Charlotte vs Philadelphia
A side-by-side comparison of Charlotte, North Carolina and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — population, climate, cost of living, demographics, and more.
| Place |  CharlotteNorth Carolina, United States |  PhiladelphiaPennsylvania, United States |
|---|---|---|
| Location | ||
| State / region | North Carolina | Pennsylvania |
| Country | 🇺🇸 United States | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Coordinates | 35.209, -80.831 | 40.009, -75.133 |
| Elevation | 229 m | 32 m |
| Founded | 1768 | — |
| Nickname | Hornet's Nest | — |
| Size | ||
| Population | 943,474 | 1,573,916 |
| Land area | 310.8 mi² | 134.4 mi² |
| Water area | 2.0 mi² | 8.3 mi² |
| Density (per mi²) | 3,036 | 11,714 |
| Housing units | 415,975 | 763,527 |
| Demographics | ||
| Median age | 34.5 | 35.7 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 39.8% | 35.5% |
| Black or African American | 32.7% | 38.7% |
| Asian | 6.8% | 8.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.4% | 16.4% |
| Economy & education | ||
| Median household income | $86,416 | $60,521 |
| Median home value | $431,900 | $253,600 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 49.4% | 36.4% |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | 19.7% |
| Unemployment | 4.3% | 5.9% |
| Climate | ||
| Avg high temp | 72°F | 65°F |
| Avg low temp | 54°F | 48°F |
| Annual precipitation | 44.6 in | 48.6 in |
| Sunshine % of year | 64.0% | 55.0% |
| Annual solar (kWh/m²) | 1,632 | 1,408 |
| Air & environment | ||
| US AQI | 61 | 46 |
| Air quality category | Moderate | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 10.4 | 27.2 |
| PM10 (µg/m³) | 11.1 | 27.5 |
| Ozone (µg/m³) | 69.0 | 0.0 |
| NO₂ (µg/m³) | 7.7 | 65.0 |
| Wildlife species observed | 10 | 10 |
| Wildlife observations | 652,933 | 3,189,107 |
| Risk & hazards | ||
| Earthquakes (last 10y) | 2 | 13 |
| Largest earthquake (mag) | 2.6 | 4.8 |
| Active weather alerts | 1 | 1 |
| Health | ||
| Obesity | 30.1% | — |
| Diabetes | 10.7% | — |
| Smoking | 11.4% | — |
| Schools | ||
| Schools total | 155 | 298 |
| Elementary schools | 97 | 190 |
| Middle schools | 21 | 17 |
| High schools | 27 | 69 |
| Civic & interest | ||
| Mayor / leader | Vi Lyles | — |
| Official website | https://www.charlottenc.gov/ | — |
| Sister cities | 9 | — |
| Notable people (Wikidata) | 16 | 16 |
| Books about this place | 4 | 8 |
| Wikipedia views (last 30d) | 63,897 | 4,536 |
| Overview | ||
| Summary | Charlotte is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. With a population of 874,579 at the 2020 census, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., seventh-most populous city in the South, and second-most populous city in the Southeast. The Charlotte metropolitan area, with an estimated 2.88 million residents, is the 21st-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. and lies at the center of an 18-county combined statistical area with an estimated population of 3.47 million as of 2024. Charlotte is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. Wikipedia | Philadelphia, colloquially referred to as Philly, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the sixth-most populous city in the United States. Its population was 1.60 million at the 2020 census and estimated at 1.57 million in 2025. The Philadelphia metropolitan area, also known as the Delaware Valley, is located in both the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States; home to 6.33 million residents, it is the nation's ninth-largest metropolitan area. Philadelphia is known for its culture, cuisine, and history, maintaining contemporary influence in technology and business, sports, and music. Wikipedia |
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