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How the Charlotte Region Stacks Up
Compare key regional highlights to other U.S. metro areas.
Compare regions
| CLT REGION | Denver | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,562,702 | 1,718,247 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 19% |
| Total Population | 3,240,930 | 3,023,285 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 15% | 2% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 8% | 2% |
| CLT REGION | Denver | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | N/A |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $83,358 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.21 | 0.51 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $86,499 | $94,080 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.28 | 1.10 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $80,642 | $88,875 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.66 | 1.17 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $172,226 | $143,164 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 1.66 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $137,600 | $156,874 |
| CLT REGION | Denver | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 115.0 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 27.3 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 40 |
| CLT REGION | Denver | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 15 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 218 |
| CLT REGION | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,562,702 | 2,498,272 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 28% |
| Total Population | 3,240,930 | 5,137,427 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 15% | 3% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 8% | 3% |
| CLT REGION | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | N/A |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $81,718 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.21 | 0.77 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $86,499 | $97,076 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.28 | 1.12 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $80,642 | $63,949 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ” | 1.66 | 1.52 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $172,226 | $104,628 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 0.85 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $137,600 | $126,885 |
| CLT REGION | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 108.6 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 26.5 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 67 |
| CLT REGION | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 18 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 146 |
| CLT REGION | Minneapolis | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,562,702 | 2,035,187 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 6% |
| Total Population | 3,240,930 | 3,735,784 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 15% | 2% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 8% | 1% |
| CLT REGION | Minneapolis | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | 1.15 |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $84,232 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.21 | 1.26 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $86,499 | $89,755 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.28 | 0.89 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $80,642 | $70,404 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.66 | 1.33 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $172,226 | $143,405 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 0.76 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $137,600 | $120,581 |
| CLT REGION | Minneapolis | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 103.8 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 24.5 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 94 |
| CLT REGION | Minneapolis | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 18 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 163 |
| CLT REGION | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,562,702 | 1,147,728 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 11% |
| Total Population | 3,240,930 | 2,207,319 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 15% | 3% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 8% | 3% |
| CLT REGION | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | 1.00 |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $72,754 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.21 | 0.84 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $86,499 | $76,763 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.28 | 1.57 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $80,642 | $67,142 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ” | 1.66 | 1.17 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $172,226 | $109,271 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.66 | 0.77 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $172,226 | $106,407 |
| CLT REGION | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 95.4 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 23.9 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 61 |
| CLT REGION | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 18 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 47 |
| CLT REGION | Tampa | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,562,702 | 1,520,660 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 20% |
| Total Population | 3,240,930 | 3,427,603 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 15% | 6% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 8% | 6% |
| CLT REGION | Tampa | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | 1.04 |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $83,881 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.21 | 0.62 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $86,499 | $78,997 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.28 | 0.73 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $80,642 | $59,080 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.66 | 1.64 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $172,226 | $119,184 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 0.89 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $137,600 | $106,349 |
| CLT REGION | Tampa | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 103.6 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 28.1 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 35 |
| CLT REGION | Tampa | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 16 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 81 |
| CLT REGION | Jacksonville | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,562,702 | 815,624 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 24% |
| Total Population | 3,240,930 | 1,787,359 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 15% | 12% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 8% | 10% |
| CLT REGION | Jacksonville | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | N/A |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $86,993 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.21 | 0.56 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $86,499 | $84,516 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.28 | 1.64 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $80,642 | $66,125 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.66 | 1.68 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $172,226 | $106,811 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 0.85 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $137,600 | $130,194 |
| CLT REGION | Jacksonville | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 104.4 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 26.2 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 56 |
| CLT REGION | Jacksonville | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 12 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 44 |
| CLT REGION | Atlanta | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,562,702 | 3,064,651 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 20% |
| Total Population | 3,240,930 | 6,437,061 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 15% | 5% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 8% | 5% |
