Indian Trail Town Hall copy, 2019
Indian Trail’s story
165 years in pictures
Census counts: 154 in 1910, 39,997 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1971 on.
- 1861Indian Trail is settled
Indian TrailNC
A town of 44,303, settled in 1861. Public schools that outperform most of North Carolina.
Trash day: look up yours7 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Abbeynball · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
44,303
2025 Census estimate · +10.3% since 2020
Typical home
$411K
−2.6% in a year
Household income
$108K
median
Median age
36.2
years
Jobs based here
16,322
Balanced
TownGrade
B+
#31 of 286 in NC
Is Indian Trail a good place to live?
Indian Trail grades B+ overall, ranked 31st of 286 in North Carolina, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. Its schools rank ahead of 84% of North Carolina towns and it is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns. It also does better than most on incomes: the median household earns $108K. Its lowest everyday mark is in cost of living: the typical home is worth about $411K, 4.9 years of the Charlotte metro’s $83K median household income. Indian Trail’s median rent is $2,077 a month, above both the North Carolina town median ($1,084 a month) and the median of U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). The biggest park or preserve is Crooked Creek Park, at 141 acres.
What makes Indian Trail stand out
Where Indian Trail beats most towns.
Union County Public Schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Antioch Elementary | K–5 | 816 |
| Indian Trail Elementary | PK–5 | 633 |
| Shiloh Valley Elementary | 3–5 | 574 |
SchoolsA−
#3 of the 290 North Carolina towns we grade for schools
NCES · EDFacts.
32 measures vs. North Carolina
15 better16 too close to call1 worse
| Widest gap | Indian Trail | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 9.5% | 13.9% |
HealthA−
Healthier than 83% of U.S. towns
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
A growing town
Indian Trail has grown 32% since 2010
33,518 counted in 2010 and 39,997 in 2020; an estimated 44,303 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 10.3% since 2020, after 19.3% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Indian Trail grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Carolina), ordered by how far Indian Trail is from typical.
SchoolsA−Open →HealthNovant Health Matthews Medical Center 4.8 miles awayA−Open →Jobs & incomeA−Open →Cost of livingCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.9 of 20; 1.8% of households have no car; 0.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors6 miles of trails; 1% conserved landCOpen →History1 notable person born hereDOpen →Civic life3.5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market62 days on market–Open →Who lives here40% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 27 attractions →Bank of America Stadium and 17 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Indian Trail. Close and well known come first.
Big draw16 mi Stadium & arenaBank of America Stadium
17 mi Theme parkCarowinds
33 mi LakeLake Norman19 mi MuseumSullenberger Aviation Museum70K visitors a year
12 mi Stadium & arenaBojangles Coliseum12 mi TheatreOvens AuditoriumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Bank of America Stadium: HangingCurve, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Carowinds: Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lake Norman: Prince Grobhelm, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bojangles Coliseum: James Willamor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Indian Trail: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Indian Trail, and how to reach them.
PowerUnion Electric Membership13.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterUnion County Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn North Carolina you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person with same-day registration during the early voting period, or by mail (postmarked 25 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereUnion County Board of ElectionsUnion County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2019
ZIP codes28079, 28110, 2810428079 68% · 28110 20% · 28104 12%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Indian Trail.
Indian Trail has schools in the top 5% of North Carolina and trades workers with Charlotte and other neighbors.
SchoolsA−
For schools, Indian Trail earns an A−
Its A− ranks #3 of the 290 North Carolina towns we grade for schools.
Its public schools are run by the Union County Public Schools. Three of its 10 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
84%of NC districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Valley MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 909 | B |
| Sun Valley HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,272 | A− |
| Antioch ElementaryTop results in townGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 816 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduation
HealthA−
For health, Indian Trail earns an A−
11% of adults report frequent physical distress in Indian Trail. Indian Trail beats the North Carolina average on 15 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 31% of adults have high blood pressure in Indian Trail.
83%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Indian Trail | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 13% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 38% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 9.5% | 13% | 12% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 19% | 19% |
32 measures vs. North Carolina
15 better16 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Indian Trail | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 9.5% | 13.9% |
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 4.7% | 6.6% |
| Fewer adults treating high blood pressure | 73.2% | 76.7% |
Novant Health Matthews Medical Center
In Matthews · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
78th
percentile among NC towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
#113for trails in NC
| Indian Trail | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 1.2% | 3.4% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.2 | 0.4 |
1.2%
conserved · 174 of 14,657 acres
6.4 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Edna Love Park | 0.3 mi | 22 |
| 2. Crooked Creek Park | — | 141 |
| 3. Chestnut Square Park | 0.1 mi | 23 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade C
For cost of living, Indian Trail earns a C
The typical Indian Trail home is worth about $411,000, down 2.6% in a year, 24% above the North Carolina typical home. 78% of Indian Trail households own their home.
