Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metro Area

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC · Metro Area

2,768,407Population

A metropolitan statistical area of 11 counties (3 central, 8 outlying), part of the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC combined area. The counties are tied together by commuting: people live in one and work in another.

Median household income: $83,304
Median home value: $356,400
Land area: 5,598 sq mi

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Counties in this metro area

Central counties hold the urban core; outlying counties are linked to it by commuting.

County	Role	Population	Median income	Median home value
Mecklenburg County, NC	Central	1,154,681	$87,005	$406,800
York County, SC	Outlying	293,673	$89,095	$361,300
Union County, NC	Central	250,958	$102,900	$417,300
Cabarrus County, NC	Outlying	236,133	$89,005	$354,800
Gaston County, NC	Outlying	234,881	$67,478	$266,000
Iredell County, NC	Central	196,544	$81,419	$321,400
Rowan County, NC	Outlying	149,875	$65,725	$238,400
Lancaster County, SC	Outlying	104,475	$78,869	$329,900
Lincoln County, NC	Outlying	92,716	$80,016	$321,000
Chester County, SC	Outlying	32,182	$52,458	$158,300
Anson County, NC	Outlying	22,289	$47,302	$148,600

Largest cities and towns

97 places in our city pages lie in this area; the 25 largest are shown.

Place	Type	Population	Median income
Charlotte, NC	City	903,844	$82,068
Concord, NC	City	108,719	$86,921
Gastonia, NC	City	82,884	$64,059
Rock Hill, SC	City	75,259	$68,771
Huntersville, NC	Town	63,969	$120,516
Kannapolis, NC	City	57,890	$73,836
Mooresville, NC	Town	52,381	$89,647
Indian Trail, NC	Town	42,036	$108,483
Monroe, NC	City	36,759	$72,540
Salisbury, NC	City	35,825	$53,716
Cornelius, NC	Town	32,783	$113,767
Fort Mill, SC	Town	30,775	$121,823
Matthews, NC	Town	30,577	$108,611
Statesville, NC	City	29,894	$52,880
Mint Hill, NC	Town	27,556	$100,860
Waxhaw, NC	Town	22,275	$131,894
Harrisburg, NC	Town	19,633	$148,254
Mount Holly, NC	City	18,208	$79,385
Stallings, NC	Town	16,886	$115,974
Lake Wylie, SC	CDP	16,006	$112,097
Davidson, NC	Town	15,660	$166,556
Belmont, NC	City	15,546	$94,883
Weddington, NC	Town	13,805	$190,766
Tega Cay, SC	City	13,615	$142,000
Lincolnton, NC	City	11,783	$46,320

Also in the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC combined area

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC · metro · 368,316 Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC · micro · 100,991 Albemarle, NC · micro · 64,651 Marion, NC · micro · 44,817

Demographic Rates

Poverty Rate

10.6%

Unemployment

4.4%

College Educated

39.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1701, S2301, S1501

Race & Ethnicity

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B02001, B03003

Income Profile

Median Household Income

$83,304

Mean Household Income

$117,500

Income Distribution

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1901, S1902, S1903, B19013, B19113

Sex Distribution

Male

48.8%

Female

51.2%

Population Split

Male48.8%

Female51.2%

The sex distribution of a population provides insight into the demographic balance of a community. Significant skews in this ratio can be influenced by local industries (e.g., military bases, mining, or tech hubs), educational institutions, or migration patterns. Understanding this balance is essential for planning public health initiatives and social services.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0101

Ancestry

English10.8%

German10.2%

Irish8.5%

Mexican4.9%

Italian3.9%

Scottish2.0%

African1.8%

Polish1.7%

French1.4%

Reported ancestry groups representing the cultural heritage of the population. Percentages may not sum to 100% as residents may report multiple ancestries or none.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B04006

Immigration & Nativity

Nativity Status

11.9%Foreign Born

88.1%Native Born

Citizenship Status

Naturalized40.9%

Non-Citizen59.1%

Period of Entry

2010 or Later41.6%

Before 201058.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B05001, B05002

Housing Characteristics

Total Housing Units

1,165,208

Median Rent

$1,473/mo

Median Home Value

$356,400

Median Year Built

1996

Housing Tenure

Housing Types

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table DP04

Education Enrollment

Total Enrolled

648,776

College Enrollment

17.4%

High School

22.9%

College Educated

39.9%

K-12 Enrollment

Higher Education

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1401, S1501

Transportation & Commute

Mean Commute Time

26.6 min

Drive Alone Rate

66.9%

Public Transit

0.9%

Work From Home

21.3%

Commute Mode

Vehicle Ownership

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0801, B08141

Age Distribution

Under 18

23.1%

18-34 Years

22.8%

35-64 Years

39.7%

65+ Years

14.4%

Population Composition

Under 1823.1%

18-3422.8%

35-6439.7%

65+14.4%

The age distribution of a community impacts local services, school requirements, and the labor market. A higher percentage of youth suggests a need for schools and family services, while a larger senior population may indicate a retirement destination or a need for healthcare services.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0101

Household Composition

Married Couples

48.4%

Single Parent

6.7%

Living Alone

28.3%

Avg Size

2.54

Household Types

Married Couples48.4%

Single Parent6.7%

Living Alone28.3%

Household composition offers insights into the social fabric of a community. A high percentage of married couples often correlates with stability and higher household incomes, while a significant number of single-person households may indicate a younger transient population or an aging community.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1101

Economic Profile

Per Capita Income

$46,738

SNAP Usage

9.9%

Health Insurance

90.1%

Household Income Breakdown

Under $25k12.6%

$25k - $50k16.5%

$50k - $100k29.4%

$100k+41.5%

Key Industries

Manufacturing

10.8%

Retail Trade

11.1%

Education & Health Care

19.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1901, S2201, DP03

Health & Disability

Disability Rate

11.0%With Disability

Percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability.

Health Insurance Coverage

90.1%With Coverage

Percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population with health insurance coverage.

Why this matters: High disability rates may indicate a need for accessible infrastructure and specialized healthcare services. Health insurance coverage is a key indicator of a community's access to preventative care and financial resilience against medical emergencies.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1810, S2701

Technology Access

Broadband Internet

92.7%vs ~90% National Avg

Computer Ownership

96.2%vs ~95% National Avg

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S2801

Cost of Living & Housing

Cost of Living Scale

Lower is better

97.3

0130

Below average< 97

Near average97 - 103

Above average> 103

Prices compared with the US average (100). 105 means about 5% more expensive than average.

Housing Affordability

Higher is better

115.5

0200

Hard to Afford< 80

Moderate80 - 100

Affordable> 100

100 means a family earning the median family income just qualifies to buy the median-value home (20% down, 30-year loan at 6.72%).

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities · NAR affordability formula with Census ACS 2020–2024 incomes and home values and the Freddie Mac 30-year rate (2024)

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