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This Booming Area Near Charlotte North Carolina Has A Lot To Offer New Residents

UNC Charlotte is one of the largest schools in the UNC system.  And, it makes sense the developing area around UNC would be growing by leaps and bounds.  According to…

city of charlotte north carolina skyline view
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

UNC Charlotte is one of the largest schools in the UNC system.  And, it makes sense the developing area around UNC would be growing by leaps and bounds.  According to AXIOS Charlotte, the suburban area appeals to people looking to buy homes for the first time due to a nice balance of city life and lower home prices.  So, what's coming with the University City area growth?

Well, with the growth comes what we expect to see in such a situation.  This includes everything from mixed-use entertainment to apartments, restaurants and grocery stores.  And, some projects look to start construction in 2024.  However, as with any major projects, timelines are just estimates and can take two years for completion.

Plus, here's some welcome news for all you Chick-fil-A lovers.  The popular chain plans to open a new location next to Harris Teeter.  If you're familiar with the area, you notice it's going in where the Hardee's used to be.  So, those famous Spicy Chicken Sandwiches we adore are on the horizon.

However, this may only be the tip of the iceberg.  Some plans may reveal themselves once market conditions become more favorable and attractive to developers.  Therefore, this booming area may really begin to blossom.

So, it's something to keep in mind whether you're looking to relocate or dip your toe in the first time homebuyer pool.  See the full story for more information on everything that's happening concerning University City area growth.

US News Ranks These Two North Carolina Cities Among The Nation’s 10 Best Places To Live

We love a friendly rivalry between cities. And we love to see who comes out on top in those rivalries when publications put together different lists. This time it's the Best Places To Live. And this list comes from a reputable source- US News and World Report. As North Carolina residents we know there are plenty of fantastic places to call home in North Carolina. Whether it’s the beaches the Piedmont, or the mountains. There is something for everyone. Each year US News ranks the best places to live in the US, and this year not one but two North Carolina cities made the top 10. Yes, the top 10 for the entire country. That's big! And yes, it comes down to the two cities you'd expect Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham.

I know people have strong feelings about both, but I've called the two cities home though Charlotte for much more of my life, and love them both.  I'll give you a hint one city ranked number 3 and the other came in at number 8 on this list. You can read all the information on the methodology US News uses in ranking cities here. Below you'll find the top 7 places to live in North Carolina. Why seven? It's the cities that are among the nation's 150 most populous. You'll also see where they stack up overall against the rest of the United States. And below that, you'll find the top places to live in the US.

You can read the full list from US News & World Report here.

Best Places To Live In North Carolina

According to US News & World Report

7. Fayetteville

#135 Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 5.7

Quality of Life: 6.0

Value: 6.8

ayetteville North Carolina Downtown City Center Hay Street

6. Greensboro

#72 Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 5.7

Quality of Life: 6.5

Value: 7.5

Downtown Greensboro, North Carolina, USA SkylineJason Kempin/Getty Images

5. Winston-Salem

#41 Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 6.4

Quality of Life: 6.7

Value: 7.7

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA Downtown Skyline

Kruck20

4. Asheville

#29 Overall Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 6.5

Quality of Life: 6.8

Value: 7.0

Downtown Asheville North Carolina NC Skyline Aerial

Kruck20

3. Hickory

#25 Overall Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 6.5

Quality of Life: 6.4

Value: 8.6

Downtown Hickory

Jeff Yount

2. Charlotte

#8 Overall Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 6.7

Quality of Life: 6.4

Value: 7.0

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Sean Pavone

1. Raleigh & Durham

#3 Best Places To Live Overall

Overall Score: 6.9

Quality of Life: 6.4

Value: 7.0

Raleigh, North Carolina, USA Downtown City Skyline

Sean Pavone

Top 10 Best Places To Live

According To US News

10. Fayetteville, AK

Overall Score: 6.7

Quality of Life: 6.9

Value: 7.8

Downtown town square in Fayetteville, Arkansas

BlazenImages

9. Colorado Springs

Overall Score: 6.7

Quality of Life: 6.5

Value: 5.8

Colorado Springs

Jacob Boomsma

8. Charlotte, NC

Overall Score: 6.7

Quality of Life: 6.4

Value: 7.0

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Sean Pavone

7. Portland, ME

Overall Score: 6.7

Quality of Life: 7.4

Value: 6.2

Portland, Maine, USA Coastal Townscape

Sean Pavone

6. Naples, FL

Overall Score: 6.8

Quality of Life: 7.1

Value: 6.2

Naples coastal neighborhoods aerial drone photo

felixmizioznikov

5. Sarasota, FL

Overall Score: 6.8

Quality of Life: 7.0

Value: 6.1

Downtown Sarasota from Ringling Bridge

KarolinaBorkowski

4. Boulder, CO

Overall Score: 6.8

Quality of Life: 7.7

Value: 5.3

Boulder Pearl Street Mall, Colorado

espiegle

3. Raleigh & Durham, NC

Overall Score: 6.9

Quality of Life: 6.4

Value: 7.0

Raleigh, North Carolina, USA Downtown City Skyline

Sean Pavone

2. Huntsville, AL

Overall Score: 6.9

Quality of Life: 7.0

Value: 8.2

Huntsville

Sean Pavone

1. Green Bay, WI

Overall Score: 6.9

Quality of Life: 7.3

Value: 8.0

Green Bay is a Large Town in Northern Wisconsin on Lake Michigan

Jacob Boomsma

Debbie Nance is the afternoon co-host along with her husband on "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been with the station for 18 years. Debbie is a CMA Award winner for Radio Personality of the Year. And, she has worked in radio for 40 years. Before her current afternoon position, Debbie spent more than a decade as co-host on morning shows in several markets across the Southeast. As a content creator for Country 1037, Debbie writes articles about food, new restaurants in the Carolinas and travel experiences.