County profile · North Carolina
Mecklenburg County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Mecklenburg County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 1,233,383
- +10.5% since 2020
- Households
- 466,527
- Median household income
- $87,005
- +30.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $406,800
- Jobs located here
- 829,972
- Highest market score
- 86
- HVAC and plumbing, #21 of 1,707 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Mecklenburg County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Mecklenburg County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 1,233,383 people live in Mecklenburg County, in 466,527 households. Population estimates show Mecklenburg County grew 10.5% from 2020 to 2025, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Mecklenburg County is $87,005 a year, 8% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 30.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Mecklenburg County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 117, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on vehicle maintenance and repairs (91).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Mecklenburg County are for HVAC and plumbing companies (86), convenience stores (85) and landscaping and lawn care companies (80). Mecklenburg County ranks #21 of 1,707 scored counties for HVAC and plumbing companies.
Mecklenburg County is part of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metro area. For its number of households, Mecklenburg County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for mortgage brokers and lenders (2.6 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for laundromats (44% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Mecklenburg County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Mecklenburg County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC and plumbing | 86 | #21 of 1,707 | 241 | 5.2 | $6.3M | 132 | 300 |
| Convenience stores | 85 | #91 of 2,261 | 332 | 7.1 | $9.1M | 115 | 87 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 80 | #77 of 1,493 | 230 | 4.9 | $3.3M | 114 | 392 |
| Electricians | 79 | #56 of 1,160 | 106 | 2.3 | $14.3M | 119 | 277 |
| Gas stations | 79 | #167 of 2,358 | 355 | 7.6 | $3.5M | 148 | 271 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 77 | #250 of 2,402 | 795 | 17.0 | $3.8M | 112 | 311 |
| Home repair trades | 76 | #93 of 2,057 | 571 | 12.2 | $2.6M | 109 | 674 |
| Veterinarians | 76 | #161 of 1,485 | 179 | 3.8 | $2.7M | 98 | 123 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 75 | #121 of 1,461 | 158 | 3.4 | $3M | 119 | 114 |
| Pet businesses | 74 | #180 of 2,200 | 489 | 10.5 | $977K | 111 | 285 |
| Laundromats | 72 | #134 of 785 | 43 | 0.9 | $23M | 184 | 50 |
| Pizza | 71 | #276 of 2,090 | 328 | 7.0 | $6.1M | 119 | 998 |
| Pet stores | 70 | #170 of 974 | 96 | 2.1 | $5M | 110 | 48 |
| Funeral homes | 70 | #235 of 1,472 | 58 | 1.2 | $816K | 120 | 32 |
| Pest control | 68 | #116 of 699 | 83 | 1.8 | $9.3M | 91 | 68 |
| Child care and preschools | 68 | #317 of 1,611 | 253 | 5.4 | $1.1M | 105 | 305 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 66 | #305 of 1,327 | 121 | 2.6 | $3.3M | 109 | 88 |
| Grocery stores | 66 | #527 of 2,070 | 329 | 7.1 | $9.1M | 98 | 224 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 64 | #74 of 325 | 27 | 0.6 | $21.4M | 87 | 25 |
| Roofing and gutters | 63 | #311 of 1,177 | 224 | 4.8 | $6.7M | 80 | 97 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 62 | #439 of 1,771 | 502 | 10.8 | $1.5M | 91 | 854 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 62 | #545 of 2,063 | 493 | 10.6 | $4M | 109 | 319 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 62 | #664 of 2,222 | 677 | 14.5 | $2.9M | 96 | 998 |
| Home inspectors | 58 | #134 of 415 | 36 | 0.8 | Index only | 82 | 35 |
| Auto repair shops | 58 | #818 of 2,378 | 927 | 19.9 | $437K | 98 | 365 |
| Auto repair and car care | 57 | #896 of 2,401 | 1,569 | 33.6 | $258K | 96 | 568 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 56 | #537 of 1,302 | 219 | 4.7 | $2.6M | 84 | 81 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 55 | #210 of 479 | 36 | 0.8 | $11.3M | 82 | 33 |
| Tire shops | 55 | #653 of 1,530 | 194 | 4.2 | $2.1M | 83 | 73 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 55 | #752 of 1,889 | 513 | 11.0 | $3.9M | 93 | 357 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 52 | #1,110 of 2,405 | 5,623 | 120.5 | $353K | 95 | 2,460 |
| Physical therapy | 51 | #701 of 1,422 | 311 | 6.7 | $1.9M | 77 | 181 |
| Car washes and detailing | 51 | #709 of 1,451 | 186 | 4.0 | $2.2M | 86 | 82 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 50 | #1,191 of 2,405 | 3,171 | 68.0 | $626K | 94 | 1,131 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 48 | #740 of 1,334 | 263 | 5.6 | $1.6M | 81 | 190 |
| Chiropractors | 48 | #820 of 1,490 | 309 | 6.6 | $1.9M | 78 | 177 |
| Insurance agencies | 48 | #1,201 of 2,272 | 874 | 18.7 | $1.2M | 97 | 585 |
| Gyms | 47 | #1,034 of 1,792 | 448 | 9.6 | $954K | 73 | 250 |
| House cleaning | 46 | #507 of 847 | 189 | 4.1 | $4.1M | 64 | 394 |
| Nail salons | 46 | #820 of 1,328 | 412 | 8.8 | $1.1M | 68 | 124 |
