, NC Sucks!!! I grew up on Long Island, NY until I was 19. Then moved to Charlotte thinking it was the closest thing I would find to a big city in NC - early 1990's. First let me say I never had any criminal type element happen to me in NY. In my time in Charlotte, I was carjacked at shotgun point by 2 black men (one driving the getaway car, the other screaming at me to get out of the car with the shotgun about 3 inches from the left side of my face on the driver door glass) they took me car, wallet and jewelry. Of course they were never caught and the car was found in Blacksburg, SC destroyed, nothing stolen just rammed into something. I only had liability insurance because one year would cost about as much as I paid for the car, so out a car. My ex girlfriend’s house was robbed (back door kicked in), they did the neighbors house as well around Xmas time. I moved to Raleigh which was 100% better than Charlotte, now live in Austin, TX area which for the most part is pr... Read more

Are you negative review people smoking crack? Gangs? Have you ever seen or witnessed gangs or gang activity?? If so then you sure as hell can't say that Charlotte is full of them. To the other posts that say it's all chain restaurants here - where do you live? My husband and I very rarely go to chains... We'd rather support the local businesses. Yes, there are ghetto places here in Charlotte but there are shitty places in every city. I am a transplant and am probably the person you talk of that comes off as rude - I'm not but I do tell it like it is. Overall, Charlotte is a nice place to live. My spouse and I live at Lake Norman which is wonderful - however - we both work downtown and the traffic is awful. I think the commuter train is supposed to be completed in 5 years but it'll probably be 10 years by the time it's done. There are many things to do here - Charlotte has the "bigger city" feel but is rather small and easy to get around. Southpark Mall is fabulous and Concord... Read more

Nice place to gain and learn nothing. Culture is lacking from this city in an unfortunate way. Any existence of somewhat cultural events, exotic restaurants, or diverse music is a poor attempt by some washed up losers who couldn't make a profit in a thriving city and were forced to move here to "save money". Did I mention it's a great place to save money especially if you are not interested in fashion or fun. You can get married, buy a house, have kids and a dog and then boast (like the locals do) about how cheap the taxes are here. Driving around this "city" is annoying and public transportation is predominantly inadequate. The a majority of the people here seem to have handicapped minds when it comes to basic driving skills, and the North Carolina law supports these people. In most states the left lane is considered a passing lane, no? Welcome to Charlotte, home of it takes me 30mins to get 10miles around here because retirees feel the need to join the morning commute during r... Read more

Charlotte is awful in many ways. I lived there for 9 years, not for 5 minutes as some seem to have that are posting terrible ratings. Here is the truth... The cost of living is low, there are many jobs, and housing is cheap. It is also totally boring, lacks any kind of real culture, is hard to meet people, and just about every restaurant/store is a chain. The city is really all about having a family and driving your kid to soccer practice. As for the person from Florida who said that the locals hate outsiders, this is completely ridiculous. I am a "yanky" and have never had a problem anywhere in Charlotte, and I mean any where. In fact Charlotte is a "yanky" city. If you actually meet someone in Charlotte born and raised there, it is almost an event you write on the calendar. Many newcomers from the North never leave the downtown area, and listen to every ridiculous rumor that comes their way. The truth is most of the people you meet in the suburbs are from the north. As for the Co... Read more

Nice clean city.

The most awful city in the south.....I have lived in the south almost all my lilfe and this is the fakest city i have ever lived in. The people are unfriendly,the air smells like shit,the transportation city is horrible...its full of transplants who are basically shut ins....It is nearly impossible to make friends here,and find a job. It is four hours to the closest beach and ive grown up on the coast in virginia ,north carolina,and south carolina. My roots are in north carolina and this place should be ashamed to have the letters nc after it. And with the banking industry collapsing as it is its probably more depressing than it ever has been. DONT MOVE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Charlotte is TERRIBLE!! This is NOT real city, not even close. The city had some superficial growth based on hedging the health of the US economy on the toxic sub prime real estate market and other real estate risks to make money - that's about it. Shouldn't have an NFL team, pathetic culture, distributed feel, everything everyone has said is true. Move somewhere like Philly, DC, NY, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, etc. - real cities. Charlotte is on the decline presently with the fall out of the banking sector making a lousy "city" even worse. (more a little town pretending) DO NOT MOVE HERE IF YOU ARE FROM A MAJOR CITY, IT'S A JOKE!

