Updated May 2026 · Redfin
Charlotte vs Raleigh: real estate market, May 2026
A side-by-side housing-market snapshot for Charlotte, NC and Raleigh, NC for May 2026: Raleigh at a $424K median versus $443K in Charlotte, plus days on market and the buyer-vs-seller balance, straight from the Redfin Data Center.
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $443K ▲ +4.3% | $424K ▼ -3.6% |
| Days on market | 46 ▲ +4.5% | 32 ▼ -13.5% |
| Homes for sale | 4,006 ▲ +7.5% | 1,632 ▲ +1.8% |
| Sale-to-list | 99.0% • 0.0% | 98.9% ▲ +0.3% |
| Months of supply | 3.6 ▲ +12.5% | 3.1 ▼ -3.1% |
| Homes sold | 1,114 ▼ -4.0% | 525 ▲ +4.8% |
Figures from Redfin Data Center. Verify against your MLS before posting.
The verdict
As of May 2026, Raleigh is the more affordable of the two at a $424,029 median sale price, about 4% below Charlotte ($443,100). Raleigh is the faster-moving market, with homes going under contract in about 32 days versus 46 in Charlotte.
Which market fits your client?
For a buyer client, Charlotte offers a little more breathing room, with 3.6 months of supply against 3.1 in Raleigh, which usually means less bidding pressure. For a seller client, Raleigh is the tighter market, with a 98.9% sale-to-list ratio. On price momentum, Charlotte is appreciating faster (+4.3% vs -3.6% year over year).
How we compare these markets
We built LOKAL to pull Charlotte's and Raleigh's numbers straight from the Redfin Data Center, so an agent and a client compare like for like. For May 2026 we recorded a $424K median in Raleigh and a $443K median in Charlotte, against roughly $440K a year earlier in 2025. Redfin has published this market data monthly since 2020, which is what lets us show year-over-year change here in 2026. For complementary demographics on each metro — population, median household income — see the U.S. Census Bureau. LOKAL is independent and not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your MLS before you publish.
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LOKAL builds the finished carousel, story and square, with these Redfin figures already in place, for Charlotte or Raleigh.
Full Charlotte and Raleigh market updates
Frequently asked
- Is Charlotte or Raleigh more affordable?
- As of May 2026, Raleigh is the more affordable market at a $424,029 median sale price, about 4% below Charlotte ($443,100), per the Redfin Data Center.
- Which market moves faster, Charlotte or Raleigh?
- Raleigh moves faster: a typical listing goes under contract in about 32 days, versus 46 days in Charlotte (May 2026).
- Is Charlotte or Raleigh better for buyers right now?
- Charlotte gives buyers a little more room, with 3.6 months of supply versus 3.1 in Raleigh. More months of supply usually means less competition and more negotiating leverage for buyers.
- Where do these Charlotte and Raleigh numbers come from?
- Both metros draw on the Redfin Data Center, refreshed monthly. LOKAL turns the figures into a ready-to-post carousel, story and square for either city. LOKAL is not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your local MLS before quoting figures to clients.
More Charlotte comparisons
Data: Redfin · Redfin Data Center. Figures are metro-level snapshots, not valuations for a specific home.