CountyScore

Mecklenburg County

North Carolina · NC

#100 in North Carolina
61.1
County Score

County Report Card

About Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Mecklenburg Delivers Urban Livability at a Cost

Mecklenburg County scores 64.0 on the composite index, 28% above the national median of 50.0. While this reflects solid overall livability, the score sits below peer counties due to trade-offs between higher incomes and elevated housing costs.

Below State Average Despite Urban Strength

Mecklenburg scores 64.0, trailing North Carolina's average of 72.7—a notable gap driven by housing costs that accompany the county's economic vitality. The position reflects the premium many pay for Charlotte's urban and job-market opportunities.

Higher Incomes Fuel Economic Opportunity

Mecklenburg's income score of 38.1 reflects a median household income of $83,765, the highest among these eight counties and 46% above the state typical. This wage advantage supports professional growth and career mobility within the Charlotte metropolitan region.

Housing Costs Offset Income Gains

The cost score of 57.5 marks the lowest among this group, with median home values of $371,200 and monthly rent averaging $1,521—roughly double smaller counties. Safety, health, school, and environmental data remain unavailable, though Charlotte-area research should supplement official metrics.

For Professionals Valuing Career Growth

Mecklenburg County suits career-focused professionals and affluent families drawn to urban amenities and strong job markets who can absorb higher housing costs. The county offers livability and opportunity, though prospective residents must assess whether urban living premiums fit their budgets.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax81.2Cost57.5SafetyComing SoonHealth72.7SchoolsComing SoonIncome38.1Risk2.9WaterComing Soon
🏛81.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠57.5
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼38.1
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤72.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡2.9
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Mecklenburg County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Seminole County
Florida
61.1
Median income: $83,030
Ford County
Kansas
61.1
Median income: $70,495
Seward County
Kansas
61.1
Median income: $62,269
Stevens County
Kansas
61.1
Median income: $61,909
Frederick County
Maryland
61.1
Median income: $120,458

Deep Dives

Mecklenburg County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Mecklenburg County

via TaxByCounty

Charlotte's Mecklenburg taxes match the nation

Mecklenburg County's effective tax rate of 0.749% sits nearly even with the national median of 0.87%, making it a middle-ground jurisdiction. However, the median property tax of $2,780 exceeds the national median of $2,690, reflecting Mecklenburg's higher home values.

Mecklenburg ranks slightly above state average

At 0.749%, Mecklenburg's effective rate edges past North Carolina's 0.701% average, placing it in the upper-middle tier statewide. The median tax of $2,780 is nearly $1,350 more than the state median, driven by Mecklenburg's robust property values.

Urban core carries higher tax burden than mountains

Mecklenburg's 0.749% rate outpaces nearby mountain counties like Madison (0.496%) and McDowell (0.517%), reflecting the higher valuations in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Nash County (0.771%) is slightly higher, showing variation across the state.

On a Mecklenburg median home, the annual tax

A $371,200 home—Mecklenburg's median value—incurs approximately $2,780 in annual property taxes. With a mortgage, that total reaches $2,793 when additional county fees are assessed.

High-value properties benefit most from appeals

Mecklenburg homeowners with higher-value properties have the most to gain from assessment review, as even small percentage corrections translate to substantial savings. The county assessor's office can explain the appeal process, which carries no filing fee.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Mecklenburg County

via CostByCounty

Charlotte's housing crisis exceeds national strain

Mecklenburg County's rent-to-income ratio of 21.8% markedly exceeds the national affordability stress threshold, with median rent at $1,521 and median income at $83,765. Even with the state's highest incomes, Charlotte-area households dedicate over one-fifth of earnings to rent alone.

North Carolina's least affordable county

At 21.8%, Mecklenburg County has by far the highest rent-to-income ratio in North Carolina—more than 3 percentage points above the state average of 18.6%. This reflects Charlotte's emergence as a major metro with costs approaching major national cities like Atlanta and Nashville.

Mecklenburg is a cost outlier in the region

Mecklenburg's $1,521 monthly rent is nearly double nearby Moore County's $1,181 and radically higher than the mountain counties (Madison at $764, McDowell at $741). Only high earner inflows to Charlotte sustain this premium; comparable earnings elsewhere in the state secure much larger homes.

Charlotte's high income can't outpace costs

Mecklenburg's $83,765 median income—the state's highest—barely keeps pace with $1,521 monthly rent and $1,506 monthly ownership costs on a $371,200 median home. Renters spend 21.8% of income on housing while homeowners spend roughly 21.5%, leaving little margin for households below the median.

