Charlotte, North Carolina, a bustling southern city, and Northeast Jefferson, Colorado, a smaller suburban area, each have their own drawcards. These include the financial hubs and diverse culinary scene in Charlotte and the tranquil living and proximity to nature in Northeast Jefferson. When taking into consideration crime/safety, cost of living, work and economy, and other crucial living factors, it becomes apparent that each city possesses qualities that cater to different preferences.
Charlotte, like any large city, has a higher crime rate compared to Northeast Jefferson due to its size and population density. However, certain neighborhoods in Charlotte have very low crime rates and strong community ties, making them safer than others. In contrast, Northeast Jefferson has a generally low crime rate, consistent with its semi-rural setting and smaller population. Both locations are vigilant about neighborhood watch programs and coordination with local law enforcement.
Cost of Living
In terms of cost of living, Charlotte is generally less expensive, especially when it comes to housing. Groceries, health care, and other essential services also tend to be more affordable in this Southern city. Northeast Jefferson, on the other hand, has a higher cost of living. This is primarily due to the area's popularity among families and individuals seeking a high quality of life close to nature and within commuting distance to Denver.
Income Tax
North Carolina has a flat income tax rate of 5.25%, applicable to both Charlotte residents and non-residents who earn income in the state. Colorado also levies a flat income tax rate of 4.63%, including for Northeast Jefferson residents.
Property Tax
In Charlotte, the combined city and county property tax rate is approximately 1.3%. Northeast Jefferson's effective property tax rate is slightly lower at about 0.5%.
Sales Tax
North Carolina's state sales tax is 4.75% with additional county levies making Charlotte’s total 7.25%. Colorado state sales tax is 2.9% but with additional state and local taxes, the combined rate in Jefferson County is 7.5%.
Income
Type
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Estimated median household income
$70,869
$91,025
Estimated per capita income
$44,593
$46,835
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
93.2
119.7
If you make $50,000 in Charlotte, you will have to make $64,217 in Northeast Jefferson to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Charlotte is known for its green spaces and proximity to both mountains and seas. Northeast Jefferson, meanwhile, offers a quiet, suburban environment, with easy access to Colorado's outdoor activities, including hiking and skiing in the Rocky Mountains.
Geographical information
Type
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Land area
242.3 sq. miles
172.8 sq. miles
Population density
3,631.1 people per sq. mile
2,615.1 people per sq. mile
Relative area comparison
Charlotte, NC Northeast Jefferson, CO
Education
Charlotte is home to a large and diverse school system, including some highly ranked public and private schools, as well as notable universities such as the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Northeast Jefferson also boasts good quality schools and is in close proximity to esteemed institutions like the University of Colorado Boulder, but offers fewer choices overall due to its smaller population.
Charlotte's economy is booming, with strong sectors in finance, healthcare, and energy. The city is home to the headquarters of Bank of America and the eastern operations of Wells Fargo. Conversely, Northeast Jefferson, being a smaller, semi-rural community, has a slower-paced economy, focused more on small businesses, local services, and agriculture.
Biggest Employers
In Charlotte, some of the biggest employers are the Carolinas Healthcare System, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America. In Northeast Jefferson, large employers include the Jefferson County Public Schools, Terumo BCT (a biomedical company), and number of public service institutions.
In Charlotte (Mecklenburg County), 60.8% voted for Democrats and 38.3% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Northeast Jefferson (Jefferson County), 51.6% voted for Democrats and 46.7% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
2020
66.8%
58.3%
31.6%
39.7%
1.6%
2.0%
2016
62.3%
49.2%
32.9%
42.3%
4.8%
8.6%
2012
60.8%
51.6%
38.3%
46.7%
0.9%
1.8%
2008
62.0%
54.0%
37.6%
44.9%
0.5%
1.1%
2004
51.7%
46.9%
48.0%
52.1%
0.3%
1.0%
2000
48.4%
43.0%
51.1%
51.1%
0.5%
5.9%
1996
48.6%
42.7%
45.9%
48.4%
5.5%
8.9%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
9.0%
1.2%
19.0%
7.5%
CATHOLIC CHURCH
8.5%
15.0%
1.8%
5.1%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
2.3%
0.0%
1.1%
0.6%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1.2%
0.5%
1.3%
2.7%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.9%
1.7%
1.8%
4.2%
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.6%
0.1%
1.9%
0.6%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.5%
0.4%
1.5%
2.1%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.3%
1.1%
0.9%
3.3%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
0.3%
0.1%
1.2%
0.6%
Weather
Charlotte's weather is characterized by hot and humid summers, with milder and shorter winters. The city sees a good amount of sunshine throughout the year, with rainfall evenly distributed. Northeast Jefferson, meanwhile, enjoys a cooler and drier climate, with a significant amount of snow during winter months. This Colorado region's proximity to the Rocky Mountains also affords wonderful skiing and winter sports opportunities.
