Huntersville
The Huntersville Town Hall
Huntersville is a suburb of Charlotte located in northern Mecklenburg County. Known historically as a rural/residential submarket, the town has grown substantially in recent years after investing in several commercial projects, attracting new residents and tourists alike. Downtown Huntersville is centered around Gilead Road. Here you can find the town hall, several small business storefronts/restaurants, and a newly constructed apartment building. There are several breweries around town and Discovery Place Kids attracts visitors from all over Charlotte. As you exit downtown the area gets progressively more rural. There are some neighborhoods tucked away along some of these backroads, but most of the land here is made up of family farms and forested areas. It’s no wonder Huntersville was rated one of the best places to live in North Carolina by Rocket Homes.
Location / Access / Proximity
Huntersville is located approximately 15 miles north of Uptown Charlotte and is one of the seven towns that make up the greater Charlotte metro area. Positioned on the northern outskirts of Charlotte, Huntersville consists of suburban development, residential neighborhoods, and rural farmland. The area has experienced significant growth over the past few decades and has seen a large influx of new residents who each contribute to the area's vibrant, unique culture.
The town is primarily accessible via two major highways, I-77 and I-485. I-77 is the town's primary thoroughfare to Uptown Charlotte and is thus a commuter-heavy highway. I-485 also sees a good amount of traffic and connects Huntersville to the Mountain Island and University City area. Both of these options make Huntersville attractive for residents who want a more suburban lifestyle while also benefiting from quick access to the city’s major employment hubs.
Huntersville is nestled near the neighboring towns of Cornelius and Davidson, completing the southern portion of the Lake Norman region. It also goes by the nickname “North Meck”. This area is renowned around Charlotte for its outdoor recreation, specifically water sports and fishing. Each town within the Lake Norman area offers a unique atmosphere, providing residents with endless options for shopping, restaurants, and outdoor recreation. It truly has something for everyone.
The Huntersville Story
Known originally as Craighead, the Huntersville area was initially settled by Scottish, Irish, and German immigrants in the mid-1700s. The area was dotted by many large plantations where residents grew corn, tobacco, and king cotton. The cotton industry was closely intertwined with the growth of Craighead, as the cash crop was often shipped to Charlotte to feed its growing textile factories. The sector only expanded further with the railroad's arrival in the mid-1800s. Residents eventually decided to incorporate the town as Huntersville in 1873, naming it after wealthy landowner Robert Boston Hunter. With the town’s incorporation and the railroad running through the heart of the community, businesses began moving to Huntersville. The most significant of these was the Virgin Manufacturing Company. The company brought in new jobs and allotted Huntersville a bit of freedom from the Charlotte textile industry.
More recently Huntersville has seen significant growth thanks to the expansion of Charlotte. Over the last 30-40 years those cotton fields have been replaced with parks, retail shopping malls, and residential subdivisions that tens of thousands of people enjoy each day, and the growth doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. New construction can be found around almost every corner with countless neighborhoods and other attractions planned to be delivered within the next few years. It’s no surprise that Huntersville is on pace to become one of the premier residential suburbs in Mecklenburg County.
Real Estate
As it has grown over the past few decades, Huntersville has developed an assorted real estate market. Commercial space is primarily located around Interstate 77, Sam Furr Road (NC-73), Gilead Road, and Statesville Road (US-21). Along these routes you can find everything from shopping centers and strip malls to hospitals and restaurants. You can also access the countless residential subdivisions via these routes which become more prevalent the further you move from the Interstate. The majority of existing homes in Huntersville were homes built in the late 1990s to the mid-2000s. This means they usually are two stories and include a garage for personal vehicles. Lot sizes vary but a majority have sizable yards for suburban families to enjoy. The periphery of Huntersville is made up of farmland, though this is under a close eye from builders as demand for the area rises.
As Huntersville has grown over the past decade its housing expense has followed suit. Today (2025) the Huntersville neighborhood has a wide range of price points depending on housing features/locations. Below is a table to further demonstrate the variability the neighborhood experienced during the 2024 calendar year.
| Bedrooms | Total Sales | Med. List Price | Med. Sales Price | Avg. Year Build | Med. Days on Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2 | 54 | $342,500 | $338,750 | 2000 | 59 |
| 3 | 331 | $435,000 | $432,500 | 2003 | 52 |
| 4 | 378 | $579,000 | $585,000 | 2008 | 55 |
| 5 | 239 | $699,950 | $700,000 | 2012 | 56 |
| 6 | 41 | $780,000 | $787,500 | 2013 | 76 |
| Totals | 1,043 | $550,000 | $545,000 | 2007 | 55 |
During the 2024 calendar year, the typical home sold in Huntersville was in the low $400k to high $500k range. It would have been a 3-4 bed home built in the early 2000s and spent about 55 days on the market (almost two months). This made up roughly 68% of all housing transactions last year. It appears there is not much room for negotiation in Huntersville as the typical transaction sells about 0.30% above the original asking price. Homes on average sold for $188 per square foot and the most expensive home sold for just shy of $1 million.
Huntersville’s housing expense has also grown over the years in the rental sector. Below is a table to show rental prices experienced during 2024.
| Bedrooms | Total Leases | Med. List Price | Med. Lease Price | Avg. Year Build | Med. Days on Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | $1,300 | $1,300 | 2021 | 32 |
| 2 | 27 | $1,850 | $1,850 | 2005 | 37 |
| 3 | 149 | $2,095 | $2,050 | 2002 | 28 |
| 4 | 93 | $2,450 | $2,445 | 2006 | 33 |
| 5 | 29 | $3,000 | $3,000 | 2007 | 28 |
| 6 | 3 | $3,400 | $3,500 | 2005 | 16 |
| Totals | 302 | $2,213 | $2,200 | 2004 | 30 |
According to Zillow, rent in Huntersville is 8% higher than in neighboring Charlotte and 5% higher than the national median. Rents have remained consistent from 2024-2025 though this varies by housing type. Today (2025) you can expect to rent a home in Huntersville for about $2,100-$2,200 per month.
Attractions
Huntersville Discovery Place
Though Huntersville has become primarily a residential suburb, it still has many unique attractions that bring in visitors. You can take a family day at Discovery Place Kids, catch a movie in Birkdale Village, or grab a drink at one of the many small breweries that dot the town (my personal favorite is Primal Brewing). Want to go shopping? Huntersville’s got you covered with several upscale shopping centers that have whatever you need in stock. The restaurant scene is also plentiful with options ranging from barbeque to Ethiopian to sushi. You can also see Lake Norman and the McDowell Creek Greenway for some time in the great outdoors. Below are some special mention places you should visit if you find yourself in Huntersville!
Primal Brewing
La Unica Mexican Huntersville
Other Neighborhood Info
Crime
Huntersville, like all neighborhoods, has crime though the town is considered very safe for visitors. If you want to learn more about the crime in Huntersville, check out our crime breakdown here.
Schools
The town of Huntersville is serviced by three high schools: North Mecklenburg, Hopewell, and Hough High School. All three of these schools surround Huntersville and are considered rivals. To learn more about these schools, check out our school summary articles here.
Overview
The town of Huntersville is a suburban, welcoming, established town with lots to offer new visitors. The expansion of I-77 as well as new housing development has caused the area to explode with new growth which looks to continue for the foreseeable future. Whether you’re looking to move in or maybe just want to check it out for yourself, plan a visit today! Huntersville awaits!
