Charlotte renters are in for a big year: the Charlotte metro is anticipated to see one of the strongest apartment construction waves in the country in 2025. But the Queen City itself stands out even more — ranking as the second-busiest city nationwide for new apartments planned this year, just behind Austin, TX.
Nationwide, more than half a million new rentals are expected to open in 2025, with the South claiming the lion’s share. North Carolina stands out as a major player — ranking #4 in the nation for new apartments this year.
Here are more insights from RentCafe.com’s Apartment Construction report:
- The Charlotte metro is projected to add 16,995 new apartments — more than Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Wilmington, and Asheville combined. The metro ranks 6th nationwide, just behind Atlanta (by 517 units) and slightly ahead of Miami.
- This activity reflects a 12.4% year-over-year increase, bucking the slowdown seen in many other metros. By contrast, Raleigh is expected to see a 44% decline, while Wilmington is projected to be down about 29%.
- At the city level, Charlotte shines even brighter: with 12,365 new apartments, it ranks 2nd nationwide, behind only Austin (15,195 units).
- Altogether, North Carolina is expected to add 35,502 apartments in 2025, with nearly half concentrated in Charlotte.
