The Charlotte metro is home to 2,712,818 people (up 9.7% over five years), with a median household income of $80,201. Typical rent of $1,735/month works out to 26.0% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Charlotte's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 19.0% |
| Professional & management | 13.1% |
| Retail trade | 11.2% |
| Manufacturing | 11.0% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 10.8% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 26.0% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Charlotte market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,735/month suggests a household income around $69,000/year. The metro's median household income is $80,201.
By workforce share: Education & health care (19.0%), Professional & management (13.1%), Retail trade (11.2%) (Census ACS 5-year).