Whether you’ve recently moved to Charlotte or have been living in the area for years, you might not be aware of some of the bad things about Charlotte NC that exist.
From over-the-top advertising to potholes, here are 20 bad things about living in Charlotte NC that you should know about.
Bad Things About Living in Charlotte NC
1. People are friendly but reserved
Charlotte is a great place to live, with friendly people and a thriving economy. However, many of the locals are reserved and difficult to get to know.
They are also not accustomed to visitors and might treat you with suspicion if they’ve never seen you before. There’s no escaping the heat: the humid summer months bring high temperatures that aren’t pleasant for anyone. In addition, there’s no such thing as a cool breeze there, so keep your AC on at all times.
2. Downtown is a maze
Charlotte’s downtown has a maze of one-way streets and confusing intersections, making it hard to find your way around. This is the case even if you’ve been there before; it’s easy to get turned around.
The worst part is that there are no signs telling you what street you’re on or which direction to go, so it’s up to you and your sense of direction.
It’s not always a fun experience for out-of-towners, but if you know where you’re going, there are some great restaurants and shops to be found, with that said, if you need help finding anything (or anyone), just ask a local – they’ll be more than happy to help.
Another frustrating aspect of living in Charlotte is that many of the city’s parks have limited hours: two mornings a week from 6 am until 9 am, or three evenings a week from 6 pm until dusk.
During this time, visitors can’t enter the park and there are no services available inside. There are also reports that crime rates may be increasing as people start coming back into town to reclaim homes left behind during Hurricane Katrina and Rita.
3. Traffic congestion can be problematic in the downtown area and key access points
Traffic congestion can be problematic in the downtown area and key access points. For those who work outside of the city, the congestion creates a bottleneck for commuters trying to enter or exit the city. It’s not uncommon for these congested roads to take 10 minutes or more to navigate through during peak hours.
The best way to avoid this problem is to live and work as close together as possible or work from home with a telecommuting job. Gas prices are typically higher than in other major cities such as Chicago.
Property taxes are also higher than in most areas in North Carolina because of the high quality of life enjoyed by residents.
The best way to avoid this problem is to live and work as close together as possible or work from home with a telecommuting job. Gas prices are typically higher than in other major cities such as Chicago, due to low-sulfur fuel requirements.
4. There are times when it feels like no one lives in Charlotte.
The city is a sprawling mess, with the population and density of a small town. The majority of the housing stock is either old, dilapidated, or both. Crime rates are high and the schools are terrible.
There are few jobs other than low-skill service jobs, which don’t pay well because there’s nothing else to do in Charlotte.
5. Religion is a way of life when you start living in Charlotte.
When you start living in Charlotte, religion is a way of life. The moment you get off the plane, you are met with people preaching and handing out pamphlets.
They’re everywhere. There’s even a ‘pray on the move’ bus that drives around town to make sure nobody is left out of their church on Sunday morning.
It’s overwhelming at first and it doesn’t help that there is no shortage of churches to choose from.
6. People have bad road rage
One of the most dangerous parts of driving around Charlotte is other drivers. Drivers are prone to road rage and they will do anything to get revenge on someone who cut them off.
One time, I had a driver pull up next to me and throw what appeared to be a beer at my car window, causing me to swerve onto the shoulder.
Thankfully, I was able to avoid hitting any pedestrians or cars and maintain control of my vehicle until I got off the road.
7. You will want to keep a lot of mosquito repellent handy.
Mosquitoes are a nuisance year-round, but they seem to be especially bad during the summer months. The best way to get rid of them is with mosquito repellent.
It is possible that they will want to keep a lot on hand, because they can’t resist someone with sweet blood Sorry and if you don’t have any mosquito repellant on you, then it’s time for an emergency supply run.
Charlotte is also prone to tornadoes and hurricanes because of its location near the Atlantic Ocean.
8. The soil in and around Charlotte makes it challenging to grow a garden.
The soil in and around Charlotte is made up of a lot of clay, which can make it difficult to grow vegetables. If you’re determined to try your hand at gardening, you might want to start with plants like sunflowers, which are easier to grow even if the soil isn’t perfect.
Some people also plant flowers or veggies in containers on their porches or balcony for an easy alternative.
But for those who really love to garden, there are still plenty of places outside of the city that has good soil.
For example, Fort Mill has been called one of the best small towns in America for gardening due to its fertile red earth.
