Charlotte in Detail table of contents Population 4 Commuting and Migration 6 Government and Taxes 8 Best Cities for Labor and Industry 9 # High Pay and Corporate Neighbors 10 Low Expenses [Yahoo Finance] International Presence 13 1 Education 14 Quality of Life 16 Office Space 18 Construction 19 Cost of Living 20 Transportation 21 Photography ©PatrickSchneiderPhoto.com Copyright 2015 by Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. 704.378.1300 2 Charlotte in Detail charlotte.global introduction FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD, PEOPLE KEEP COMING TO CHARLOTTE. They come for the thousands of new jobs created each year. They come to start their own businesses, attracted by our region’s entrepreneurial spirit and business friendly environment. They come for months of mild weather and high quality housing at a reasonable cost. For these reasons and more, Charlotte has become the second fastest growing city in the country. 2nd Best City for Charlotte’s 10-county metro region includes amenities for all lifestyles – from vibrant city streets to quiet cul-de-sacs to quaint small towns and country roads. You’re never far away from great Recent College vacation destinations in Charlotte either. Some of the best rated beaches in the country are a few hours’ drive to the east. A few hours west are the resort towns and ski slopes of the Great Graduates Smoky Mountains. Closer to home, Mecklenburg County’s 37 [Apartments.com] miles of greenway and three man-made lakes – Mountain Island, Norman and Wylie – offer plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation. In the pages that follow, you’ll find out more about what makes Charlotte great. charlotte.global Charlotte in Detail 3 population Percent of Population by Age Group Mecklenburg County A city’s population says a lot about its quality of life. With a population growth of almost 40 percent in the last 10 years, it is easy to see why people are flocking to the Charlotte region. 21.2 Boasting a young and diverse populace, Charlotte ranks 19.3 No. 16 in total population among U.S. cities. The Charlotte metropolitan area ranks No. 23. Having recently surpassed the 16.7 15.7 one-million mark, Mecklenburg County is expected to keep 13.8 13.4 growing, reaching a population of 1.3 million by 2030. City of Mecklenburg Charlotte Year Charlotte County MSA 2014 809,958 1,012,539 2,376,688 0-14 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+ 2009 716,874 935,304 1,725,759 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2009-2013 5-Year Estimates 2004 614,330 790,809 1,500,338 2000 540,828 695,454 1,330,448 Population Projections 1990 395,934 511,433 1,024,096 1.6 mil. 1.4 mil. 1980 315,473 404,270 855,538 1.2 mil. 1970 241,420 354,656 741,118 1 mil. 1960 201,564 272,111 426,549 2015 2020 2025 2030 Source (2013-2015): North Carolina Department of Commerce, Labor and Economic Analysis Division; South Carolina Employment Security Commission, Labor Market Information Department Source (1960-2013): U.S. Census Bureau; Charlotte Chamber Population Estimates Population rankings Median Age Total Male Female 38.5 39.5 U.S. population U.S. population rank, City of 23 rank, MSA 37.9 37.6 Charlotte 35.6 34.2 34.5 33.3 16 36.3 36.2 33.2 32.5 United North Mecklenburg Charlotte States Carolina County Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey. Table Source: U.S. Census Bureau; Charlotte Chamber Population Estimates B01002, “Median Age by Sex” 4 Charlotte in Detail charlotte.global Household Income population City of Mecklenburg Charlotte County Household Income Total Households 292,150 362,465 City of Mecklenburg Less than $10,000 7% 7% Charlotte County Median income .......... $52,375 .........$54,278 $10,000 to $14,999 5% 4% Mean income ............ $78,641 .........$80,917 $15,000 to $24,999 10% 10% Source: Nielsen Site Reports, Mecklenburg County $25,000 to $34,999 11% 11% $35,000 to $49,999 15% 15% $50,000 to $74,999 18% 18% $75,000 to $99,999 11% 11% $100,000 to $149,999 12% 13% $150,000 to $199,999 5% 6% $200,000 or more 6% 7% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. Note: In 2013 inflation-adjusted dollars. Population Comparisons Race 2004 Population 2014 Population % Change American Indian or Alaskan Native, Non-Hispanic 6,883 8,553 24% Asian, Non-Hispanic 41,339 75,302 82% Black, Non-Hispanic 395,878 523,200 32% Hispanic all races 124,431 237,607 91% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Non-Hispanic 628 1,188 89% Two or More Races, Non-Hispanic 18,598 40,104 116% White, Non-Hispanic 1,292,277 1,490,734 15% Total 1,880,033 2,376,688 26% Source: EMSI, Charlotte MSA charlotte.global Charlotte in Detail 5 government and taxes Charlotte-Mecklenburg Property Tax Rate Per $100 Assessed Tax Levy The city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Year Valuation Valuation (Bil.) (Mil.) jointly operate one tax department, allowing for an FY 15-16 1.294 N/A N/A uncomplicated taxation system. Charlotte has the 17th FY 14-15 1.284 N/A $958.1 lowest residential property tax rate compared to the largest city in each state and experiences a low 2012 1.229 $115.7 $924.8 cost of living compared to cities of similar size. 2011 1.254 $117.1 $977.0 2010 1.297 $100.3 $842.1 Form of City Government . Council-Mayor and Manager Form of County Government. Commissioners and Manager 2009 1.297 $99.4 $834.0 2008 1.297 $97.3 $816.0 2007 1.297 $93.6 $727.0 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Personnel. 