Home 1: The starter
Monroe, NC
Low $400s as filmed
The starter: Monroe, NC. A brand-new DR Horton home at Secrest Commons, priced in the low $400s when we filmed. Proof that new construction near Charlotte is still within reach.
Coming soon.
Long Island to Charlotte: What the Move Really Looks Like
Twenty years ago I traded Long Island for the Carolinas. Here are the real numbers, the honest trade-offs, and the five homes from Caravan, all in one place.
Get my Long Island to Charlotte game plan
Or call or text Brian at 704-677-9191
Brian McCarron, Home Grown Property Group
Why I'm the guy to talk to
I grew up in Franklin Square, right in the middle of Nassau County. About twenty years ago I made the same move you're thinking about, and I never looked back.
The taxes were lower and the house was bigger, sure. But what actually changed my life was the pace. People here are kinder, the commute is shorter, and life stopped feeling like a grind. It's where I met my wife, where we're raising our kids, and where I found out I could help other families make the same jump.
So when you ask me what it's really like down here, you're getting an answer from someone who sat exactly where you're sitting.
You won't be the only one
Long Island to Charlotte is one of the most well-worn moves on the East Coast. In the most recent year of IRS migration data, 973 Long Island households (1,784 people) moved to the Greater Charlotte region, bringing about $81 million in income with them.
See where Long Islanders are moving, with our free Migration Explorer (opens in a new tab)Source: IRS Statistics of Income county-to-county migration data, 2022 to 2023.
What your money does here
Suffolk County, NY$760,000, about 1,750 sq ft (est.)
Waxhaw, NC$745,900, 3,287 sq ft
Nassau County, NY
$911,000 median, about 1,650 sq ft (est.)
Suffolk County, NY
$760,000 median, about 1,750 sq ft (est.)
Indian Land, SC
$565,000 median, 2,688 sq ft
Fort Mill and Tega Cay, SC
$604,250 median, 2,700 sq ft
Rock Hill, SC
$360,000 median, 1,800 sq ft
Ballantyne (Charlotte), NC
$740,000 median, 2,861 sq ft
Waxhaw, NC
$745,900 median, 3,287 sq ft
| Area | Median single-family sale price | Typical home size |
|---|---|---|
| Nassau County, NY | $911,000 | about 1,650 sq ft (est.) |
| Suffolk County, NY | $760,000 | about 1,750 sq ft (est.) |
| Indian Land, SC | $565,000 | 2,688 sq ft |
| Fort Mill and Tega Cay, SC | $604,250 | 2,700 sq ft |
| Rock Hill, SC | $360,000 | 1,800 sq ft |
| Ballantyne (Charlotte), NC | $740,000 | 2,861 sq ft |
| Waxhaw, NC | $745,900 | 3,287 sq ft |
In plain English: the typical Suffolk home is about 1,750 square feet. For roughly the same money in Waxhaw, the typical home is nearly twice that size. Price per square foot in our core areas runs about $200 to $280. On Long Island it runs $420 to $530.
Sources: Long Island figures, OneKey MLS single-family medians, August 2026. Charlotte-area figures, HGPG analysis of MLS closed single-family sales, 12 months through September 2026. Long Island price per square foot, Redfin, August 2026. Long Island home sizes are estimated by dividing Redfin's median sale price by its median price per square foot (August 2026, all home types), so treat them as a ballpark.
The tax bill you'll notice first
- Long Island median property tax bill
- $10,000+
- York County, SC median owner-occupied bill
- about$1,740
On Long Island, the median property tax bill tops $10,000 a year. In York County, SC (Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Rock Hill), the median owner-occupied bill is about $1,740.
That gap is mostly because South Carolina taxes a primary residence on 4% of its value instead of 6%. You have to file for it once with the county, and we'll walk you through it at closing.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024. Nassau median is reported as $10,000 or more because the survey caps the figure at that level. Bills vary by town, school district and exemptions. Talk to your tax advisor about your own situation.
NC side or SC side?
The Charlotte area sits right on the state line, so one of your first decisions is which side.
