Atlanta vs Charlotte
Two markets on the list for people leaving LA. Here's how they stack up on price, pace and taxes, measured against what a typical LA home sells for.
| Atlanta, GA | Charlotte, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $415K | $443K |
| Median single-family | $480K | $485K |
| Median condo | $315K | $340K |
| Median $/sq ft | $284 | $249 |
| Median days on market | 48 | 46 |
| Avg sale-to-list | 98.1% | 99.0% |
| Sq ft for $1M (at median $/sq ft) | 3,520 | 4,020 |
| Californians who moved to the state (2024) | 14,052 | 18,428 |
Redfin Data Center, May 2026, all residential unless noted. Typical LA County zip for reference: $904K median, $588/sq ft, 44 median days on market. Mover counts: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024, estimates with margins of error.
The short version
Atlanta is the less expensive of the two at the median, about $415K versus $443K in Charlotte, roughly 6% less (Redfin, May 2026). Price per square foot points the other way: Charlotte runs about $249 per square foot against $284 in Atlanta, so the gap in median price says more about home size than about the cost of space. Homes have been selling at a similar pace, about 48 median days on market in Atlanta and 46 in Charlotte. Georgia has a 4.99% flat income tax (tax year 2026). North Carolina has a 3.99% flat income tax (tax year 2026). In 2024 about 14,000 Californians moved to Georgia and about 18,000 to North Carolina (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024).
Taxes
Atlanta: 4.99% flat rate (tax year 2026). Charlotte: 3.99% flat rate (tax year 2026), scheduled to step down further. Property tax, insurance and HOA costs vary by address in both places and can matter as much as income tax, so price them for any specific home.
Go deeper
Read the full guides: moving from LA to Atlanta and moving from LA to Charlotte.
Common questions
Is Atlanta or Charlotte cheaper?
Atlanta had the lower median sale price, about $415K versus $443K in Charlotte (Redfin, May 2026), roughly 6% less at the median.
Which has lower state income tax, Atlanta or Charlotte?
Charlotte has the lower state income tax. North Carolina has a 3.99% flat income tax (tax year 2026). By comparison, Georgia has a 4.99% flat income tax (tax year 2026). Rates change, so confirm with each state and a CPA.
What does $1 million buy in Atlanta vs Charlotte?
At the median price per square foot, $1 million works out to roughly 3,520 square feet in Atlanta and 4,020 in Charlotte, versus about 1,700 at the LA median. A rough illustration, not a listing.
