Each year, ranking and review site Niche.com provides a breakdown of the best places to live across the U.S., including the Charlotte metro. It weighs factors such as quality of public schools, crime rates, cost of living, job opportunities and access to local amenities.
For 2022, it ranked Fourth Ward as the top place to live locally, followed by Dilworth, Ballantyne East, Ballantyne West and the suburb of Davidson.
The "Best Places to Live" rankings are designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of an area's overall livability. There are 15 factors taken into account, with the most weight assigned to cost of living and higher education — at 12.5% each.
Most of the statistics used for the rankings come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Other data sources include the Department of Education, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as reviews and survey responses from Niche users. In instances where the FBI data is not readily available, no grade is assigned in the crime and safety category.
A total of 52 places in the Charlotte metro received the highest grade of an A+ in Niche's ranking. That list includes Charlotte neighborhoods as well as cities, towns and suburbs across the metro area.
The entire set of rankings can be explored here.
CBJ will take a closer look at a few of these categories. For now, Niche's list of the 20 best places to live in the Charlotte metro can be found below. Included are each place's highest and lowest grades, as well as where they landed in the state and national ranking.
1) Fourth Ward
- Highest grade: A+ in nightlife
- Lowest grade: B- in public schools and cost of living
- State rank: No. 3
- National rank: No. 149
2) Dilworth
- Highest grade: A+ in good for families, nightlife, and health and fitness
- Lowest grade: C in cost of living
- State rank: No. 4
- National rank: No. 215
3) Ballantyne East
- Highest grade: A+ in good for families and health and fitness
- Lowest grade: C+ in cost of living
- State rank: No. 6
- National rank: No. 350
4) Ballantyne West
- Highest grade: A+ in good for families
- Lowest grade: C+ in cost of living
- State rank: No. 8
- National rank: No. 432
5) Davidson
- Highest grade: A+ in good for families and jobs
- Lowest grade: B- in cost of living
- State rank: No. 9
- National rank: No. 440
6) Uptown (comprising Second Ward, a portion of Third Ward and the Gold District)
- Highest grade: A+ in nightlife, health and fitness, and commute
- Lowest grade: C in cost of living
- State rank: No. 10
- National rank: No. 510
7) Third Ward
- Highest grade: A+ in nightlife and commute
- Lowest grade: C+ in cost of living
- State rank: No. 11
- National rank: No. 515
8) Commonwealth
- Highest grade: A+ in nightlife
- Lowest grade: B- in cost of living, diversity and commute
- State rank: No. 12
- National rank: No. 558
9) Sharon Woods
- Highest grade: A+ in good for families and health and fitness
- Lowest grade: C+ in cost of living
- State rank: No. 13
- National rank: No. 601
10) Providence Crossing
- Highest grade: A+ in good for families
- Lowest grade: C+ in cost of living
- State rank: No. 15
- National rank: No. 725
11) Ashbrook/Clawson Village
- Highest grade: A+ in nightlife and health and fitness
- Lowest grade: C+ in cost of living
- State rank: No. 16
- National rank: No. 864
12) Tega Cay
- Highest grade: A+ in public schools and good for families
- Lowest grade: B- in diversity and commute
- State rank: No. 2 (South Carolina)
- National rank: No. 886
13) Olde Providence South
- Highest grade: A+ in good for families and health and fitness
- Lowest grade: C+ in diversity and commute
- State rank: No. 17
- National rank: No. 890
14) Park Crossing
- Highest grade: A+ in good for families and health and fitness
- Lowest grade: B- in cost of living
- State rank: No. 18
- National rank: No. 891
15) Marvin
- Highest grade: A+ in public schools, good for families and jobs
- Lowest grade: C in nightlife
- State rank: No. 19
- National rank: No. 901
16) University City North
- Highest grade: A in good for families, nightlife and diversity
- Lowest grade: B in public schools, cost of living and outdoor activities
- State rank: No. 20
- National rank: No. 912
17) First Ward
- Highest grade: A+ in nightlife, health and fitness, and commute
- Lowest grade: C in housing and cost of living
- State rank: No. 21
- National rank: No. 916
18) Hembstead
- Highest grade: A+ in good for families and health and fitness
- Lowest grade: B- in cost of living and commute
- State rank: No. 22
- National rank: No. 922
19) Freedom Park
- Highest grade: A+ in good for families, nightlife, and health and fitness
- Lowest grade: C in cost of living
- State rank: No. 23
- National rank: No. 941
20) Piper Glen Estates
- Highest grade: A+ in good for families and health and fitness
- Lowest grade: C+ in cost of living
- State rank: No. 24
- National rank: No. 983