Austin 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.
| Austin, TX | Charlotte, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $570K | $443K |
| Median single-family | $600K | $485K |
| Median condo | $365K | $340K |
| Median $/sq ft | $316 | $249 |
| Median days on market | 47 | 46 |
| Avg sale-to-list | 97.7% | 99.0% |
| Sq ft for $1M (at median $/sq ft) | 3,160 | 4,020 |
| Californians who moved to the state (2024) | 77,161 | 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
Charlotte is the less expensive of the two at the median, about $443K versus $570K in Austin, roughly 22% less (Redfin, May 2026). $1 million covers roughly 4,020 square feet in Charlotte at the median price per square foot, versus about 3,160 in Austin. Homes have been selling at a similar pace, about 47 median days on market in Austin and 46 in Charlotte. Texas has no personal income tax. North Carolina has a 3.99% flat income tax (tax year 2026). In 2024 about 77,000 Californians moved to Texas and about 18,000 to North Carolina (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024).
Taxes
Austin: None on wages (Texas has no personal income tax). 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 Austin and moving from LA to Charlotte.
Common questions
Is Austin or Charlotte cheaper?
Charlotte had the lower median sale price, about $443K versus $570K in Austin (Redfin, May 2026), roughly 22% less at the median.
Which has lower state income tax, Austin or Charlotte?
Austin has the lower state income tax. Texas has no personal income tax. By comparison, North Carolina has a 3.99% flat income tax (tax year 2026). Rates change, so confirm with each state and a CPA.
What does $1 million buy in Austin vs Charlotte?
At the median price per square foot, $1 million works out to roughly 3,160 square feet in Austin and 4,020 in Charlotte, versus about 1,700 at the LA median. A rough illustration, not a listing.