| CLT REGION | Atlanta | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | 0.83 |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $94,472 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.21 | 0.76 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $86,499 | $79,338 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.28 | 1.51 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $80,642 | $74,758 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.66 | 1.15 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $172,226 | $129,310 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 1.62 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $137,600 | $148,450 |
| CLT REGION | Atlanta | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 96.5 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 31.2 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 30 |
| CLT REGION | Atlanta | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 15 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 237 |
| CLT REGION | Nashville | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,562,702 | 1,181,397 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 30% |
| Total Population | 3,240,930 | 2,170,299 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 15% | 9% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 8% | 8% |
| CLT REGION | Nashville | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | 0.92 |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $97,843 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.21 | 0.96 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $86,499 | $79,351 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.28 | 1.49 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $80,642 | $62,294 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.66 | 1.03 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $172,226 | $125,990 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 1.34 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $137,600 | $125,054 |
| CLT REGION | Nashville | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 96.0 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 27.9 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 50 |
| CLT REGION | Nashville | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 13 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 102 |
| CLT REGION | Austin | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,562,702 | 1,365,014 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 41% |
| Total Population | 3,240,930 | 2,595,842 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 15% | 14% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 8% | 12% |
| CLT REGION | Austin | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | 0.72 |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $89,788 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.21 | 0.70 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $86,499 | $130,935 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.28 | 0.58 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $80,642 | $59,849 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.66 | 1.05 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $172,226 | $134,687 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 1.82 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $137,600 | $164,848 |
| CLT REGION | Austin | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 97.1 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 27.3 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 9 |
| CLT REGION | Austin | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 13.49 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 97 |
| CLT REGION | Dallas | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,562,702 | 4,263,596 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 25% |
| Total Population | 3,240,930 | 8,382,822 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 15% | 9% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 8% | 9% |
| CLT REGION | Dallas | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | 0.77 |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $87,014 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.21 | 0.93 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $86,499 | $96,787 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.28 | 1.46 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $80,642 | $75,258 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.66 | 1.52 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $172,226 | $127,648 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 1.06 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $137,600 | $140,933 |
| CLT REGION | Dallas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 99.2 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 28.0 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 95 |
| CLT REGION | Dallas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 13.36 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 257 |
| CLT REGION | Washington D.C. | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,562,702 | 3,414,171 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 6% |
| Total Population | 3,240,930 | 6,350,829 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 15% | 2% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 8% | 2% |
| CLT REGION | Washington D.C. | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ” | 0.64 | 2.69 |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $105,598 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.21 | 0.21 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $86,499 | $108,634 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.28 | 0.53 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $80,642 | $71,913 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.66 | 0.61 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $172,226 | $168,978 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 1.15 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $137,600 | $175,170 |
| CLT REGION | Washington D.C. | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 117.3 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 33.0 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 44 |
| CLT REGION | Washington D.C. | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 16 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 107 |
ECONOMIC DATA
The Charlotte Region saw continued investment in Q1 2026 paired with stable job growth. Announced jobs and capital investment nearly doubled compared to Q1 2025, further supporting the economic growth and vitality of the region.
$281.3 Billion
Gross Regional Product (outranking half of U.S. states)
3.2M
population of the region
1.7M
total jobs
4.1%
unemployment rate (February 2026)
157
people move to the region daily
Demographic & Industry Data
A diverse, dynamic talent pool can push business to the next level.
157
people move to the Charlotte Region every day
12%
growth in 20-34 year old population since 2020
32%
growth in foreign-born population since 2020
22%
higher concentration of production occupations than national average
25%
growth in business and financial operations occupations since 2020
21%
growth in professional, scientific, and technical services industry since 2020
14%
labor force growth since
2020
Area Highlights
Activities, amenities, and a superior quality of life are the key to talent attraction and retention.
24.2 min
average commute time
226
days of sunshine annually
11
major and minor league sports teams
3%
below national average cost of living
Economic Development News
Get a bird’s eye view of the announcements and advancements shaping regional growth.
Research Publications
Take a deep dive into the trends and insights that inform business decision making in Charlotte and beyond.
Exploring Economies Market Comparison
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Charlotte Region 2025-2050 Growth Projections
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Foreign Direct Investment in the region
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Commercial Real Estate
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Moving the Needle | Life Sciences in the Charlotte Region
Download
Coining the Future
Download
Racial Equity
Download
Charlotte Region Population Study
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