The most underated city in the U.S. Has everything; entertainment, arts, restaurants, walkable, hiking, proximity to the mountains and beaches. Workforce is unbeatable and the locals are friendly and sincere. Not a pretentious place and many outsiders can't deal with that. Many hate a southern city that has prospered such as Charlotte. The standard of living is superior to most of the rest of the U.S. and salaries are better than the national average. Has a vibrant, growing downtown that if fascinating to watch grow.

Worst city I've ever lived in for my entire life and I have lived in South Florida, California and Nashville as well as traveled the country extensively. Racial tension - you can see it, feel it and hear it all around in many areas of Charlotte. The gangs have been been growing in number and in size for many years seemingly unchecked. How is it that with all the new police officers they supposedly hired a couple of years ago that this problem is continously getting worse? That's all I will say about that, but if you go there, you will see what I mean almost instantly. Charlotte has grown tremendously in the last ten years. The banking industry has taken off and is second to New York city now. Road construction, however, has not kept up with this rapid influx of people coming from the North mostly. This has created bad traffic problems as well as deep animosity in certain individuals towards alot of the New Yorkers and other Northerners moving in. Watch out for those who put on t... Read more

Charlotte...it's hardly what I would call a city. It's overrated. The employment, well frankly there is none. The culture, nope, can't say there is anything else there. I's not a f*ing music video for Go^'s sake. You may wonder why I say that last sentence...but I have never seen people TRY SO HARD TO BE SOMETHING than I have in this place. I was raised in Brooklyn and even the people there didnt dare mimick the videos on MTV and BET! This city is littered with restaurants and churches. I moved to the Buffalo Area of NY from Brooklyn NYC, hardly what I would call the pulse of NY and found WAY more stuff to do. Example, I don't like to eat out at restaurants alot, I like to stay home and make dinner. But do you think I could make friends in an area like this? These people don't leave their homes! I've never seen anything like it in my life. I'm use to the "Hey, if it gets too loud, don't call the cops, come on over" kinda lifestyle. These people don't even go for walks. I've talked t... Read more

On first impression, it has all the amenities of a real city. However, you cannot get food on weekends. It is not walkable. It is full of lames. It is not diverse or well educated. These lames that it is full of consider a second-rate traveling Broadway performance 15 years after its debut cutting-edge. Everybody has their cookie cutter lives and they really don't aspire to much beyond that. People are comfortable in their little cocoons. They steal their fashion and flavor. Everything just feels like a bunch of country mice trying to play pretend. It also seems at first like it would have interesting things to do, beautiful sites to enjoy, and sophisticated people to talk to. This is also false. Everybody I know who is worth talking to in this city pretty much wants to leave. Charlotte has good steakhouses and golfing. But it is stifling for anybody with half a brain. And it turns out that the banks which used to be Charlotte's pride are actually managed by retards.

I'm actually a Charlotte native, and I can't wait to leave this town again. Every few years, it seems to get slightly better, and maybe it's entertaining for a minute, but at its core, Charlotte is an incredibly middle of the road city, populated by people with vanilla tastes. Anytime a discussion of city life and culture centers around shopping, you know the city sucks. New York has great shopping, but it's not ALWAYS the first thing people talk about when discussing the big apple. There's nowhere in town with any kind of street level activity, everyone drives everywhere, people refuse to walk. NoDa is a depressing little blip on the radar that was interesting for a minute in the 90's, but has now become more of the same run of the mill khakis and polos, sports bar kind of scene that dominates this small minded burg. And forget about decent live music unless you're really into Dave Matthews, jam bands, or bluegrass. Do yourself a big favor if you want to move to NC, check out ... Read more

I am amused by some of the comments. I would surmise that most of you fall within these margins-You are grossly overweight and have a general hatred of the world, just so happens you were dragged to the south because your husband or wife landed a better paying job in an area with a lower C.O.L. and now you live in a MChouse purchased from a corporate builder that made 75% profit from your ignorance. 2. You all are the type of people that could find misery anywhere-the type that complains every time you eat out or you bitch because you have to stand in a line for more than 5 min. If you can't fit in it's because you haven't tried. There is something for everyone in nearly every city in the country just because your neighbor doesn't have the time or gives a damn about your insignificant problems doesn't mean it's a horrible place to live. I have lived or visited nearly every major metropolitan region in the U.S. from LA to Atlanta. I lived in periphery countries where the GDP was less ... Read more

Charlotte is the worst city I've ever lived in. I wish I had never moved here. The crime is unbelievable comparable to Atlanta. If you move here you better learn Spanish. I've never seen so many illegals in my life. They all end up here because all you need is a pulse to get a driver's license. MS-13 gang violence like in DC. Culture? Hell no. The Mint Museum is a joke. There are no cultural venues. And if your Catholic... keep moving. Horrible diocese. Ugly modern churches and not a single one offers the Latin Mass. The diocese is liberal. I can't wait to move back North. Do some SERIOUS research before moving here.

