Choosing the right Charlotte suburb
Having lived in the big cities, I moved to Charlotte in 2006. I have had the experience of being in various sections of Charlotte, and I can honestly say all are great. For those looking to move to the Charlotte area from another state, or a big city, I can assure you that you will find what you are looking for here in Charlotte. I found a recent study that covered the top 10 suburbs to live in. I wasn’t surprised that 2 of them are Charlotte suburbs. The suburb study is based on criteria including cost of living, education, and amenities. At the top of the list is Westerville, OH, a suburb of Columbus, OH. The rest of the list is comprised of cities in states including Texas, California, North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Tennessee:
1. Westerville, OH
2. Plano, TX
3. Georgetown, TX
4. Round Rock, TX
5. Cedar Park, TX
6. Cupertino, CA
7. Matthews, NC
8. Cornelius, NC
9. Newton, MA
10. Germantown, TN
The study is based off the top 75 suburbs connected to the largest 20 cities in the U.S.
- Amenities (shopping, dining, entertainment, etc.)
- Cost of living (percent above or below national average)
- Crime (percent above or below national average)
- Education (student to teacher ratio compared to national average)
- Employment (income and unemployment compared to national average)
From sources including the U.S. Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics—we were able to see how each city did in the individual criteria (on a scale of 1 to 75, with 1 being best) and also on average to give them an overall score.
DETAILS ON MATTHEWS and CORNELIUS
#7. Matthews, NC

Source: Wikipedia user Jon Platek
The first of two North Carolina suburbs (of Charlotte, NC) the top 10, Matthews, population 27,198, isn’t as safe as the cities we’ve talked about thus far. With 2,952 crimes per 100,000 residents, its crime rate is only 6.6 percent below the national average.
Thankfully for its residents, the city did better in other areas. One of them is cost of living, where it is 3.3 percent below the national average (and only .2 percent above the average for the rest of North Carolina). Median household income is also quite high at $70,742, which is 35.2 percent higher than the national average.
VIEW LISTINGS NOW IN MATTHEWS OR CREATE YOUR OWN CUSTOM SEARCH
Timeless craftsmanship defines this exceptional Arthur Rutenberg custom estate, where resort-style living meets sophisticated everyday comfort in prestigious Stevens Grove. Tucked away on a private 0.89-acre cul-de-sac lot, this remarkable residence offers approximately 4,640 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 2 half baths, a spacious three-car garage, and an extraordinary collection of luxury upgrades thoughtfully completed since 2020. Every detail has been carefully curated to create a home that feels as impressive hosting unforgettable gatherings as it does enjoying quiet evenings surrounded by comfort and privacy. Designed for effortless entertaining and everyday living, the heart of the home is a stunning chef's kitchen featuring a professional Wolf range, oversized island, custom finishes, designer hardware, and seamless flow into the spacious great room anchored by a striking marble fireplace. A beautifully designed centralized entertaining bar serves as the home's social centerpiece, creating the perfect place for family and friends to gather while the open floor plan connects every living space with ease. The luxurious main-level primary suite offers a peaceful retreat with Hunter Douglas custom window treatments and a beautifully renovated spa-inspired bath featuring refined finishes and designer details. Thoughtfully designed as a private sanctuary, it provides the perfect place to begin and end each day in comfort and style. Upstairs, three generously sized bedrooms, each with its own private full bathroom, offer exceptional comfort and privacy for family and guests. An expansive recreation room provides a versatile extension of the home's living space, creating the perfect setting for movie nights, game days, family gatherings, or a private retreat. Step outside and discover a backyard that rivals a private resort. Professionally designed landscaping surrounds expansive outdoor living spaces featuring an extended patio, private hot tub, lush lawn, permanent Govee architectural lighting, landscape uplighting, multiple entertainment areas, and three oversized premium outdoor fans. Whether hosting guests beneath the evening lights or enjoying a quiet morning overlooking the private backyard, every outdoor space has been designed to elevate everyday living. Behind the beauty is an extraordinary level of investment rarely found in resale homes. A professionally engineered whole-home entertainment system with premium speakers, a dedicated AV room, and extensive smart-home technology is complemented by a private irrigation well, expanded irrigation system, Pentair whole-home water filtration, reverse osmosis system, tankless water heater, encapsulated crawl space with dehumidifier, and numerous additional infrastructure improvements that provide exceptional comfort, efficiency, and lasting peace of mind. Located within one of Matthews' most desirable luxury communities, this is far more than an exceptional home. It is a private retreat where timeless craftsmanship, refined design, and resort-inspired amenities come together to create an extraordinary lifestyle rarely found in today's market. Every improvement has been thoughtfully selected to enhance comfort, efficiency, functionality, and long-term value. Welcome home to 1115 Shelton Oaks Court.
