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.
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Its captivating Cape Cod–inspired elevation sets the tone for this exceptional waterfront residence, where classic architectural character meets one of The Peninsula’s most desirable settings. Positioned with the golf course to the front and Lake Norman to the rear, the property offers extraordinary expansive water views from nearly every room. The sellers are offering the rights to their Full Golf Membership at the Peninsula Club. In a market where memberships are in ultra-high demand, this is your "fast track" to the club lifestyle. Upon membership approval and payment of initiation fees, you can bypass the waitlist and begin enjoying the championship course, tennis, and club amenities immediately! Thoughtfully designed to embrace both sides of its setting, the home creates a seamless connection between refined interiors, resort-style outdoor living and life on the lake. Inside, abundant natural light and extensive windows keep the waterfront ever present. The kitchen opens to the main living and dining spaces, while a dramatic great room with vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and fireplace overlooks the lake. A custom office with fireplace provides a distinguished private workspace, and additional fireplaces throughout the home add warmth and architectural character. The primary suite enjoys sweeping water views, while an elevator provides convenient access between levels. Savant home automation integrates technology throughout the residence. The lower level is designed for entertaining, anchored by a sophisticated full bar, billiards and recreation spaces and a temperature-controlled wine room. Large expanses of glass continue the lake views and provide direct access to the pool and outdoor living areas. Outside, the property becomes a private waterfront retreat. A heated saltwater pool and spa with waterfall feature are surrounded by stone terraces, mature landscaping and multiple gathering areas. A lakeside fire pit offers another setting for evenings overlooking the water. Thoughtful amenities include an outdoor pool shower, convenient access to a pool bath and exterior access to a dedicated lake and pool storage room. Beyond the lawn, the private dock extends the lifestyle directly onto Lake Norman with two boat lifts—one rated for 40,000 pounds and a second rated for 5,000 pounds—along with space to relax at the water's edge. With a three-car garage, extensive outdoor living, sophisticated entertaining spaces and a remarkable position between golf and water, this residence delivers the elements that define The Peninsula lifestyle: boating from your backyard, golf just beyond the front of the home and Lake Norman as the backdrop to everyday living.
| MLS#: | 4415965 |
| Price: | $9,950,000 |
| Square Footage: | 9248 |
| Bedrooms: | 5 |
| Bathrooms: | 7.2 |
| Acreage: | 0.66 |
| Year Built: | 2008 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Listing courtesy of: | Ivester Jackson Christie's - lori@ivesterjackson.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
Its captivating Cape Cod–inspired elevation sets the tone for this exceptional waterfront residence, where classic architectural character meets one of The Peninsula’s most desirable settings. Positioned with the golf course to the front and Lake Norman to the rear, the property offers extraordinary expansive water views from nearly every room. The sellers are offering the rights to their Full Golf Membership at the Peninsula Club. In a market where memberships are in ultra-high demand, this is your "fast track" to the club lifestyle. Upon membership approval and payment of initiation fees, you can bypass the waitlist and begin enjoying the championship course, tennis, and club amenities immediately! Thoughtfully designed to embrace both sides of its setting, the home creates a seamless connection between refined interiors, resort-style outdoor living and life on the lake. Inside, abundant natural light and extensive windows keep the waterfront ever present. The kitchen opens to the main living and dining spaces, while a dramatic great room with vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and fireplace overlooks the lake. A custom office with fireplace provides a distinguished private workspace, and additional fireplaces throughout the home add warmth and architectural character. The primary suite enjoys sweeping water views, while an elevator provides convenient access between levels. Savant home automation integrates technology throughout the residence. The lower level is designed for entertaining, anchored by a sophisticated full bar, billiards and recreation spaces and a temperature-controlled wine room. Large expanses of glass continue the lake views and provide direct access to the pool and outdoor living areas. Outside, the property becomes a private waterfront retreat. A heated saltwater pool and spa with waterfall feature are surrounded by stone terraces, mature landscaping and multiple gathering areas. A lakeside fire pit offers another setting for evenings overlooking the water. Thoughtful amenities include an outdoor pool shower, convenient access to a pool bath and exterior access to a dedicated lake and pool storage room. Beyond the lawn, the private dock extends the lifestyle directly onto Lake Norman with two boat lifts—one rated for 40,000 pounds and a second rated for 5,000 pounds—along with space to relax at the water's edge. With a three-car garage, extensive outdoor living, sophisticated entertaining spaces and a remarkable position between golf and water, this residence delivers the elements that define The Peninsula lifestyle: boating from your backyard, golf just beyond the front of the home and Lake Norman as the backdrop to everyday living.
| MLS#: | 4415965 |
| Price: | $9,950,000 |
| Square Footage: | 9248 |
| Bedrooms: | 5 |
| Bathrooms: | 7.2 |
| Acreage: | 0.66 |
| Year Built: | 2008 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Listing courtesy of: | Ivester Jackson Christie's - lori@ivesterjackson.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!
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