Charlotte · School & Safety Data · 2026

Charlotte Neighborhoods Ranked by School Rating and Crime Grade

88+ Charlotte neighborhoods ranked side-by-side on school quality and safety — with median prices at every level.

By Chris Harris, REALTOR®  ·  June 2026  ·  8 min read

If you're moving to Charlotte and schools or safety matter to your family, this is the reference you need. We analyzed 88+ Charlotte-area neighborhoods using school quality data (rated 1–10) and crime grades (A+ through F), then ranked them so you can compare any neighborhood against the full metro at a glance.

How the grades work: School ratings (1–10) are based on district-level performance data from Niche 2026 and state report card sources, calibrated by neighborhood school zone. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) serves most of the city with significant variation by zone. South Charlotte zones and Union County borders score consistently higher. Crime grades (A+ through F) reflect relative crime rates within the Charlotte metro. Ratings updated June 2026.
What's in this guide
Elite Tier: 9–10 School RatingStrong Tier: 8 School RatingBest Value: Strong Schools Under $400,000Full Rankings Table (88+ Neighborhoods)Frequently Asked Questions

Elite Tier — School Rating 9–10

Charlotte has 29 neighborhoods that reach a school rating of 9 or 10 out of 10. These are the zones where public school performance is genuinely exceptional.

Ballantyne leads the Charlotte area rankings with a 10/10 school rating and A crime grade at a $463,000 median price. Myers Park is a strong alternative at 10/10 schools, A crime, and $1.2M median.

Ballantyne
Schools 10/10Crime A
Median $463,000
Myers Park
Schools 10/10Crime A
Median $1.2M
Highland Creek
Schools 9/10Crime A
Median $287,000
Touchstone Village
Schools 9/10Crime A
Median $380,000
Park Crossing
Schools 9/10Crime A
Median $397,000
Provincetowne
Schools 9/10Crime A
Median $427,000
Want to see which Charlotte neighborhoods match YOUR priorities?Take the 7-question quiz — we score all 88+ neighborhoods against your answers.
Take the Quiz →

Strong Tier — School Rating 8

A school rating of 8/10 is well above the national average. Charlotte has 18 neighborhoods in this tier. These are solid family zones where you get strong public schools without necessarily paying the top-tier premium.

Highlights in this tier: Raintree ($356,000, A crime), Harwood Lane ($261,000, A- crime), Steele Creek ($323,000, A- crime), Starmount ($333,000, A- crime), Collingwood ($373,000, A- crime).

Best Value — Strong Schools Under $400,000

These neighborhoods offer the best school rating and crime grade combination at or under $400,000 median price — the spots where what you pay is less than what you get in school quality and safety.

Top value pick: Highland Creek (9/10 schools, A crime, $287,000 median) — the best combined school and safety score under $400,000 in the Charlotte metro.
Highland Creek
Schools 9/10Crime A
Median $287,000
Touchstone Village
Schools 9/10Crime A
Median $380,000
Park Crossing
Schools 9/10Crime A
Median $397,000
Raintree
Schools 8/10Crime A
Median $356,000
Harwood Lane
Schools 8/10Crime A-
Median $261,000
Steele Creek
Schools 8/10Crime A-
Median $323,000
Starmount
Schools 8/10Crime A-
Median $333,000
Collingwood
Schools 8/10Crime A-
Median $373,000