Weather and climate
Type
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Temperature - Average
61°F
47.9°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
72.3%
50.6%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
41%
20%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
87%
55%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
46%
35%
Precipitation - Yearly average
44.5 in
17.2 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
10.2 in
114 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
18.1%
19.2%
Sunshine amount - Average
69.8%
75.6%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
14%
10%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
70%
74%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
56%
64%
Wind speed - Average
6.9 mph
8.6 mph
Average climate in Charlotte, North Carolina
Average climate in Northeast Jefferson, Colorado
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
2018
75
104
0.24
0.40
6.3
22.3
27.8
34.9
N/A
N/A
15.5
29.2
8.2
8.4
0.2
0.7
2017
77
97
0.25
0.40
7.0
22.5
28.0
34.5
N/A
N/A
16.3
22.0
8.8
8.2
0.2
0.8
2016
82
90
0.25
0.44
7.6
24.4
28.7
34.3
N/A
N/A
N/A
22.6
8.4
7.8
0.2
1.0
2015
76
101
0.25
0.45
8.1
24.1
27.6
32.8
N/A
N/A
N/A
21.0
8.6
9.5
0.2
1.0
2014
76
94
0.26
0.45
8.5
23.4
26.3
33.1
N/A
N/A
N/A
25.0
9.3
10.1
0.3
1.3
2013
71
84
0.29
0.40
8.4
21.0
25.5
33.6
N/A
N/A
N/A
24.3
8.6
N/A
0.3
1.5
2012
95
91
0.28
0.34
8.7
18.9
27.3
33.4
N/A
N/A
N/A
24.4
9.7
N/A
0.3
1.3
2011
94
90
0.34
0.34
10.1
18.1
28.9
32.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
23.8
11.2
N/A
0.6
1.5
2010
97
79
0.33
0.42
11.8
16.3
28.0
29.2
N/A
N/A
N/A
26.5
11.6
N/A
1.0
1.0
2009
82
76
0.30
0.38
10.0
14.1
25.4
27.9
N/A
0.005
N/A
22.5
11.1
N/A
0.9
1.3
2008
102
85
0.32
0.42
11.2
17.3
27.6
30.8
N/A
0.008
N/A
25.5
13.0
N/A
2.1
1.6
2007
108
96
0.37
0.39
13.9
20.6
29.1
29.0
0.001
0.007
N/A
29.1
14.5
N/A
3.0
1.2
2006
107
89
0.44
0.46
13.9
19.0
27.3
29.5
0.000
0.027
N/A
28.0
14.8
N/A
3.3
1.4
2005
109
86
0.53
0.51
14.6
21.3
30.6
26.0
0.000
0.119
N/A
29.6
15.2
N/A
2.7
1.5
2004
89
82
0.53
0.53
14.6
21.2
28.9
24.2
0.001
0.043
N/A
28.6
N/A
N/A
2.8
1.8
2003
85
106
0.57
0.52
15.6
21.2
27.6
25.9
0.003
0.046
N/A
32.6
N/A
N/A
3.0
1.9
2002
103
86
0.63
0.60
15.3
19.2
32.6
25.6
0.003
0.031
N/A
35.7
N/A
N/A
2.7
2.4
2001
108
95
0.72
0.69
17.5
20.8
32.3
23.7
0.005
0.034
N/A
32.6
N/A
N/A
3.9
2.6
2000
107
94
0.79
0.70
18.0
11.7
32.6
24.5
0.014
0.037
N/A
12.2
N/A
N/A
4.4
2.1
Natural disasters
Type
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
111.5%
118.6%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
79%
826.6%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
9%
12%
Transportation
Charlotte has a robust public transit system with buses, light rail, and commuter trains. It also has bike-friendly streets and carshare programs. Northeast Jefferson mostly relies on car commuting due to its more spread-out layout, but offers easy access to major highways.