2,332 2006 1.278 $90.5 $682.8 2005 1.257 $84.3 $638.2 Fire Stations, City of Charlotte . 42 2004 1.177 $83.5 $618.2 Fire Personnel, City of Charlotte (full-time). 1,154 Volunteer Fire Stations, Mecklenburg County . 18 Source: Mecklenburg County Office of the Tax Collector. Note: Fiscal years are used, and run from July-June. Volunteer Fire Personnel, Mecklenburg County . 672 Public Libraries . 20 Total Volumes Held (Public Libraries) . 1.16 million Total Circulation . 5.9 million Sources: CMPD, Charlotte Fire Department, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library 6 Charlotte in Detail charlotte.global government and taxes Sources of County Revenue 2015-2016 % Total 2015-2016 County Budget Summary Property Taxes 61.3% Total: $1,163.9 million % Total Sales Tax 15.7% Education Services (CMS & CPCC) 37.7% Federal Sources 7.2% Education Debt Service 20.2% Charges for Services 5.7% Efficient Government 14.7% Other Revenues 4.4% Community Health & Safety 14.5% State Sources 2.5% Social, Education and Economic 6.5% Licenses and Permits 1.5% Sustainable Community 3.7% Law Enforcement Service District Tax 0.9% General Debt Service 2.7% Fire District Tax 0.3% Source: Mecklenburg County, FY2015-16 Office of Management and Budget Investment Income 0.3% Local ABC Profits 0.2% Source: Office of the Tax Collector, Mecklenburg County FY2015-2016 CAROLINAS HEALTHCARE STSTEM CAROLINAS HEALTHCARE Sources of City Revenue 2015-2016 2015-2016 City Budget Summary Total: $519.7 million Total: $2,131.8 million 4% Intergovernmental 4% Community 4% Storm Water Services 3% Licenses and Fees Investment 2% Other taxes 9% Other 8% Utilities 24% Franchise General 14% government 17% Water & Sewer Sales tax 66% 24% Propery tax 21% Public Aviation Transit Source: City of Charlotte Budget Office FY 15-16 Source: City of Charlotte Budget Office FY 15-16 charlotte.global Charlotte in Detail 7 education The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School district is one of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System largest in the country with more than 145,000 students in 161 public schools. Charlotte is also home to 95 private and Number of Schools charter schools and 35 higher learning institutions. In addition Public ........................................164 to traditional public and private schools, there are a number of Private and Charter ..............................107 magnet, STEM and International Baccalaureate programs offered Magnet ........................................37 at schools throughout the county. More than 175,000 students Alternative.......................................4 are enrolled in Charlotte area colleges and universities. Enrollment Public .................................... 145,112 Private & Charter............................. 30,295 Academics Average SAT Score ............................ 1,491 High School Graduation Rate .....................85% Number of AP Exams Taken ..................... 8,416 Students Taking AP Exams....................... 4,196 CMS Enrollment Total Number of Students ..................... 145,112 Source: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Fast Facts 2014 CMS High School Students 2014 graduates .............................. 8,619 4-Year Cohort Graduation Rate ................... 85% Source: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Higher Learning in the Charlotte MSA, 2015 Universities .....................................18 Four Year Colleges ................................7 Community Colleges...............................6 Junior Colleges ...................................1 Graduate/Professional Schools .......................3 Technical Institutes ................................7 Vocational Schools ................................4 Educational Attainment Source: National Center for Education Statistics; North Carolina Community Population 25 years and over College System; Individual colleges and universities, 2014. 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0 Less than 9th to 12th High Some Associate Bachelor’s Graduate or 9th grade grade, no school college, degree degree professional diploma graduate no degree degree Mecklenburg County North Carolina United States Source: Economic Modeling Specialists, Inc. 8 Charlotte in Detail charlotte.global cost