$411KZillow home value
Typical home value
Indian Trail$411K
North Carolina$332K
Market temperature
62
days on market
98.7%
sale-to-list price
−2.6%
value change, 1 year
73
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Indian Trail
Indian Trail has mild winters and warm summers. The July high in Indian Trail is 90°F.
2″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter33–55°
Spring48–73°
Summer67–89°
Fall50–73°
Nov 5
typical first frost
Mar 31
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Younger than North Carolina overall
People 65 and older are 9% of residents (17% statewide); children under 18 are 26% of residents (22% statewide). Indian Trail has grown 10% since 2020, to 44,303 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. Indian Trail’s median age is 36.2 years.
36.2median age · NC 39.1
| Indian Trail | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 9.4% | 18% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 26% | 22% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 40% | 29% | 29% |
| Median age | 36.2 years | 40.1 years | 40.5 years |
Indian TrailNorth CarolinaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school25%
Some college19%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s27%
Graduate14%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1.4 points. Across North Carolina, 51.1% of residents are women. Median age: women 36.3, men 36.0.
| Indian Trail | NC | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 13% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 13% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.6% | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12.7% | 13.4% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 16.3% | 12.8% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 14.8% | 12.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.2% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 6% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 3.4% | 6.9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6.4% | 9.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 24.6% | 24.8% | 26% |
| Some college | 18.5% | 19.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.3% | 10.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 26.7% | 22.2% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 13.5% | 13.5% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
About half of Indian Trail’s working residents commute to Charlotte
Indian Trail has about as many jobs (16,322) as working residents, but only 1,443 people both live and work here. Jobs based here grew from 8,887 in 2013 to 16,322.
Most working residents leave Indian Trail for work: only 8% work in town. Since 2013, Indian Trail has added 7,435 jobs, to 16,322 in 2023. The top destinations are Charlotte (45%), Monroe (8%) and Matthews (4%).
8%work in town
| Indian Trail | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $108,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 19% | 12% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 13% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Indian Trail8%
Charlotte45%
Monroe8%
Matthews4%
Concord2%
14 mi
median commute distance
16,322
jobs based in Indian Trail
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 32% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Indian Trail
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 60% of U.S. communities. Since 1980, 10 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Indian Trail.
60risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoes
10
paid flood claims since 1980
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Indian Trail
19pages on Indian Trail
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
4 within 15 miles of the center of Indian Trail
Charlotte Christian College and Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Charlotte7.9 mi$12,858 tuitionWingate UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Wingate13.1 mi$41,636 tuitionCentral Piedmont Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Charlotte14.4 mi$2,792 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Indian Trail residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.
About Indian Trail
Town in North Carolina, United States
Indian Trail is a town in Union County, North Carolina, United States. A southeastern suburb of Charlotte and part of the Charlotte metropolitan area, Indian Trail has grown rapidly in the 21st century due to its close proximity to Charlotte and its appeal as a residential community for commuters, going from 1,942 residents in 1990 to 39,997 in 2020.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1861
- Area
- 22 sq mi
- Elevation
- 715 ft
- ZIP code
- 28079
- Area code
- 704
Indian Trail’s neighbors
7 towns share a border with Indian Trail.
StallingsHemby BridgeMonroeWesley ChapelLake ParkWeddingtonFairviewIndian Trail
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NC rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Trail | #31 | B+ | C | — | A− | A− |
| Stallings | #14 | A− | C | A− | A− | A |
| Hemby Bridge | — | — | B− | — | A− | A |
| Monroe | #188 | C− | C+ | D | A− | C |
| Wesley Chapel | #47 | B+ | C− | — | A− | A |
| Lake Park | #50 | B | C− | — | A− | A− |
| Weddington | #21 | A− | D | — | A− | A+ |
| Fairview | #18 | A− | B | — | A− | B+ |
Hemby Bridge has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Indian Trail, Hemby Bridge, Wesley Chapel, Lake Park, Weddington and Fairview report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Indian Trail with a neighbor →
Questions about Indian Trail
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Indian Trail, NC a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Indian Trail grades B+ overall, better than 74% of U.S. towns and #31 of 286 in North Carolina. It grades A− for health and A− for schools.
Is Indian Trail, NC expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.