Side-by-side comparison of Charlotte, NC and Raleigh, NC — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Charlotte has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 3.41% compared to Raleigh's 3.22%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $350,000 in Charlotte vs $395,000 in Raleigh, while rents come in at $1,550/mo and $1,650/mo respectively.
Growth & appreciation: Charlotte is growing faster at 2.3% annually vs Raleigh's 2.1%. Charlotte leads on home value appreciation at 3.9% per year. Strong population growth typically translates to sustained rental demand and long-term price support.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 0.83% in Charlotte vs 0.78% in Raleigh. Vacancy rates of 5.1% and 4.3% are both healthy, suggesting strong tenant demand in both markets.
Bottom line: Charlotte edges out Raleigh on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 3.41%, Charlotte's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Charlotte or Raleigh.