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
Architecturally distinctive Mediterranean-inspired waterfront estate by renowned builder G.M. Helms, thoughtfully designed in collaboration with architect Christopher Phelps and celebrated interior designer Dina Lowery. Featured on the cover of Charlotte Magazine as an architectural wonder, this four-story residence is ideally positioned on Lake Norman’s main channel with west-facing exposure and captivating sunset views. Designed to be both grand and inviting, the home unfolds through a series of refined yet comfortable spaces. A dramatic three-story great room anchors the residence, showcasing soaring ceilings, a monumental limestone fireplace, and an expansive wall of lake-facing windows that flood the home with natural light. A striking four-story, self-supported circular staircase winds gracefully through all levels, serving as the home’s defining architectural focal point. The residence offers approximately 7,400 square feet of living space, including five bedrooms, eight baths, six fireplaces, a Brazilian cherry wood library, media room, billiards room, and an elevator serving the first three levels. Designed with entertaining in mind, the home features a chef’s kitchen on the main level and a full secondary kitchen on the lake level, along with multiple gathering and leisure spaces throughout. The fourth-floor sky lounge with bar provides elevated views of the lake and surrounding islands, creating a unique retreat for entertaining or quiet relaxation. Outdoor living is equally impressive, with three balconies, a Spanish-tiled lakeside gazebo, and a deep-water dock equipped with lifts for two jet skis, a double-decker pontoon, and pilings suitable for a 45-foot yacht. Lovingly maintained by only two owners since its 1997 construction, the home has been extensively updated, including renovated kitchens and baths, four HVAC systems, two tankless water heaters, enhanced audiovisual systems, exterior and interior repainting, and refreshed landscaping. A rare offering that seamlessly blends timeless Mediterranean design, thoughtful craftsmanship, and premier Lake Norman waterfront living.
| MLS#: | 4321515 |
| Price: | $5,000,000 |
| Square Footage: | 7360 |
| Bedrooms: | 5 |
| Bathrooms: | 6.2 |
| Acreage: | 0.43 |
| Year Built: | 1997 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Virtual Tour: | Click here |
| Listing courtesy of: | Premier Sotheby's International Realty - Marzia.mazzotti@premiersir.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
Architecturally distinctive Mediterranean-inspired waterfront estate by renowned builder G.M. Helms, thoughtfully designed in collaboration with architect Christopher Phelps and celebrated interior designer Dina Lowery. Featured on the cover of Charlotte Magazine as an architectural wonder, this four-story residence is ideally positioned on Lake Norman’s main channel with west-facing exposure and captivating sunset views. Designed to be both grand and inviting, the home unfolds through a series of refined yet comfortable spaces. A dramatic three-story great room anchors the residence, showcasing soaring ceilings, a monumental limestone fireplace, and an expansive wall of lake-facing windows that flood the home with natural light. A striking four-story, self-supported circular staircase winds gracefully through all levels, serving as the home’s defining architectural focal point. The residence offers approximately 7,400 square feet of living space, including five bedrooms, eight baths, six fireplaces, a Brazilian cherry wood library, media room, billiards room, and an elevator serving the first three levels. Designed with entertaining in mind, the home features a chef’s kitchen on the main level and a full secondary kitchen on the lake level, along with multiple gathering and leisure spaces throughout. The fourth-floor sky lounge with bar provides elevated views of the lake and surrounding islands, creating a unique retreat for entertaining or quiet relaxation. Outdoor living is equally impressive, with three balconies, a Spanish-tiled lakeside gazebo, and a deep-water dock equipped with lifts for two jet skis, a double-decker pontoon, and pilings suitable for a 45-foot yacht. Lovingly maintained by only two owners since its 1997 construction, the home has been extensively updated, including renovated kitchens and baths, four HVAC systems, two tankless water heaters, enhanced audiovisual systems, exterior and interior repainting, and refreshed landscaping. A rare offering that seamlessly blends timeless Mediterranean design, thoughtful craftsmanship, and premier Lake Norman waterfront living.
| MLS#: | 4321515 |
| Price: | $5,000,000 |
| Square Footage: | 7360 |
| Bedrooms: | 5 |
| Bathrooms: | 6.2 |
| Acreage: | 0.43 |
| Year Built: | 1997 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Virtual Tour: | Click here |
| Listing courtesy of: | Premier Sotheby's International Realty - Marzia.mazzotti@premiersir.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.
Look forward to answering any of your questions!
DANIELLE WASSER
704-604-2999