| MLS#: | 4407717 |
| Price: | $2,445,000 |
| Square Footage: | 4625 |
| Bedrooms: | 4 |
| Bathrooms: | 4.2 |
| Acreage: | 0.89 |
| Year Built: | 2020 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Virtual Tour: | Click here |
| Listing courtesy of: | Coldwell Banker Realty - joe.higgins@cbrealty.com |
Contact An Agent:
8. Cornelius, NC

Source: City of Cornelius, NC
With 24,866 residents, the second suburb of Charlotte to earn a spot in our top 10, Cornelius, is about on par with the national average in terms of crime; 314 crimes per 10,000 residents annually. Property crime in the city, however, is slightly higher than the national average.
Cornelius is the first city we’ve detailed where the cost of living is actually higher than the average than the rest of the country (by 2.5 percent). Its median household income of $81,532 is 55.8 percent higher than the American average and 85.3 percent more than the average for North Carolina. In terms of education, its class sizes are double the national average; it has a 32-to-1 student-teacher ratio compared to 16-to-1 for the U.S. average.
Cornelius, also has the drawn of Lake Norman. A beautiful lake, boasting million dollar lake homes, condos, and restaurants.
VIEW LISTINGS NOW IN CORNELIUS: OR CREATE YOUR OWN CUSTOM SEARCH
Timeless craftsmanship defines this exceptional Arthur Rutenberg custom estate, where resort-style living meets sophisticated everyday comfort in prestigious Stevens Grove. Tucked away on a private 0.89-acre cul-de-sac lot, this remarkable residence offers approximately 4,640 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 2 half baths, a spacious three-car garage, and an extraordinary collection of luxury upgrades thoughtfully completed since 2020. Every detail has been carefully curated to create a home that feels as impressive hosting unforgettable gatherings as it does enjoying quiet evenings surrounded by comfort and privacy. Designed for effortless entertaining and everyday living, the heart of the home is a stunning chef's kitchen featuring a professional Wolf range, oversized island, custom finishes, designer hardware, and seamless flow into the spacious great room anchored by a striking marble fireplace. A beautifully designed centralized entertaining bar serves as the home's social centerpiece, creating the perfect place for family and friends to gather while the open floor plan connects every living space with ease. The luxurious main-level primary suite offers a peaceful retreat with Hunter Douglas custom window treatments and a beautifully renovated spa-inspired bath featuring refined finishes and designer details. Thoughtfully designed as a private sanctuary, it provides the perfect place to begin and end each day in comfort and style. Upstairs, three generously sized bedrooms, each with its own private full bathroom, offer exceptional comfort and privacy for family and guests. An expansive recreation room provides a versatile extension of the home's living space, creating the perfect setting for movie nights, game days, family gatherings, or a private retreat. Step outside and discover a backyard that rivals a private resort. Professionally designed landscaping surrounds expansive outdoor living spaces featuring an extended patio, private hot tub, lush lawn, permanent Govee architectural lighting, landscape uplighting, multiple entertainment areas, and three oversized premium outdoor fans. Whether hosting guests beneath the evening lights or enjoying a quiet morning overlooking the private backyard, every outdoor space has been designed to elevate everyday living. Behind the beauty is an extraordinary level of investment rarely found in resale homes. A professionally engineered whole-home entertainment system with premium speakers, a dedicated AV room, and extensive smart-home technology is complemented by a private irrigation well, expanded irrigation system, Pentair whole-home water filtration, reverse osmosis system, tankless water heater, encapsulated crawl space with dehumidifier, and numerous additional infrastructure improvements that provide exceptional comfort, efficiency, and lasting peace of mind. Located within one of Matthews' most desirable luxury communities, this is far more than an exceptional home. It is a private retreat where timeless craftsmanship, refined design, and resort-inspired amenities come together to create an extraordinary lifestyle rarely found in today's market. Every improvement has been thoughtfully selected to enhance comfort, efficiency, functionality, and long-term value. Welcome home to 1115 Shelton Oaks Court.
| MLS#: | 4407717 |
| Price: | $2,445,000 |
| Square Footage: | 4625 |
| Bedrooms: | 4 |
| Bathrooms: | 4.2 |
| Acreage: | 0.89 |
| Year Built: | 2020 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Virtual Tour: | Click here |
| Listing courtesy of: | Coldwell Banker Realty - joe.higgins@cbrealty.com |
Contact An Agent:
Here are the details found on CORNELIUS and MATTHEWS.
CITY RANK AMENITIES EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT $LIVING CRIME RANK
If you would like to search homes in the Cornelius or Matthews area please visit www.daniellewasser.com for
my easy to use Real Estate search in the Charlotte area, and Charlotte suburbs.
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