South Carolina side: Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Indian Land, Rock Hill, Lancaster. Lower property taxes on a primary home, lots of newer construction, and a quick drive into south Charlotte.
North Carolina side: Ballantyne, Waxhaw, Weddington, Marvin, plus the city neighborhoods like SouthPark, Myers Park and Dilworth. Closer to many Charlotte jobs and more established neighborhoods.
Income taxes, car taxes and school assignments work differently in each state, and those details depend on your situation. That's exactly what we sort out on the first call, before you ever book a flight.
The Caravan homes
This fall I'm taking you inside five homes, at five price points, from Monroe to Lake Wylie. Each one shows up here as its episode airs.
Ask about homes like this one
Home 2: The sweet spot
Rock Hill, SC
High $600s as filmed
The sweet spot: Rock Hill, SC. Eastwood Homes at Waterford Commons, about 3,000 square feet in the high $600s. Room to grow, with South Carolina property taxes.
Coming soon.
Home 3: The step up
Fort Mill, SC
Around $1.2 million as filmed
The step up: Fort Mill, SC. A full-brick 2024 Classica Homes build in Arden Mill, around $1.2 million. An established neighborhood with SC taxes and a quick drive into Ballantyne.
Listed by Anna Brittain, Real Broker
Coming soon.
Home 4: The custom build
Lancaster, SC
Around $1.5 million as filmed
The custom build: Lancaster, SC. A brand-new TK Construction home in Riverchase Estates, around $1.5 million, on the kind of lot you'd struggle to find anywhere on Long Island.
Listed by Daniel Tart, Costello Real Estate
Coming soon.
Home 5: The showstopper
Lake Wylie, NC
Around $3.6 million as filmed
The showstopper: Lake Wylie, NC. A waterfront estate on the Rosapenny peninsula, around $3.6 million. Lake life, about half an hour from uptown Charlotte.
Listed by Robert MacLeod, Boston MacLeod Realty
Coming soon.
Prices are as of filming in August 2026. Homes shown may no longer be available.
The honest trade-offs
You deserve the full picture, not a sales pitch.
- Summers are hot. July and August are humid. Most people say the shorter, milder winter more than makes up for it.
- It still snows sometimes. We got a real snowfall last winter. It's usually gone within a day or two.
- You'll drive more. Charlotte is a car town. There's light rail, but it won't replace the LIRR.
- The beach is a road trip. The coast is about three hours one way and the mountains about two hours the other.
- Home is a short flight. Charlotte's airport has direct flights to the New York airports, so visits back are easy.
How we make the move work from about 670 miles away
- Video tours of any home you're serious about, so your first trip down is for the finalists, not 20 showings.
- A short list of neighborhoods built around your budget, commute and the way you want to live.
- Help selling your Long Island home. We'll connect you with a Long Island agent we've vetted, then coordinate both sides so your sale and your purchase close on one timeline.
- One point of contact from your first question to the day you get the keys.
FAQ
Is it really cheaper to live in Charlotte than on Long Island?
For housing, yes, by a wide margin. The median single-family sale price in Nassau was $911,000 in August 2026, while median prices in our core Charlotte-area markets run from about $360,000 to $745,000, usually for a bigger home. Property tax bills are a fraction of what most Long Islanders pay.
Should I live in North Carolina or South Carolina?
It depends on where you'll work, your budget and how each state's taxes hit your situation. Many Long Islanders pick the SC side for property taxes and newer homes, and many pick the NC side to be closer to Charlotte jobs. We lay out both sides on the first call.
Can I buy a home in Charlotte before I sell on Long Island?
Often, yes. It depends on your financing. A local lender can tell you what's possible, and we can line up both sides of the move so the timing works.
How many trips will I need to make?
Most clients make one or two. We do the early touring by video so your trips are for the homes you're seriously considering.
Who is Brian McCarron?
Brian leads Home Grown Property Group, a real estate team based in Indian Land, SC, under Real Broker LLC. He moved from Long Island to the Carolinas about twenty years ago and appears in every episode of Caravan this season.
Get my Long Island to Charlotte game plan
Home Grown Property Group, 7612 Charlotte Highway, Indian Land, SC 29707. Real Broker LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity.