Charlotte Regions Adds 135 People Per Day
By Erik Spanberg – Managing Editor, Charlotte Business Journal
Despite a 14% decline in net migration, the Charlotte region remained among the nation’s fastest-growing areas last year, according to new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.
Between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, the latest available data, net migration across the 16-county region totaled 49,324, compared to 57,300 a year earlier. The Charlotte region ranked first nationally in domestic migration, adding 30,358 people over the same period. That was up slightly year over year from 28,928.
Overall, Charlotte’s regional net migration was fourth highest in the U.S.
Charlotte’s migration pattern mirrored the nation’s as a whole with a steep decline in international migration. U.S. international migration plummeted 55% in 2025; Charlotte’s regional drop was 33%, to 18,966, or nearly 10,000 fewer people than the previous year.
The overall 14% decline still leaves the region with an average daily addition of 135 people per day, compared with 157 a year earlier. Migration data consists of people moving here or leaving. Unlike population statistics, births and deaths are not included.
Referring to the Charlotte area’s continuing rapid migration gains, Tracy Dodson, CLT Alliance’s chief operating officer, told CBJ, “It demonstrates the strength of our region. We’re still growing in the right places and trending in the right direction.”
Dodson touted solid job gains — a net of 17,000 in 2025 — and widespread growth across neighboring counties beyond Mecklenburg.
“We’re dispersed across the region,” she added. “All of our region is growing, which is a good sign for our economy.”
The Census Bureau defines the Charlotte metro area as an 11-county region. Using that definition, the region added 117 people per day, on average. That put the Charlotte metro area ahead of peer cities including Austin, Texas (102 per day); Atlanta (100); Raleigh (80); Nashville, Tennessee (72); Jacksonville, Florida (62); and Tampa, Florida (46).
Mecklenburg, as expected, recorded the highest net migration in the region last year, adding 18,278 people. Significant gains occurred in Iredell (5,533); Gaston (3,329); Catawba (3,308); Cabarrus (3,189); York (3,076); Union (3,015); and Lancaster (2,672).
Dodson said that CLT Alliance, the area’s largest economic development and advocacy organization, closely monitors migration and population data not only for recruiting but also to gauge housing, jobs and related infrastructure needs.
Charlotte as a region added 28,336 housing units in 2025 but still faces severe shortages of affordable housing. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg State of Housing Instability & Homelessness Report, published in February, half of renter households are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their monthly income on housing and utilities. Evictions, the report notes, “increased sharply” last year.
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