I moved here from Los Angeles California nearly two years ago and regret the decision with all of my heart. It is nearly impossible to make friends (I had hundreds in LA). People in our neighborhood just drive into their garages and close the door. I cannot remember ever being so lonely. I completely took for granted that most cities have writing classes and workshops as well as culture. I couldn't wait to go to NODA and drove through it looking for it. Seriously depressing. UNCC has nothing to offer me. Perhaps Queens College for a MFA?? Oh, and the job market is horrible for legal tech which is my area of expertise. It is fine for other tech and banking. My husband is from NC and he told me that the golf out here is great. NOT. I can't really do anything in the winter or summer due to the weather and the stupid ranges close at dusk. Golf is double the price out here which baffles me. Steak and fish are costly (only PORK is an affordable meat). The only benefits I see ... Read more

Beautiful 1920s and '30s neighborhoods, booming downtown, and lots of new-comers.  I read with amusement the bad ratings posted by some.  I hear it all the time from people who move to town never venturing out of their suburban enclaves to see what the city has to offer.  Word to the wise, if you move here to a crappy cul-de-sac neighborhood on the edge of the earth to get your 3,000 square foot McMansion dream home, you're not allowed to complain.

Bought my house in cash a couple of years ago..cant wait to get out!..all reviewers said it pretty clear...will give up the low cost of living to have a real life back up north....Charlotte is a depressed strange area of transplants..no jobs, bad crime, bad schools and nothing to do..no good restaurants...dont come here...youll turn crazy!

Charlotte is a great place if you are a stereotypical soccer mom, who wants to live in a McMansion, and worship at church 7 days a week. It seems like there are a lot of people from Florida, New York, and Ohio moving here, but all the locals do is bitch and complain about them. There are some big attractions...kid's museums, one amusement park, and a bunch of sports stadiums. They recently added a light rail system that takes you to the new, taxpayer-funded Bobcats basketball arena. I rode it, and along the 10 or so stops along the way...it takes you nowhere! The biggest tourist attraction in NC is nearby, the Concord Mills Mall. Pretty sad! This same mall company owns duplicates all across the nation: http://www.simon.com/about_simon/our_business/themi lls.aspx There is strip mall after strip mall, and look-alike McMansions spread all across the city. Crime is bad, yes...but only in the rough areas which are pretty easy to detect. "Uptown" Charlotte is full of some chain res... Read more

Charlotte is bland and terribly fake and ugly-yet there is a smugness here that defies reason. Locals will sound off a list of high-end retailers as if having them were an accomplishment-no mention of terrible schools, rampant crime, and crippling taxes for projects that will really only benefit developers. I plan to leave here soon-before peak oil leaves this city a smoldering heap of vinyl siding.

Moved here 3 years ago from the North. Very nice place! Very nice neighborhoods and a downtown exploding with growth. People are generally friendly and welcoming. As others said, may not be great for singles as far as things to do but not too bad. Lived also in Phoenix and Kansas City, and this place is much, much better!

My husband and I moved to Charlotte from Kansas City for a job in 2004, a huge mistake. We lasted two years and moved back to KC. Neither of us are from KC but we can always find things to do here. I was truly miserable the entire time living in Charlotte, it is truly the most uneventful place I have ever lived. The downtown is now dominated by new bldgs. as they tore down all the old ones. I don't feel like Charlotte has an identity. It is a generic place architecturally with too much religion and a miserably humid climate. I have lived in much smaller cities than Charlotte and all other places I lived I enjoyed. We have a child and are in our late 30's and would only recommend Charlotte to somebody I truly disliked.

I've been visiting Charlotte lately from the north and I can agree there doesn't seem like alot to do. Can someone advise me on hot night spots, shopping(malls and strips), and where the highly populated 21-40 year old areas are becuase I've done University, Concord, Pinville and I'm still unclear. All in all I think the place has potential, I just needed direction.

I lived in charlotte for many years. I hated it. There is nothing to do. The bars and restaurants are over run by people with fake money (pocket rich). The only thing that's good is that it's got better cities within an hour or so- like Columbia, Raleigh, or Atlanta. If you are considering moving here, DONT - unless you love staying at home watching NASCAR.