| Barbershops | 45 | #843 of 1,356 | 356 | 7.6 | $1.3M | 70 | 47 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 45 | #1,233 of 2,087 | 1,079 | 23.1 | $917K | 72 | 535 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 44 | #1,358 of 2,210 | 1,458 | 31.3 | $679K | 77 | 666 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 43 | #1,407 of 2,088 | 875 | 18.8 | $488K | 74 | 440 |
| Property management | 41 | #612 of 910 | 211 | 4.5 | Index only | 66 | 419 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 40 | #1,163 of 1,656 | 564 | 12.1 | $1M | 58 | 858 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 39 | #578 of 777 | 164 | 3.5 | $2.6M | 64 | 250 |
| Dry cleaners | 38 | #376 of 507 | 113 | 2.4 | $8.8M | 56 | 81 |
| Hair salons | 38 | #1,758 of 2,339 | 1,823 | 39.1 | $256K | 60 | 443 |
| Spas and skin care | 37 | #1,381 of 1,769 | 914 | 19.6 | $511K | 58 | 191 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 37 | #1,891 of 2,385 | 3,604 | 77.3 | $130K | 61 | 817 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 36 | #1,832 of 2,176 | 2,386 | 51.1 | Index only | 59 | 1,449 |
| Real estate | 36 | #1,856 of 2,229 | 3,161 | 67.8 | Index only | 56 | 2,278 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 35 | #1,500 of 1,886 | 755 | 16.2 | $765K | 78 | 577 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 35 | #1,914 of 2,394 | 6,291 | 134.8 | $92K | 60 | 1,899 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 33 | #746 of 887 | 528 | 11.3 | Index only | 37 | 189 |
Household spending in Mecklenburg County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $405.1M | $868 | 91 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $1.3B | $2,692 | 104 |
| Food away from home | $2B | $4,258 | 105 |
| Groceries | $3B | $6,449 | 102 |
| Personal care products and services | $467.1M | $1,001 | 100 |
| Child care and other personal services | $266.7M | $572 | 98 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $427.4M | $916 | 93 |
| Medical and dental services | $577.7M | $1,238 | 96 |
| Pets | $477.9M | $1,024 | 113 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $989.3M | $2,121 | 103 |
| Vehicle insurance | $1.1B | $2,289 | 117 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $1.5B | $3,239 | 107 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $769.2M | $1,649 | 117 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $7.7B | $16,554 | 99 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Mecklenburg County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 1,233,383+10.5% since 2020
- Households
- 466,527
- Median age
- 36.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 55%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 524 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 2,205
- Median household income
- $87,005+30.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $128,768
- Median home value
- $406,800
- Jobs located here
- 829,972
- Daytime population
- 1,424,612Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Mecklenburg County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Mecklenburg County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
- Cabarrus County, NC236,133 people
- Union County, NC250,958 people
- Gaston County, NC234,881 people
- Lincoln County, NC92,716 people
- Rowan County, NC149,875 people
- Stanly County, NC64,651 people
- Iredell County, NC196,544 people
- Cleveland County, NC100,991 people
Questions
How fast is Mecklenburg County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Mecklenburg County at 1,233,383 people in 2025, up 10.5% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 466,527 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 30.6%, before inflation.
How much do households in Mecklenburg County, NC spend?
Households in Mecklenburg County spend about $7.7B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $3B on groceries and $2B on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Mecklenburg County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 117, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (91).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Mecklenburg County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Mecklenburg County, HVAC and plumbing companies (86), convenience stores (85) and landscaping and lawn care companies (80) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For HVAC and plumbing companies, that ranks #21 of 1,707 scored counties.
How does Mecklenburg County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Mecklenburg County is $87,005, 8% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 10.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $406,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for mortgage brokers and lenders (2.6 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for laundromats (44% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in Mecklenburg County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Mecklenburg County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in North Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Mecklenburg County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Mecklenburg County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.