Charlotte premium: $757 more monthly than Madison

Relocating to Mecklenburg means paying $757 more monthly for rent than Madison County while earning just 42% more income—a fundamental affordability disadvantage. If your job doesn't require Charlotte, the mountain and eastern regions offer dramatically better housing value at comparable salaries.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Mecklenburg County

via IncomeByCounty

Mecklenburg exceeds national income by 12%

Mecklenburg County's median household income of $83,765 surpasses the U.S. median of $74,755 by $9,010, placing the county among wealthier American communities. This prosperity reflects Charlotte's role as a major financial and business center.

North Carolina's highest-earning county

Mecklenburg County's $83,765 median household income ranks first in North Carolina, exceeding the state average of $61,072 by 37%. The per capita income of $51,490 is also the highest profiled, signaling concentrated wealth and strong job markets.

Dramatically outearns surrounding counties

Mecklenburg County earns $83,765 compared to neighboring Moore County's $82,837—both significantly higher than rural Appalachian counties like Madison ($58,628) and Mitchell ($58,089). The contrast illustrates the economic divide between Charlotte's urban hub and surrounding rural areas.

Higher income offset by higher housing costs

Mecklenburg County's rent-to-income ratio of 21.8% is notably elevated compared to rural counties, reflecting the premium Charlotte housing market. The median home value of $371,200 requires significant household income to afford, though the $83,765 median income makes homeownership achievable for most families.

Leverage income for aggressive wealth-building

Mecklenburg County residents earning $83,765 have substantial capacity to invest beyond homeownership, including retirement accounts, stock portfolios, and diversified assets. The higher income provides opportunity to build significant wealth through consistent investing and long-term compounding.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Mecklenburg County

via HealthByCounty

Mecklenburg County leads nationally

At 78.8 years, Mecklenburg County's life expectancy ranks in the top tier nationally, exceeding the U.S. average of 74.5 years by more than four years. Just 15.5% of residents report poor or fair health—well below the national average of 21%—reflecting Charlotte's robust medical infrastructure and higher incomes.

North Carolina's healthiest county

Mecklenburg County's 78.8-year life expectancy is the highest in North Carolina, a full 4.4 years above the state average of 74.4 years. The county's 15.5% poor/fair health rate is also among the lowest statewide, making it a benchmark for health success in the state.

Far ahead of regional peers

Mecklenburg County's 78.8-year life expectancy dramatically outpaces neighboring counties: 4.5 years longer than Nash County (73.5 years), 4.5 years longer than McDowell County (74.3 years), and 6.5 years longer than Martin County (71.1 years). With 93 primary care providers and 418 mental health providers per 100K, it offers unmatched access compared to rural neighbors.

Urban advantage in coverage and access

Mecklenburg County's 11.3% uninsured rate is well below the state average of 12.5%, reflecting Charlotte's status as a job and insurance hub. With 93 primary care doctors and 418 mental health providers per 100K—the highest ratios of any county profiled—residents enjoy immediate care access that rural counties envy.

Maintain your coverage advantage

Even in Mecklenburg County, 1 in 9 residents lack health insurance, leaving them vulnerable to unexpected costs. Verify your coverage annually at healthcare.gov or through your employer to ensure continuous protection in case of illness or injury.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Mecklenburg County

via RiskByCounty

Mecklenburg County faces high disaster risk

Mecklenburg County scores 97.07 on the composite risk scale with a "Relatively High" rating—45% above North Carolina's state average of 66.72 and significantly higher than most U.S. counties. This elevated score reflects exceptionally high exposure across floods (98.95), tornadoes (97.42), earthquakes (93.19), and hurricanes (84.19), making it one of the state's most hazard-prone counties.

North Carolina's highest-risk major county

Mecklenburg County ranks among the very highest-risk counties in North Carolina across nearly every hazard type, with near-maximum scores for flood (98.95) and tornado risk (97.42). As the state's most populous county, this elevated risk profile affects over one million residents in the Charlotte metropolitan area.

Far riskier than surrounding piedmont counties

Mecklenburg County's 97.07 composite score dramatically exceeds neighboring counties like Montgomery (48.95) and Moore County (75.64), making it a clear outlier in the piedmont region. The county's location in the Piedmont's most flood-prone river basin and its exposure to Atlantic weather systems drive this exceptional vulnerability.

Floods and tornadoes are critical threats

Flooding represents Mecklenburg's highest hazard at 98.95, driven by the county's position along the Catawba River and extensive urban impervious surfaces that accelerate stormwater runoff. Tornado risk (97.42) ranks nearly as high, with the county's piedmont location placing it squarely in the path of spring severe weather systems.

Comprehensive insurance and evacuation planning essential

Mecklenburg County residents must carry both flood insurance and comprehensive homeowners coverage, as the county's extreme flood and tornado risk makes these non-optional protections. Develop a household evacuation plan, know your community's tornado shelter locations, and check your homeowners policy annually to ensure adequate coverage limits—this county's hazard profile demands active, continuous preparation.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

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Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.