9. Charlotte has a history of managing hurricanes and their aftermath.
Charlotte has always been a disaster magnet. The city was founded as a cotton trading center, and the first large factory here was built by the Southern Manufacturing Company to build Confederate uniforms. The Civil War brought both Union troops and freed slaves to the area.
10. Many people spend their entire lives here, so they don’t experience other cultures.
Charlotte is a great city with many opportunities, but it’s not for everyone. There are so many other places to explore and learn from. It can be difficult to find diversity here if you don’t go looking for it.
11. If you don’t work in finance or tech, your job opportunities could be slim.
Charlotte has the third-largest banking center in the US, and it’s home to the headquarters of Bank of America, the nation’s second-largest bank. It also is a hub for finance and technology companies such as Wells Fargo, American Airlines, and Red Hat. If you don’t work in these industries, your job opportunities could be slim.
The unemployment rate in Charlotte is 2.6%, which is better than the national average, but higher than other major cities like Boston (1.8%) or Atlanta (2%).
Job growth overall has been at 2% since 2010, which compares favorably with Detroit at 0% or St. Louis at 1%. There are plenty of jobs available if you know where to look; just not necessarily right on Main Street.
12. Rents are high for the area
The median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,173. This is higher than the national average of $949. And not just by a little bit: renters can expect to pay almost $400 more than what they would in other cities around the country.
This makes it difficult to save up enough money for future goals or emergencies. There are only 12% of homes on the market that is affordable and available within 5 miles of downtown Charlotte; which means that most people need to move farther out from the city if they want a place they can afford.
13. Traffic can be painful
Charlotte has some of the worst traffic in the country. It’s not unusual to spend an hour or more on a commute from one side of the city to the other, and that’s only if you’re lucky enough to find a lane that’s moving at all.
While walking is still feasible for many areas of town, it can be hard to make your way through pedestrian-unfriendly neighborhoods where crosswalks are few and far between.
As for cycling, well, just don’t try it unless you enjoy risking your life.
14. Almost every coffee shop is crowded
Coffee shops are a great place to meet up with friends and catch up on life. The only downside is that they’re almost always crowded, which can make it difficult to find a seat and get your order in within the first few minutes of opening.
There are more than 100 breweries in the area: If you like beer, you’re going to love Charlotte.
The city has seen more than $1 billion in new construction over the last year: All this new development means there are plenty of places to live, work, and play.
15. Competitive Cost Of Living
Charlotte is a major hub for big-name corporations and as a result, has one of the highest rates of cost of living. This means that the cost to live in this city is astronomically high.
Sure, it’s not New York City where you need to make $100,000 per year just to have enough money for rent, but it’s still expensive. For example, if you want an apartment that’s close to work, you’ll be paying at least $900 per month.
16. Higher Education When Living In Charlotte
Higher education is a significant factor when deciding where to live. The University of North Carolina system has 13 schools located throughout the state, with the flagship campus located in Chapel Hill.
East Carolina University is also located nearby and offers many undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
There are many other options for higher education, such as Johnson C Smith University, Davidson College, and the Queens University of Charlotte.
17. Bad Traffic Congestion
The worst thing about living in Charlotte is the congestion. The city has grown and grown, with an influx of people moving to the area every day. The result is a lot of traffic on the roads, which only gets worse during rush hours.
In a recent study by MIT’s Lab for Social Machines, researchers found that commute times had increased by 50% over five years and that drivers spent 3-4 hours more each week sitting in traffic than they did five years ago.
18. Public Transportation Doesn’t Make Life In Charlotte Any Easier
Public transportation doesn’t make life in Charlotte any easier. The only public transportation available is the LYNX light rail system, which has a limited number of routes. It also stops running at midnight, making it difficult to travel from one part of the city to another after dark.
19. Lacking Rich Cultural Roots
Charlotte is a great place to live, but it has a lot of room for improvement. One thing that could be improved on is the lack of rich cultural roots. Compared to other cities, we have very few cultural outlets and there are only so many football games you can attend.
If you’re looking for something new, try taking an art class or going out to eat at one of our local restaurants. There’s always something new happening in Charlotte and I’m sure you’ll find your niche soon enough!
20. High Income And Sales Taxes
One of the drawbacks to living in North Carolina is that income and sales taxes are high. For example, the state income tax maxes out at 7.75% for people who make less than $24,000 per year.
The state sales tax is 6%. For example, if you spend $100 on clothes or shoes you’ll need to pay an extra $6.00 no matter how much you buy.
Conclusion
Notwithstanding knowing the bad things about living in Charlotte, Charlotte is a great place to live and work, but it’s not perfect. You should try to visit there sometime.
