Those of us who live here may already know the secret, but apparently the rest of the country is starting to catch on.

Charlotte was recently named America’s most underrated city for 2026, and I must admit, I can understand why.

Charlotte has grown tremendously, but it still has something many larger cities have lost. You can enjoy major employers, professional sports, incredible restaurants, an international airport and plenty to do, while still finding established neighborhoods, tree-lined streets and communities that feel welcoming.

And then there is the location. We can be in the mountains in a couple of hours, spend the day at Lake Norman or Lake Wylie, or head to the coast for a weekend getaway.

What I think people sometimes overlook is that Charlotte is not just one type of city. SouthPark feels completely different from NoDa. Ballantyne is different from Plaza Midwood. Waxhaw, Matthews, Fort Mill and the surrounding communities each have their own personalities too.

That variety is part of what makes this area so appealing.

My takeaway: People may initially move to Charlotte for a job or an opportunity, but many stay because they discover how much this area has to offer. After watching Charlotte grow and change over the years, I still think one of its greatest strengths is that there really is a place here for just about every stage of life.

Maybe Charlotte has been underrated.

But I have a feeling that secret is getting harder to keep.