Best Neighborhoods in Charlotte (Insider’s Guide)

Charlotte, North Carolina, is one of the largest cities in the country. As such, it’s a city of immense opportunity!

Home to the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, the Charlotte Symphony, Opera Carolina, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Carowinds amusement park, Bank of America corporate headquarters, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame (to name just a few), it’s easy to see that Charlotte is a city that has it all.

Named in honor of Queen Charlotte (queen consort of King George III), the “Queen City,” as it has become known, is a dynamic and fabulous place to call home.

Charlotte has 199 neighborhoods, so having a guide to the best ones is vital to finding the one just right for you. Here are a few of our favorite neighborhoods in the Charlotte region—including some of those in which DRB Homes builds—and some of the perks of living in each one.

Belmont, NC

Overview of Belmont

 Belmont is one of the many neighborhoods in Charlotte. The small-town feel of this area can be felt down every street, and the echoes of the past can be found around every corner. It’s a neighborhood with gardens, a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places, and easy access to outdoor adventure.

Living in Belmont

Just 5 minutes away from the 1,700-acre Downtown Belmont Historic District, Smith Farm Towns is a desirable new community that is the perfect blend of convenience and comfort. You’ll enjoy a spacious, open concept living area with a beautiful kitchen, an airy family room, and a luxurious owner’s suite with expansive walk-in closet. You’ll also appreciate the easy access to I-85, exciting Uptown, and the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which puts the world at your fingertips. But when you live in Smith Farm Towns, there’s so much more to do and experience right here in Belmont!

Activities and Amenities

Belmont is a full of adventures to find outdoors. There’s the U.S. National Whitewater Center, a nature-filled playland offering whitewater rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, climbing, trails, ziplines, ice skating, ropes courses, and more. For something tamer, explore Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens’ 30 acres of gardens, fountains, walking trails, a children’s garden, and a tropical plant conservatory. Take a stroll on part of the Carolina Thread Trail from the Gardens, and you can enjoy the lake views, forest, and flowery fields of Seven Oaks Preserve with 2 miles of protected shoreline on Lake Wylie. And when your adventuring is done, head to Muddy River Distillery for a relaxing taste of local, award-winning rum made and served in in a converted cotton mill from 1875!

Uptown Charlotte

Urban Lifestyle

 Uptown is the most “city” part of Charlotte. It’s the downtown area where “big business” happens and the heart of the city beats. Divided into four wards, Uptown is home to the corporate headquarters of Fortune 500 companies, athletic stadiums, event centers, museums, theaters, restaurants, and night spots. Uptown hums with industry, sings with culture, and pulses with the energy that only a city can contain. There are also loads of green space in Uptown, like Park Road Park’s 120 acres full of basketball courts, baseball fields, playgrounds, trails, tennis courts, and an 11-acre lake.

Attractions and Conveniences

Let’s take a closer look at some of the best things to do in Uptown. When you want to soak in the city’s culture, head to the multi-faceted Levine Center for the Arts. This amazing destination is home to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, Knight Theater, and Mint Museum. If retail therapy and a quick bite is what you need, visit Latta Arcade’s collection of local shops and restaurants. When you need a sports fix, Uptown’s got you covered. Take in a Panther’s game at Bank of America Stadium, a Hornet’s game at Spectrum Center, or a Knight’s game at Truist Field. And when you need to whet your whistle, stop by Alexander Michael’s a neighborhood tavern that offers simple, delicious fare, fantastic service, and great company!  

South Charlotte

Prestigious Neighborhoods

South Charlotte is home to some fantastic places to live and is one of the fastest growing areas in the city. It’s far enough from Uptown to be a bit out of the hustle and bustle, but near enough for an easy adventure. It also encompasses many attractive South Charlotte neighborhoods like SouthPark, Myers Park, and Eastover. DRB also builds in some amazing communities in this section of Charlotte, so let’s take a closer look!

The Townes of Cotswold

A boutique collection of 48 townhomes with our modern Landon Plan, The Townes of Cotswold offers spacious 3-story, 4-bedroom, 2-car garage townhomes. With modern French country style exteriors and professionally designed interiors, homeowners will enjoy gourmet kitchens with expansive islands, large primary bedrooms, and luxe primary bathrooms. Living here means you’re also a short walk to the shops at Cotswold Village and a short drive to anywhere in Charlotte!

Towns at Rea Colony

The Towns at Rea Colony is a collection of townhomes nestled in the center of a prestigious network of golf courses and country clubs including the PGA Quail Hollow Club, Carmel Country Club, Cedarwood Country Club, TPC at Piper Glen, and Raintree Country Club. And a short walk will get you to Colony Place for shopping and dining and Four Mile Creek Greenway for a peaceful nature walk. Your new townhome here will be two stories of spacious luxury with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a 2-car garage. Create delicious meals in your gourmet kitchen, relax and entertain in your expansive family room, and recharge in your extravagant owner’s suite with two walk-in closets!

Towns at Alexander Providence

With easy access to luxury SouthPark Mall, Carmel Country Club, Cedarwood Country Club, and the Arboretum Shopping Center, the Towns at Alexander Providence will put some of the best Charlotte shopping, dining, and entertainment minutes from your doorstep. This coming-soon community of 24 modern townhomes is in the middle of some of Charlotte’s most desirable neighborhoods. When you want to escape the rush of the city, when you want to entertain with style, when you want a place where your family can grow, you want to come home to the Towns at Alexander Providence.

Outdoor Living

South Charlotte surrounds you with natural beauty offering exciting adventures in all directions. From the aforementioned golf and country clubs to parks and preserves, living here brings the outdoors to your doorstep. Myers Park, Park Road Park, Marion Diehl Park, and Freedom Park (with its NFL Play 60 KidZone) are just a few that are nearby. Also, don’t forget to enjoy the serene wilderness of Evergreen Nature Preserve and McDowell Nature Center (the county’s oldest and largest nature preserve) as you explore South Charlotte’s peerless opportunities for outdoor living.

North Charlotte

Important Communities

North Charlotte is home to two college towns near UNC Charlotte: College Downs and University City. University City not only serves as a great place to live and explore, it’s also home to the only Ikea in both North and South Carolina! Croft is another community of note with a national historic district that preserves a bit of South Carolina’s history. And we can’t forget NoDa, a dynamic neighborhood that evolved from a textile town into an effervescent arts district. Full of galleries and performance venues, NoDa celebrates the soul of Charlotte, putting it on display for all to experience.

Easy Access

By being right above Uptown, North Charlotte neighborhoods have easy access to everything “big city” while being their own special areas. I-77 and I-85 cross North Charlotte providing major commuting routes into the city, to other locations in North Carolina, and to the world via Charlotte Douglas International Airport. There are many reasons why this city has the most people of any city in North Carolina, and the ease of access to so many sporting venues, cultural hot spots, local restaurants, boutique shops, and unequalled natural splendor is one of the biggest ones!

Suburban Charlotte

Advantages of Suburban Life

Living in the suburbs of Charlotte gives you a great foundation from which to build a fantastic life. Here, you get the space and the trees and the parks while never being far from shopping, dining, and entertainment venues. You get the convenience of big roads and the joy of wooded trails, the excitement of major stadiums and the calm of protected forests. Your children can enjoy playgrounds, museums, and well-regarded schools—including multiple higher education options nearby.

Exploring Other Suburbs

Remember, Charlotte is made of 199 neighborhoods, so finding the perfect one for your family can take a little exploration. If you desire a more upscale and stylish lifestyle, more cafés and wine bars, you might want to start your search in Ballantyne. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, the many opportunities to enjoy nature in Huntersville might be more what you want. And if you seek a home surround by farms and woods, and full of local brews and homegrown picnics, then Mint Hill might be your perfect home town. So many choices, so many flavors, and so many neighborhoods all call Charlotte home!

Charlotte’s Best Neighborhoods

The best neighborhoods in Charlotte offer a range of qualities that cater to various lifestyles and preferences. Whether you're looking for a home in the middle of a city or a relaxing retreat, there is something for everyone. From stunning views to extensive amenities, these neighborhoods have it all.

When you’re ready to find your perfect home in Charlotte, look no further than DRB Homes. Our commitment to quality, innovation, and homeowner satisfaction means that the best neighborhood in Charlotte will quickly be the one where you live!