Full Charlotte Neighborhood Rankings

Data methodology: School ratings based on Niche 2026 district rankings and state report card data, calibrated to neighborhood school zones. Districts covered: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), Union County Public Schools, Cabarrus County Schools. Crime grades based on reported crime statistics for the Charlotte metro. Sorted by school rating (highest first), then crime grade, then price.
NeighborhoodSchoolsCrimeMedian Price
Ballantyne10/10A$463,000
Myers Park10/10A$1.2M
Highland Creek9/10A$287,000
Touchstone Village9/10A$380,000
Park Crossing9/10A$397,000
Provincetowne9/10A$427,000
Stonehaven9/10A$435,000
Whiteoak9/10A$436,000
The Palisades9/10A$439,000
Wessex Square9/10A$493,000
Providence9/10A$531,000
Berkeley9/10A$535,000
Oxford Hunt9/10A$553,000
Governor's Square9/10A$554,000
Cameron Wood9/10A$560,000
Olde Providence South9/10A$638,000
Lansdowne9/10A$735,000
Hembstead9/10A$748,000
Piper Glen Estates9/10A$761,000
Olde Providence9/10A$780,000
Mountainbrook9/10A$819,000
Providence Park9/10A$838,000
Montibello9/10A$936,000
Foxcroft9/10A$1.2M
Eastover9/10A$1.4M
Chantilly9/10A-$670,000
Barclay Downs9/10A-$683,000
Freedom Park9/10A-$839,000
Wendover-Sedgewood9/10A-$1.0M
Raintree8/10A$356,000
Harwood Lane8/10A-$261,000
Steele Creek8/10A-$323,000
Starmount8/10A-$333,000
Collingwood8/10A-$373,000
Quail Hollow8/10A-$378,000
Madison Park8/10A-$389,000
Closeburn-Glenkirk8/10A-$406,000
Sardis Forest8/10A-$445,000
Ashbrook-Clawson Village8/10A-$488,000
Sharon Woods8/10A-$500,000
Carmel8/10A-$512,000
Cotswold8/10A-$629,000
Beverly Woods8/10A-$640,000
Sherwood Forest8/10A-$650,000
Commonwealth8/10B+$481,000
Elizabeth8/10B+$533,000
Dilworth8/10B+$644,000
Back Creek Church Road7/10A-$266,000
Prosperity Church Road7/10A-$274,000
Mountain Island7/10A-$346,000
Bradfield Farms7/10B+$263,000
Mallard Creek-Withrow Downs7/10B+$296,000
Sardis Woods7/10B+$297,000
Commonwealth Park7/10B+$311,000
Echo Hills7/10B+$343,000
Country Club Heights7/10B+$352,000
North Charlotte (NoDa)7/10B+$369,000
Cherry7/10B+$421,000
South End7/10B+$426,000
Wilmore7/10B+$450,000
Villa Heights7/10B+$474,000
Plaza Midwood7/10B+$599,000
Sedgefield7/10B+$622,000
Second Ward7/10B+$637,000
Westover Hills7/10B$262,000
First Ward7/10B$267,000
Fourth Ward7/10B$293,000
Third Ward7/10B$345,000
Wesley Heights7/10B$395,000
Colonial Village7/10B$452,000
East Forest6/10B$252,000
Yorkshire6/10B$259,000
Eagle Lake6/10B$260,000
Sheffield Park6/10B$265,000
Lockwood6/10B$310,000
Shamrock6/10B$315,000
Southside Park6/10B$318,000
Oakhurst6/10B$320,000
Optimist Park6/10B$321,000
Biddleville6/10B$330,000
Dixie-Berryhill6/10B$332,000
York Road (LoSo)6/10B$344,000
Seversville6/10B$388,000
Belmont6/10B$393,000
Grier Heights5/10B-$255,000
McCrorey Heights5/10B-$280,000
Brightwalk5/10B-$298,000
Smallwood5/10B-$299,000

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Charlotte neighborhood has the best schools?

The top-rated neighborhood in the Charlotte area is Ballantyne (10/10 schools, A crime, $463,000 median). A strong alternative is Myers Park (10/10 schools, A crime, $1.2M median).

What is the safest neighborhood in Charlotte?

The top-rated neighborhoods by crime grade in Charlotte include Eastover (A), Foxcroft (A), Myers Park (A), Montibello (A). Crime grades are relative to the Charlotte metro area.

Which Charlotte neighborhood has the best schools under $400,000?

For buyers under $400,000, Highland Creek (9/10 schools, A crime, $287,000 median) offers the best combined school and crime grade in the Charlotte metro.

Is a 7/10 school rating good in Charlotte?

Yes — a 7/10 school rating in Charlotte is above average for the metro and well above the national average. The difference between a 7 and a 9 is real, but a 7 is not a bad school by any reasonable measure. Many buyers find 7-rated neighborhoods represent the best value in the market.

Find Your Charlotte Neighborhood Match

Answer 7 questions about your lifestyle, budget, and priorities — we'll score every Charlotte neighborhood and show you your top 3 matches with school ratings, crime grades, and median prices.

Take the Free Quiz →