Transport
Type
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Amtrak stations
1
0
Amtrak stations nearby
2
1
FAA registered aircraft
439
0
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
12
0
Means of transportation to work
Type
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Bicycle
0.1%
0.3%
Bus
1.2%
3.2%
Carpooled
8.7%
10%
Car alone
86.2%
80.3%
Motorcycle
0.1%
0.1%
Railroad
0.4%
0%
Taxicab
0.2%
0.1%
Walked
1.5%
1.1%
Average travel time to work
Type
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Average
29.6 min
26.6 min
Real Estate
Charlotte's real estate market is very varied, with options ranging from urban condos to suburban houses. Home prices are generally lower compared to Northeast Jefferson. In Northeast Jefferson, real estate trends higher and this suburban market typically includes mid-to-high-end single-family homes.
Neighborhoods
Charlotte's neighborhoods range from the bustling uptown area, to trendy NoDa, to the family-friendly Myers Park. Northeast Jefferson is more residential with a small-town feel neighborhoods, but offers close proximity to the amenities of nearby Denver.
Houses and residents
Type
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
Houses
393,631
180,978
Average household size (people)
2.5
2.4
Houses occupied
365,269 (92.8%)
176,726 (97.7%)
Houses occupied by owners
193,930 (53.1%)
125,208 (70.8%)
Houses occupied by renters
171,339 (46.9%)
51,518 (29.2%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,482
$1,659
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$445,491
$884,573
Estimated median house or condo value
$321,400
$522,903
Median number of rooms in apartments
4
4
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.6
7.3
Renting percentage
42.6%
31.3%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
1,624.8
1,047.5
Household income disparities
44.1%
40.7%
Housing units without a mortgage
3,089 (2.1%)
21,689 (19.3%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
10,553 (7.2%)
469 (0.4%)
Housing units with a mortgage
142,912 (97.9%)
90,716 (80.7%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
171 (0.1%)
9,124 (8.1%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
13,532 (9.3%)
16,287 (14.5%)
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
0.8%
0.6%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
25,780
15,916
State government workers
16,519
7,028
Unpaid family workers
1,214
382
Industries and Occupations
Finance, healthcare, and energy dominate the industry landscape in Charlotte. The city is a major center for the banking sector in the Southeast. Northeast Jefferson's economy is more diverse, with key sectors including education, healthcare, retail trade, and manufacturing, due to its proximity to Denver.
Healthcare in Charlotte is robust, with highly-regarded institutions like Atrium Health and Novant Health. Meanwhile, Northeast Jefferson residents have access to high-quality healthcare services within the county and from highly-rated hospitals in nearby Denver.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Charlotte's infrastructure reflects its status as a growing urban center, with multiple highways, a light rail system, and the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Northeast Jefferson lacks such extensive infrastructure but benefits from the essential amenities necessary for a comfortable suburban living, including good road networks for easy commute to Denver.
Infrastructure
Type
Charlotte
Northeast Jefferson
TV stations
16
19
Nuclear power plants nearby
2
0
Culture and Food
Charlotte boasts a vibrant cultural scene, with a diverse food culture offering everything from southern BBQ to an array of international cuisines. Northeast Jefferson, although quieter, offers a mix of local eateries and breweries and is close to Denver's diverse culinary scene.
Sports Teams
Sports enthusiasts in Charlotte enjoy basketball with the Charlotte Hornets, football with the Carolina Panthers, and NASCAR racing events. Northeast Jefferson residents can enjoy Denver's sports teams, the Denver Broncos (football), Colorado Rockies (baseball), and Colorado Avalanche (hockey) among others.
Charlotte, NC
Northeast Jefferson, CO
