Best In North Carolina Real Estate™: Charlotte

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia ranks #2 in North Carolina for 12-month payroll growth, according to ALEX Intelligence’s latest analysis of BLS data (https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-28-charlotte-lab-bls-payroll-growth-12m-msa). How is this job growth translating into real estate strength? The data shows a direct link between labor market momentum and housing resilience. Unlike markets where growth is fueled by speculation, Charlotte’s strength is anchored in actual employment expansion. This is a long-term structural advantage. How does this compare to other North Carolina metros? The full ranking table is available in the post. 12-month growth in metropolitan payroll employment (August 2026), top 10 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2026) #1 Raleigh-Cary, NC — 2.3% #2 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC — 1.8% #3 Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC — 1.8% #4 Wilmington, NC — 1.7% #5 Greensboro-High Point, NC — 1.2% #6 Asheville, NC — 1.0% #7 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC — 1.0% #8 Rocky Mount, NC — 0.9% #9 Winston-Salem, NC — 0.9% #10 Burlington, NC — 0.7% Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: Dough4872 (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=80016806; Slide 2: Scott Thompson (CC BY 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=51390545; Slide 3: david28078 (CC BY 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=39714786; Slide 4: Raman Patel (CC BY 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=53929153 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-28-charlotte-lab-bls-payroll-growth-12m-msa View and join any or all of our communities — AI, quantum, and real estate: https://alex-companies.com/reports/linkedin-groups If there's an AI, quantum, or real estate community you'd like to see us convene, tell us — this portfolio grows by request. Real Estate Strategy & Intelligence Leader. Democratized Blue Ocean Strategist & Operator. Diane Hart Alexander, MBA, MHA Chair & CEO, ALEX Companies Designated Broker, Alexander Tiffany Southwest, LLC dba ALEX.realestate, et.al. Texas License #574877-B · Broker License #565194-BB [email protected] · +1 713.591.9902