Detailed info on living in Charlotte from a young
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8/6/2007
I am a single female in my early thirties. Here is my view of Charlotte in several categories:
Night Life: For ongoing nightlife you're best off if you enjoy bar hopping downtown, laid-back cafe type settings, or clubs geared towards the college crowds. Unfortunately, Charlotte is lacking in variety. I love live music, but most venues tend to have similar bands (like classic rock or folk music). Noda (the "arts district") has some unique spots for people who don't want to deal with the usual suspects. FYI - Many popular musicians who aren't mainstream skip Charlotte. I can't tell you how many times I've been disappointed to see someone skip Charlotte for the smaller city of Greensboro or straight to Atlanta or another large city.
Culture: Just ok. There is the performing arts center, which has some good shows. There are a few museums, but most people only need visit them once and that's enough. During the summer there are some festivals. On the plus side, if you are a parent there are many good family-friendly events, entertaiment, etc -- Discovery Place is always a hit. Remember, this is a "banking city" and it tends to be someone conservative.
Outdoors: Weather here is hot to mild, depending on where you are from. I'm from farther south... Charlotte summers get hot, but still not as hot and humid as what I'm accustomed to. If you are the outdoorsy type you can hike or Ski in the nearby mountains (about an hr drive) or visit the new white water rafting center.
Cost of Living/Jobs: If you're in finance/banking this is the place to be. If you're in healthcare and not wanting to work in a hospital you will struggle. If you are interested in the arts those jobs are few and far between. Cost of living is good compared to many cities, and on the same note, housing prices are decent but on their way up. If you're on a budget you will likely end up 30 minutes outside of the city for a nice neighborhood.
Safety: I live in Fort Mill, SC... 20 minutes outside of Charlotte. I feel very safe. Charlotte has a high crime rate, but you just have to be careful and vigilant. P.S. The schools here are great also, but I don't have any children so that's not an issue for me.
Race Issues: I have never experienced overt racism here, but have witnessed a few incidents. Overall I think race relations are no worse than anywhere else, although the news tends to focus on African-American youth and there are elected officials who have made overtly racist comme
Kenya | Fort Mill, SC