I've lived in Charlotte for 3 years now, and I have to agree with the previous oppinion that characterize the city as a soulless, giant suburb. I moved from Miami, Florida, a much more colorful city by far. However, I tolerate the boredom of Charlotte mainly because I have a better paying job than I had in Florida and I finally own my own home. I couldn't afford to own a home in Miami. Hopefully, as us transplants settle in, the city will slowly develop a personality.

Lived here all my life, Been to DC NYC Orlando Savannah Tucson Flagstaff and i believe it is better than DC ORL Tucson and Flagstaff, great Downtown, Nice People, Traffic Sucks ass, Great Shopping, Great Views, and good jobs

Very clean. . .more cultural offerings than in the past. . .underrated airport. . .cost of going out isn't as bad as other cities. . .Charlotte is a little underrated. . .

I lived in Charlotte for 4 long years, it was the worst place to live! Thank god I got out of there!! Job market was horrible, Charlotte is a banking city. The two major employers were Bank of America and Wachovia Bank. If you did not have a job in the financial services, your chances of employment were slim to none. Most of the propoerty in Charlotte are dead locked, so if you buy a new home, you better be into investing for the long haul. Slow selling market for real estate investors. NO night life in charlotte NC!! Young teens shoot up all the half decent clubs causing most people to stay inside there homes. Highly educated soccer moms are single parents,and have no life except there employment. The city is too conservative, very dull group of people. They have a ton of restaurants but thats it! People get college degrees, get married young, make baies young, buy a house they can't sell for it's value, get divorced at 31, and repeat the cycle over and over again. Charlotte is a cit... Read more

Another "up and coming" southern chump town. The only people who find this city worth a warm bucket of spit are the locals. Makes Worcester seem like paradise.

It's Flair country! Whooo! I spent some time in the University area. I enjoyed myself. Nice scenery.

Have lived here for six years. Atmosphere can be stifling. People always want to figure you out and put you in a category. Vegetarian, black middle-class stay-at-home moms with college degrees and with no specific Christian affiliation like myself are considered quite the anomaly!

Ever see the movie Defending Your Life? Remember Judgement City? A very ordinary city that had everything a city would have yet had no character or anything to distinguish itself from anywhere else. It was always 75 degrees and sunny as well. We'll that's kinda like what Charlotte is. There's just about every business/franchise in the USA there. It's clean, neat and has all the requisite elements of a city yet there's no sense of place. There also are a lot of transplants from around the country there. So many that it doesnt really feel like The South as I've come to know it. Still, it's a great place to live - very affordable , esp. if you have a family. It's landlocked though.

Very boring. The other reviewers got it right - very souless, even for a southern city. Coming down here from the Washington DC area, Charlotte does not have a city feel to it. Feels like a large suburb or big town. I thought Dallas was spread out. Charlotte is even more so. I've known international students who come to study at UNC-Charlotte absolutely hating the place. Singles and extreme liberals would hate it here as well. There is really nothing to do - no historic sites, historic neighborhood, rivers, or place of interest. Very little sense of history or culture. Shopping though is really good. Definitely a place for older people, large families, and people who want to get away from the "city" but want the convenience of close access to work, schools, hospitals, shopping malls, etc. Cost of living is relatively low. This city is just like Raleigh.

The worst city in the south hands down!! A souless city with no sense of community, boring as hell too.

Lived there for a year and left, boring as hell with bad paying jobs and lots of redneck and yuppie types. One of the most boring downtowns i've ever seen.

A city with no character compared to Memphis, Birmingham, Nashville, Atlanta, and New Orleans.

Worst thing that i ever did was move there, i was in and out in just over a year. Not really homey and really dull. Overrated weather as well. NO CHARECTER OR COMMUNITY!

Fun city, clean downtown, traffic pretty bad. Could use better restaurants

Rocking Chairs in a International Airport, and is just the beginning. This place is another example of Red - Necks with a little money.

It's in this hell hole state of NC. It will end up a hole soon, it already has one of the highest unemployment rates, and the bank of america (headquarterd in charlotte) is planning on laying off over 4000 people. I think it is safe to say, that the boom that made charlotte one of the fastest growing cities, has slowed, if not stopped. It was overrated as well. Living in Raleigh for a while, i went to Charlotte a lot, the airport sucks, and it just seemed overall bad, thats probably why their football team lost the superbowl, and their basketball team left town!!!!