Independent Living Communities in Charlotte, North Carolina

CaringScore for Charlotte, NC

CaringScore was designed to help millions of Americans find the best places to retire, age in place, or receive eldercare. The CaringScore for independent living communities in Charlotte was based on more than 50 factors in three key categories: health, cost, and livability. By compiling and analyzing this data, Caring.com is able to rate the quality of life you or a loved one might expect should you choose independent living communities in Charlotte.

A CaringScore can range from 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and provides a quick way to compare cities, counties, and even specific zip codes. With a CaringScore of 5.2, Charlotte is on par with the national average for those seeking independent living communities.

The charts below highlight a few of the factors we used to calculate the CaringScore for Charlotte. Choose a category score to learn more.

Physicians Per Capita

Cost of Healthcare Index

Sunny Days Per Year

HealthScore for Charlotte, NC

HealthScore, a component of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Charlotte, rates a region on a scale of 1 (less healthful) to 10 (more healthful). It's specifically tailored to anyone looking for independent living communities. The HealthScore for Charlotte is based on the availability of healthcare resources, air and water quality, the overall health of the local population, and other key factors. With a HealthScore of 6.3, Charlotte rates above average for those seeking independent living communities.

Easy access to physicians -- especially geriatricians and other key specialists -- is important to older adults seeking independent living communities. At 267.1 physicians per capita, Charlotte scores 21.1 percent better than the national average. Charlotte scores about average in geriatricians per capita, with 1.5, and scores 21.5 percent better than the national average in specialists per capita, with 23.7. These medical specialists include cardiologists, oncologists, and orthopedists. The average life expectancy from birth in Charlotte is 78.2 years -- on par with the rest of the country. The average life expectancy from birth in Charlotte is 78.2 years -- on par with the rest of the country. and water quality -- another key measure of Charlotte's environmental health -- is 9.1 percent above average.

Doctors Per Capita	Charlotte, NC	Nat'l Avg
Physicians	267.1	220.5
Geriatricians	1.5	1.3
Cardiologists	8.9	7.7
Oncologists	4.6	3.5
Orthopedists	8.6	7

Average Life Expectancy

CostScore for Charlotte, NC

CostScore, part of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Charlotte, rates the cost of living for older adults on a scale of 1 (more expensive) to 10 (less expensive). It's specifically tailored to people looking for independent living communities. The CostScore for Charlotte is based on data such as the average monthly cost of independent living communities in the region, the cost of housing and healthcare, regional tax rates, and other key factors. With a CostScore of 4.8, Charlotte is on par with the national average for independent living communities.

Because of the broad range of housing, service, and healthcare options available at independent living communities, no average monthly cost data is available for Charlotte. The entry fee or purchase price for an independent living community can range from $50,000 to $500,000 or more, and typically requires an additional monthly service fee of $1,000 to $3,000 on average. The cost of living indices below provide the best proxy for comparing costs of independent living communities in Charlotte to the rest of the country. Overall, the cost of living for Charlotte is roughly equal to the national average. Average healthcare costs are 9.0 percent more expensive than the national average, and the cost of housing index is 102 of 10, which mirrors the rest of the country.

Cost of Living	Charlotte, NC
Aggregate Index	98
Healthcare Index	109
Housing Index	102
Food Index	96
Utilities Index	96
Transportation Index	100

Cost of Healthcare Index

LivabilityScore for Charlotte, NC

LivabilityScore makes up part of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Charlotte. On a scale of 1 (less livable) to 10 (more livable), it's a rating of the quality of life in a region, specifically tailored to those looking for independent living communities. The LivabilityScore for Charlotte is based on weather, crime rates, economic factors, average age of the population, and other key demographics. With a LivabilityScore of 3.8, Charlotte rates below average for independent living communities.

Weather is an important factor in choosing the best place for independent living communities. The sun shines an average of 218 days each year in Charlotte, 6.3 percent more sunny days than the rest of the U.S. sees. With an average temperature of 34°F in January, winters tend to be milder in Charlotte than in other parts of the country, and summers are often hotter than other places, averaging 88°F in July.

Local crime rates are another important indicator. The violent crime rate in Charlotte is 100.0 percent higher than the national average, and the property crime rate is 100.0 percent higher than average. At $52,339 per year, the population of Charlotte earns a median household income on par with the national average. Charlotte has an unemployment rate of 8.70 percent, roughly equal to the national average. And about 9.07 percent of the population in Charlotte is of retirement age -- 65 or older -- which trails the national average by 31.1 percent.

Sunny Days Per Year

Avg Temperature (°F)

Property Crime Index

Amenities Per Capita	Charlotte	"Nat'l Avg"
Parks	0.8	136.1
Libraries	2.7	18.8
Places of Worship	72.2	220.5
Public Transit	141	110.4
Grocery Stores	108.5	97.7
Pharmacies	14.1	13.8

Percent of Population Over Age 65