Charlotte ranked among most liveable cities in the world. See the full list

According to a new report, a North Carolina city is among the most liveable in the world, and it’s quickly moving up the rankings.

Charlotte shares the title of 50th most liveable city in the world with Indianapolis, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index. It’s also tied for the seventh-most liveable city in the U.S.

The Queen City was also among the biggest movers up the list, rising three spots from last year’s ranking. Other U.S. cities that moved up the list include Miami, Portland and Indianapolis, which each climbed three spots.

The EIU’s report joins a growing list of achievements for North Carolina’s largest city. Here’s what you need to know.

Is Charlotte a good place to live?

The liveability report comes just months after U.S. News placed Charlotte among the top 10 best places to live, The Charlotte Observer reported.

Earlier this year, WalletHub named Charlotte one of the happiest cities in the U.S., ranking it 52nd. And in November, U.S. News also listed Charlotte at No. 9 on its roundup of the best cities to retire.

Who is middle class in Charlotte?

A recent SmartAsset study found that in 2023, North Carolina households needed to earn between $47,198 and $141,608 to fall within the state’s middle-class range, the Observer reported. But in Charlotte, that range was notably higher – from $53,715 to $161,162 – making it the second-highest in the state, just behind Raleigh.

Meanwhile, some cities fell below the state average. In Greensboro, middle-class income ranged from $41,161 to $123,494, and in Winston-Salem, it was even lower at $39,455 to $118,378.

Most liveable cities in the US

According to the EIU, these are the most livable cities in the U.S., Newsweek reported:

1. Honolulu, Hawaii

2. Atlanta, Georgia

3. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

4. Seattle, Washington

5. Washington, D.C.

6. Portland, Oregon

7. Miami, Florida

8. Indianapolis, Indiana

9. Charlotte, North Carolina

Most liveable cities in the world

None of the most liveable cities in the world are located in the U.S., according to the EIU:

1. Copenhagen, Denmark

2. Vienna, Austria

3. Zurich, Switzerland

4. Melbourne, Australia

5. Geneva, Switzerland

6. Sydney, Australia

7. Osaka, Japan

8. Auckland, New Zealand

9. Adelaide, Australia

10. Vancouver, Canada

How did the EIU come up with its findings?

To find the most liveable cities in the world, the EIU gave each city a livability score based on 30 factors across five main categories:

• Stability

• Healthcare

• Culture and environment

• Education

• Infrastructure

Those factors were rated from “acceptable” to “intolerable” using both expert judgment for qualitative factors and data for quantitative factors. Scores were then weighted and combined into a final rating from 1 to 100, with 1 considered intolerable and 100 being ideal.

This story was originally published July 9, 2025 at 11:55 AM with the headline "Charlotte ranked among most liveable cities in the world. See the full list."

Evan Moore

The Charlotte Observer

Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.