Charlotte is expected to grow leaps and bounds in the next 25 years

[Kristen Haynes]

The Charlotte area population is expected to soar by 50% by 2050. That growth is uneven

Chase JordanFri, January 24, 2025  

The ever-growing Charlotte region is home to 3 million people, but the population is projected to swell by more than 50% over the next 25 years, according to local researchers.

By 2050, some 4.6 million people will be living in Mecklenburg County and surrounding areas, the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance said in a report released Thursday. The growth of 1.6 million additional residents will require investments in infrastructure, housing and transportation, the organization added.

The numbers were provided by the group’s research team with data from the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management and the South Carolina Department of Revenue.

“Few regions can match our economy, professional opportunities, affordability, location, and quality of life,” researchers said in a statement.

Here are some of the highlights from findings.

Growth projections in the Charlotte region

Growth continues in Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg County is currently home to 1.2 million people. And more than 600,000 residents are projected to move to the county in the next 25 years — raising the total to 1.7 million by 2050.

Along with Mecklenburg, approximately 79% of the growth in the Charlotte region is expected to occur in the counties of York, S.C., (312,810 to 481,714 people), Union (269,572 to 481,612), and Iredell (212,583 to 335,056 ).

County growth in the Charlotte region.

A historic jump

In the last 25 years, more than 962,000 people moved to the Charlotte region.

And, as always, if you have any real estate investing questions, I'm here to help! I've been selling North and South Carolina real estate for 34 years- and I'm an Investor, too!