City assessment
How smart is Charlotte?
Charlotte scores 64.7% against the ISO 37120-series aligned smart city framework in 2026, ranked #174 of 386 by smart reach and #199 on the evidence alone, with every finding traceable to a public source.
Each criterion counts in full where the evidence shows it present, half where partial and nothing where absent, weighted by its category. 12 of 86 are not yet assessed and count as nothing until a finding is made either way. Last assessed 24 Oct 2026.
Smart reach rank
#174 / 386
Smart score
64.7%
Evidenced rank
#199 / 387
Criteria present
41 / 86
Evidence coverage
81.4%
Charlotte's smart city score by area
7 present · 6 partial · 0 absent · 2 not yet assessed
5 present · 5 partial · 2 absent
7 present · 4 partial · 0 absent · 2 not yet assessed
0 present · 6 partial · 0 absent · 5 not yet assessed
10 present · 2 partial · 1 absent
6 present · 1 partial · 1 absent
6 present · 5 partial · 0 absent · 3 not yet assessed
Where Charlotte is strong
- ▸Air Quality & Monitoring
- ▸Health & Digital Health
- ▸Education & Digital Skills
- ▸Culture, Tourism & Recreation
- ▸Food Security & Urban Agriculture
Where the evidence shows gaps
- ▸Public Transport & Real-Time Information · 1 absent, 2 partial
- ▸Inclusion & Civic Participation · 1 absent, 1 partial
- ▸Housing & Urban Planning · 3 partial
- ▸Active & Shared Mobility · 1 absent, 1 partial
- ▸Innovation & Economic Development · 1 absent, 1 partial
Not yet assessed
12 of 86 criteria have no finding yet, either way. They count as nothing in the score until one is made, and they are not gaps.
- Solid Waste & Circular Economy3 of 4
- Water & Sanitation2 of 4
- Climate Adaptation & Heat1 of 3
- Connectivity & ICT Infrastructure1 of 4
- Critical Infrastructure Resilience1 of 3
- Digital Government Services1 of 4
- Energy & Smart Grid1 of 4
- Governance & Smart-City Operating Model1 of 4
- Green Space & Biodiversity1 of 3
Evidence highlights
Active & Shared Mobility · Pedestrianisation / low-traffic areas
Charlotte has an award-winning 'Charlotte WALKS pedestrian plan' and is designated as a Silver-level Walk Friendly Community due to its commitment to improving the pedestrian experience.
https://www.walkfriendly.org/communities/charlotte-nc/Air Quality & Monitoring · Clean air / low-emission zone
The Mecklenburg County Air Quality division manages 'emission reduction programs' as part of its efforts to improve air quality across the region.
https://airquality.mecknc.gov/Energy & Smart Grid · Renewable energy share / targets
Charlotte Water has opened a new solar energy facility, indicating local renewable energy generation.
https://www.smartcitiesworld.net/news/charlotte-water-opens-new-solar-energy-facility-12006Health & Digital Health · Healthcare provision data
Atrium Health provides healthcare services at over 1,400 care locations and 40 hospitals across multiple states, including North Carolina, and offers a 'Find a Doctor' service, indicating extensive healthcare provision and access.
https://www.atriumhealth.org/About this assessment
Charlotte was assessed against the 86 criteria of the ISO 37120-series aligned smart city framework on 24 Oct 2026 by AI agents gathering evidence from official public sources. Each criterion is marked present, partial or absent, or left not yet assessed, and every finding links to where it was found. Cities are re-assessed in runs, not continuously: the latest finished on 24 Oct 2026.