10 Most Affordable Charlotte Suburbs

Charlotte, NC, aka “Queen City,” is one of many beautiful cities to reside in in the Southeast. With great sports teams, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and plenty of outdoor activities, it’s no wonder Charlotte is also home to about 925,000 people. If you’re moving to or living in Charlotte, it’s important to keep in mind that the median home sale price is $382,000, and the average rent price for a two-bedroom apartment in Charlotte is $1,754.

If those prices are out of your budget, don’t worry. We’ve got options to help you find a home that fits your budget. We’ve collected the 10 best affordable Charlotte suburbs to consider moving to. And the best part is that they’re all less than 30 minutes away from the city center. You’ll be close enough to explore all of Charlotte’s best activities, without paying the price of city life.

#1: Lowell

Median home price: $175,000
Driving distance from Charlotte: 20 minutes
Lowell, NC homes for sale
Lowell, NC apartments for rent

Lowell, with a median home sale price of $175,000, claims the first spot on our list of affordable Charlotte suburbs. About 3,900 people live in this suburban area and you’ll only be about 20 minutes away from downtown Charlotte. Living in Lowell, you can spend time at Altitude Trampoline Park or one of the quaint parks like Bob Bolick Park and Harold Rankin Park.

#2: Bessemer City

Median home price: $212,000
Driving distance from Charlotte: 30 minutes
Bessemer City, NC homes for sale
Bessemer City, NC apartments for rent

Bessemer City is Charlotte’s second most affordable suburb. Just about 30 minutes from Charlotte, you’ll be exploring the exhibits at The Charlotte Museum of History in just a quick drive. Some popular things to do in Bessemer City include visiting Bessemer City Park. When living in this suburb of 5,800 people, you can also spend time exploring the charming downtown.

#3: Enochville

Median home price: $230,000
Driving distance from Charlotte: 30 minutes
Enochville, NC homes for sale
Enochville, NC apartments for rent

Just 30 minutes away from Charlotte, you’ll find the suburb of Enochville. From parks and outdoor recreation to shopping, there are lots of things that make Enochville a great place to live. If you find yourself moving here, make sure to visit nearby Douglas Vineyards or take in the views of Kannapolis Lake. 

#4: Gastonia

Median home price: $285,000
Driving distance from Charlotte: 25 minutes
Gastonia, NC homes for sale
Gastonia, NC apartments for rent

Only a 25-minute drive into the city, consider adding Gastonia to your list of Charlotte suburbs to consider moving to. With home prices at about $285K, moving to this affordable suburb can keep you close enough to Charlotte, without paying the premium for a home there. Living in Gastonia, you’ll find The Schiele Museum of Natural History & Planetarium, Adventure Landing Gastonia, and the Catawba Creek Golf Course. Don’t forget to stop by Lineberger Park and Rankin Lake Park once living in this awesome suburb.

#5: Kannapolis

Median home price: $295,000
Driving distance from Charlotte: 30 minutes
Kannapolis, NC homes for sale
Kannapolis, NC apartments for rent

Fifth on the list is another well-known Charlotte suburb, Kannapolis, where the median home sale price is about $50K less than in Charlotte. With just about 54,000 people living in Kannapolis, it’s a great suburb to consider renting or buying a house in. From the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame to favorite local restaurants, there are countless things to do in this great suburb.

#6: Rock Hill, SC

Median home price: $305,000
Driving distance from Charlotte: 30 minutes
Rock Hill, SC homes for sale
Rock Hill, SC apartments for rent

Sixth on our list of affordable Charlotte suburbs is Rock Hill, which is about 30 minutes away in South Carolina. With a population of nearly 77,000, you’ll be living in a smaller area, but there’s no shortage of things to do in Rock Hill. If you find yourself moving to this suburb, make sure to visit Main Street Children’s Museum, Glencairn Garden, and Cherry Park. 

#7: Stanley

Median home price: $310,000
Driving distance from Charlotte: 30 minutes
Stanley, NC homes for sale
Stanley, NC apartments for rent

If you’ve been living in Charlotte for some time, you may have heard of the suburb of Stanley. About 3,900 people reside in Stanley, so you’ll have a fraction of Charlotte’s population while remaining only 30 minutes from the city. Once moving to Stanley, add the Brevard Station Museum and Harper Park to your list of places to visit. 

#8: Cramerton

Median home price: $329,000
Driving distance from Charlotte: 20 minutes
Cramerton, NC homes for sale
Cramerton, NC apartments for rent

Cramerton is a great place to consider living in that will get you access to downtown Charlotte in just about 20 minutes. Just 4,500 people live in this suburb, but you’ll find lots to do in Cramerton. Attractions in Cramerton include exploring the many greenways on Goat Island and all the riverfront areas that make this town stand out. 

#9: Mount Holly

Median home price: $342,500
Driving distance from Charlotte: 20 minutes
Mount Holly, NC homes for sale
Mount Holly, NC apartments for rent

Ninth on our list is the city of Mount Holly. If you’re lucky to avoid traffic, it’ll only take about 20 minutes to drive into Charlotte. This suburb has a population of 16,700 residents and is home to the Mount Holly Historical Society Museum and Catawba Riverfront Greenway where you can take in the views of the Catawaba River. There’s plenty to do on an afternoon or weekend while living in this charming town.

#10: Concord

Median home price: $360,340
Driving distance from Charlotte: 30 minutes
Concord, NC homes for sale
Concord, NC apartments for rent

Rounding out our list of affordable Charlotte suburbs is Concord, located about 30 minutes northeast of the city. Home prices land about $20K less than in Charlotte and the city has roughly 105,000 residents. In Concord, there are plenty of cool activities to do and see, such as checking out the Mustang Owner’s Museum, visiting the Charlotte Motor Speedway a famous NASCAR racetrack, or learning about a variety of sea creatures at SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord.

Methodology

Affordability is based on whether a suburb is less than the median sale price of Charlotte and under a 30-minute drive from downtown Charlotte. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during April 2022. Average rental data from Rent.com June 2022. Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau.