While some college freshmen are required or simply choose to live on campus, a vast majority of students decide to live off-campus. At the University of Carolina at Charlotte alone, nearly 75% of students live off-campus. Here are eight Charlotte neighborhoods that are perfect for college students, whether you’re attending the University of North Carolina, Queens University, or Central Piedmont Community College.
University City
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s main campus sits on 1,000 wooded acres, about 10 miles from Uptown Charlotte (the center of the city). University City is the neighborhood that immediately surrounds UNCC, with mini-hoods of its own, including University City South, University City North, and University Place. It really comes down to the road you live on and its access to campus. The four roads with apartment communities that border the university are East W.T. Harris Boulevard, North Tryon Street, Mallard Creek Church Road, and University City Boulevard. If you plan on doing a lot of tailgating, look for an apartment near Jerry Richardson Stadium on Tryon Street. On football Saturdays the stadium is packed with green-, white-, and gold-clad fans.
Adjacent from campus, The Shoppes at University Place (Tryon St and Harris Blvd) is the University area’s hot spot, with a Boardwalk, restaurants like Ninety’s Sandwiches & Ice Cream, and plenty of shopping. The area is still being developed with the addition of a 20.5-acre mixed-use walkable lakefront community called Waters Edge at University Place on the east side of J.W. Clay Boulevard. On the other side of campus, a new entertainment district is being developed around a future Top Golf location off University City Boulevard and Ikea Drive, at the I-85 interchange, right by the LYNX Blue Line light rail extension. The Lynx light rail extension has three stops in the area, following North Tryon from the UNC campus to Uptown, making access to Center City faster than ever.
Students can get some exercise in the great outdoors by hiking the pine-shaded trails and paths of nearby Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve. The area is also home to more than 20 regional offices for Fortune 500 companies, so there are lots of nine to fivers earning a living at University Executive Park, University Research Park, and Innovation Park.
College Downs / Harris-Houston
Running along the east side of the UNC Charlotte Campus, University City Boulevard has apartment communities, shopping, grocery stores, some international restaurants, and a handy dandy college bookstore. If you plan on spending a lot of time studying, this may be your best bet as this side of campus is closer to the library. If you plan on living that Greek life and joining one of UNCC’s 10+ sororities and fraternities, you might want to find a place on John Kirk Drive, near UNC Charlotte’s Greek Village.
Just a bit northeast of the UNC Charlotte campus along Interstate 485, the Harris-Houston area is home to many apartment complexes, as well as the PNC Music Pavilion, an outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts May-Oct.
Mallard Creek – Withrow Downs
Located just north of the UNC Charlotte campus, Mallard Creek – Withrow Downs surrounds the intersection of Interstate 85 and the I-485 beltway. You’ll find a lot of apartment communities off of Mallard Creek Road and West Mallard Creek Church Road. Stock up on “two-buck Chuck” at Trader Joe’s, housed in a small shopping center off of West Mallard Creek Church Road. Charlotte Motor Speedway (home of the Coca-Cola 600) sits to the east of the Mallard Creek – Withrow Downs neighborhood, and Clark’s Creek Greenway, a 7-mile trail, sits to the west.
North Davidson (NoDa)
Named for the neighborhood’s main street, North Davidson, NoDa is known as Charlotte’s historic arts and entertainment district. Eclectic and playful, this artsy neighborhood’s murals, breweries, music joints, inventive restaurants, and offbeat retailers make up the fact that it’s a little farther away from the UNC Charlotte campus. Former mill factories have been revitalized into galleries and snazzy lofts. The Bohemian-chic, colorful North Charlotte borough is very walkable, giving way to monthly gallery crawls. UNC Charlotte is a seven-mile drive up North Tyron Street, or you can take the Lynx light-rail extension from the 36th Street stop, which will get you to UNCC in about 30 minutes. Uptown is also just a LYNX Blue Line light rail ride away.
Uptown/Center City
The heart of Queen City, Uptown confuses newcomers because it is basically Charlotte’s downtown. Adding to the confusion, the city’s center is often referred to as “Center City.” Uptown’s grid-like design is divided into four wards spreading from the intersection of Trade and Tryon streets. This sociable, smart, and energetic area is where you want to be if you picture skyscrapers outside your windows. As you might imagine, living in the business, shopping, and entertainment center will cost you. Uptown has the best nightlife in the city and is home to some of the area’s best restaurants, and is also Charlotte’s pro-sports mecca. The NFL’s Carolina Panthers play home games at Bank of America Stadium in Uptown’s Third Ward neighborhood, while the Hornets play their NBA games at Spectrum Center.
Uptown is also home to museums, including the Mint Museum and Discovery Place; as well as 7th Street Public Market, which houses local shops, bars, bakeries, and counter-service eateries. Overstreet Mall is a network of skywalks that connect many of Uptown’s buildings, so you can still do some serious shopping and dining when the weather sucks. The neighborhood’s rooftop patios and taverns are flooded with people who work in the area during happy hour. UNCC is about 20 minutes away by car, or you can hop on the new Lynx light rail extension to campus.
Elizabeth
Thinking of attending community college? This upscale neighborhood is home to Central Piedmont Community College’s Central Campus and is just a stone’s throw away from Uptown. While Elizabeth has a somewhat higher cost of living than the rest of Charlotte, it also has a much lower crime rate. This welcoming enclave is known for its laid back historic charm. Willow oaks line the streets of cozy two-bedroom bungalows and adorable Craftsman-style homes.
Besides being a nucleus for hospitals, churches, and higher education, there are also a bunch of locally owned businesses and funky retailers. Here, you can find the best Cajun food, a stripped-down listening room, and one of the city’s top bars for going out, The Crunkleton. You can also get some fresh air at the 19-acre Independence Park. A modern-day CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar provides a direct link to the heart of Uptown Charlotte.
Dilworth
Dilworth is for the more mature, perhaps grad school students, who may be after a more peaceful scene. The stylish, picturesque hood neighboring Myers Park is home to the small, private university of Queens University of Charlotte. Dilworth is one of Charlotte’s oldest neighborhoods and was its first streetcar suburb, with roots dating back to the 1890s. Therefore, a large portion of the neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Although Mac’s Speed Shop isn’t quite considered a historic place (yet), the 15-year-old Dilworth BBQ joint has quickly become a local favorite. The neighborhood’s centuries-old streets are pedestrian-friendly and super walkable (for an otherwise car-dependent city), often hosting block parties, festivals, and yard sales. Runners will appreciate the easy access to Freedom Park, and commuters will have easy access to Uptown via the LYNX Blue Line.
The South End
This historic neighborhood in the heart of the Queen City has become vibrant, youthful, and trendy. It’s a little more upscale as far as Charlotte neighborhoods go, but you’ll find the amenities and conveniences worth the extra rent. This district’s craft beer, culinary, and cultural scenes make it one of the best neighborhoods in Charlotte. For those of age, it’s got the biggest collection of breweries in the city (nine to be exact), plus food trucks, and fun fests. Head to South Boulevard for the best Asian cuisine in town. Again, you’re just a short LYNX Blue Line light rail ride to Uptown, and it’s just 10 minutes by car to Queens University of Charlotte or 20 minutes to UNCC.
Choosing your neighborhood in Charlotte is just one of the many adult decisions you can make now that you’re a college student. Search thousands of apartments on Zumper and get ready for a great school year!
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