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
Some homes impress in photos. This one has to be experienced. Tucked into a quiet cul-de-sac in South Charlotte just minutes from downtown Matthews, this custom-built residence feels worlds away—surrounded by mature trees, overlooking a flat backyard with surrounding green space, and filled with architectural details rarely found. Step inside and the reason becomes immediately clear. A dramatic 30-foot cedar tongue-and-groove ceiling soars above the main living space, while a two-story wall of windows frames the wooded setting and fills the home with natural light. At its center, a striking river rock fireplace with solid timber mantel gives this grand space unexpected warmth and character. The newly remodeled kitchen is equally memorable, with an oversized island, handcrafted Moroccan Zellige tile, designer lighting, and an open connection to the breakfast area and keeping room. From here, step onto the screened porch and take in one of this property's greatest luxuries: privacy. The large, flat and usable backyard offers exceptional space to entertain, play, garden, or simply enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings. The main-level primary suite provides privacy and convenience, while upstairs you'll find three spacious ensuite bedrooms, a dedicated study area, bonus room, and second laundry room. But the home doesn't stop there. The finished walk-out lower level—with 10-foot ceilings and its own exterior access—creates nearly an entire second living space. A guest suite, kitchenette, fireplace, surround-sound media area, fitness room, office/additional bedroom, and flexible entertaining space make it ideal for extended family, long-term guests, an au pair, or simply an incredible place to gather. With six bedrooms, three finished levels and nearly 5,800 square feet, the home offers remarkable flexibility without sacrificing warmth or privacy. All-brick construction, 10-foot main-level ceilings, multiple fireplaces and thoughtfully updated interiors add to its timeless appeal. And the location is difficult to replicate: close to charming downtown Matthews, Arboretum, SouthPark, Uptown Charlotte, highly regarded public and private schools nearby (walking distance to Providence High School), shopping and dining—yet tucked into a private wooded setting in Mecklenburg County. 1514 Elmsford Lane isn't a home that can be fully understood from a floor plan or photographs. The soaring architecture, natural light, peaceful setting and scale of the backyard reveal themselves when you walk through the door. Come experience what the photos can't capture.
| MLS#: | 4371432 |
| Price: | $2,175,000 |
| Square Footage: | 5818 |
| Bedrooms: | 6 |
| Bathrooms: | 4.1 |
| Acreage: | 0.42 |
| Year Built: | 2004 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Listing courtesy of: | Dickens Mitchener & Associates Inc - ashleyaskew@dickensmitchener.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
Some homes impress in photos. This one has to be experienced. Tucked into a quiet cul-de-sac in South Charlotte just minutes from downtown Matthews, this custom-built residence feels worlds away—surrounded by mature trees, overlooking a flat backyard with surrounding green space, and filled with architectural details rarely found. Step inside and the reason becomes immediately clear. A dramatic 30-foot cedar tongue-and-groove ceiling soars above the main living space, while a two-story wall of windows frames the wooded setting and fills the home with natural light. At its center, a striking river rock fireplace with solid timber mantel gives this grand space unexpected warmth and character. The newly remodeled kitchen is equally memorable, with an oversized island, handcrafted Moroccan Zellige tile, designer lighting, and an open connection to the breakfast area and keeping room. From here, step onto the screened porch and take in one of this property's greatest luxuries: privacy. The large, flat and usable backyard offers exceptional space to entertain, play, garden, or simply enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings. The main-level primary suite provides privacy and convenience, while upstairs you'll find three spacious ensuite bedrooms, a dedicated study area, bonus room, and second laundry room. But the home doesn't stop there. The finished walk-out lower level—with 10-foot ceilings and its own exterior access—creates nearly an entire second living space. A guest suite, kitchenette, fireplace, surround-sound media area, fitness room, office/additional bedroom, and flexible entertaining space make it ideal for extended family, long-term guests, an au pair, or simply an incredible place to gather. With six bedrooms, three finished levels and nearly 5,800 square feet, the home offers remarkable flexibility without sacrificing warmth or privacy. All-brick construction, 10-foot main-level ceilings, multiple fireplaces and thoughtfully updated interiors add to its timeless appeal. And the location is difficult to replicate: close to charming downtown Matthews, Arboretum, SouthPark, Uptown Charlotte, highly regarded public and private schools nearby (walking distance to Providence High School), shopping and dining—yet tucked into a private wooded setting in Mecklenburg County. 1514 Elmsford Lane isn't a home that can be fully understood from a floor plan or photographs. The soaring architecture, natural light, peaceful setting and scale of the backyard reveal themselves when you walk through the door. Come experience what the photos can't capture.
| MLS#: | 4371432 |
| Price: | $2,175,000 |
| Square Footage: | 5818 |
| Bedrooms: | 6 |
| Bathrooms: | 4.1 |
| Acreage: | 0.42 |
| Year Built: | 2004 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Listing courtesy of: | Dickens Mitchener & Associates Inc - ashleyaskew@dickensmitchener.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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