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
Thoughtfully reimagined with a modern flair while preserving its timeless European essence, this French Provincial style estate is a true architectural masterpiece. Designed for today’s lifestyle, the 6,500-square-foot residence spans three stories, includes a three-car garage, and is beautifully nestled within the Peninsula, offering partial lake views and an exceptional location within walking distance to the yacht club, where you can easily access your boat or stop in for lunch. The thoughtfully designed layout features five spacious bedrooms, each with its own newly renovated ensuite bathroom, along with an exceptional collection of flexible living spaces. A private office, den, playroom, and expansive bonus areas easily adapt to work-from-home needs, multigenerational living, or recreation, while a custom bar and wine cellar add an elevated touch for entertaining and everyday enjoyment. The home has been enhanced with over $800,000 in upgrades, highlighted by a show-stopping chef’s kitchen with dual oversized islands, new Thermidor appliances and a built-in Wolf coffee bar, perfectly suited for both everyday living and grand-scale entertaining. Freshly painted in a crisp, modern white, the interiors feel light, elevated, and refined. Brazilian cherry hardwood floors, elegant travertine marble, and distinctive custom ceilings seamlessly blend classic European character with today’s clean aesthetic. The soaring 20-foot great room is anchored by a dramatic custom floor-to-ceiling marble fireplace, with custom drapery that will remain, creating an impressive yet inviting centerpiece. Extensive move-in-ready improvements include all-new bathrooms, new tankless water heaters, a new HVAC system, all new interior and exterior light fixtures, fresh exterior paint, and a new roof. The three-car garage has been upgraded with a sleek epoxy floor, adding both function and polish. The third level offers a generous billiards room that can effortlessly transition into a fitness studio or private theater, along with additional versatile space ideal for a game room, guest retreat, or nanny quarters. Outdoors, the private backyard retreat has been fully refreshed and reimagined with new landscaping, outdoor lighting, a new irrigation system, a new built-in grill, new outdoor fireplace, a refinished pool, new pool equipment, and new travertine surrounding the pool and spa. The covered deck and outdoor living area overlook this serene setting, creating a resort-style environment perfect for entertaining or unwinding in complete privacy. A rare opportunity to own a fully updated luxury estate, this exceptional home is truly turn-key and ready to be enjoyed from day one. More exterior photos will be uploaded next week.
| MLS#: | 4334828 |
| Price: | $2,999,000 |
| Square Footage: | 6496 |
| Bedrooms: | 5 |
| Bathrooms: | 6.1 |
| Acreage: | 0.55 |
| Year Built: | 2006 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Listing courtesy of: | Ivester Jackson Christie's - Cynthia@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
Thoughtfully reimagined with a modern flair while preserving its timeless European essence, this French Provincial style estate is a true architectural masterpiece. Designed for today’s lifestyle, the 6,500-square-foot residence spans three stories, includes a three-car garage, and is beautifully nestled within the Peninsula, offering partial lake views and an exceptional location within walking distance to the yacht club, where you can easily access your boat or stop in for lunch. The thoughtfully designed layout features five spacious bedrooms, each with its own newly renovated ensuite bathroom, along with an exceptional collection of flexible living spaces. A private office, den, playroom, and expansive bonus areas easily adapt to work-from-home needs, multigenerational living, or recreation, while a custom bar and wine cellar add an elevated touch for entertaining and everyday enjoyment. The home has been enhanced with over $800,000 in upgrades, highlighted by a show-stopping chef’s kitchen with dual oversized islands, new Thermidor appliances and a built-in Wolf coffee bar, perfectly suited for both everyday living and grand-scale entertaining. Freshly painted in a crisp, modern white, the interiors feel light, elevated, and refined. Brazilian cherry hardwood floors, elegant travertine marble, and distinctive custom ceilings seamlessly blend classic European character with today’s clean aesthetic. The soaring 20-foot great room is anchored by a dramatic custom floor-to-ceiling marble fireplace, with custom drapery that will remain, creating an impressive yet inviting centerpiece. Extensive move-in-ready improvements include all-new bathrooms, new tankless water heaters, a new HVAC system, all new interior and exterior light fixtures, fresh exterior paint, and a new roof. The three-car garage has been upgraded with a sleek epoxy floor, adding both function and polish. The third level offers a generous billiards room that can effortlessly transition into a fitness studio or private theater, along with additional versatile space ideal for a game room, guest retreat, or nanny quarters. Outdoors, the private backyard retreat has been fully refreshed and reimagined with new landscaping, outdoor lighting, a new irrigation system, a new built-in grill, new outdoor fireplace, a refinished pool, new pool equipment, and new travertine surrounding the pool and spa. The covered deck and outdoor living area overlook this serene setting, creating a resort-style environment perfect for entertaining or unwinding in complete privacy. A rare opportunity to own a fully updated luxury estate, this exceptional home is truly turn-key and ready to be enjoyed from day one. More exterior photos will be uploaded next week.
| MLS#: | 4334828 |
| Price: | $2,999,000 |
| Square Footage: | 6496 |
| Bedrooms: | 5 |
| Bathrooms: | 6.1 |
| Acreage: | 0.55 |
| Year Built: | 2006 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Listing courtesy of: | Ivester Jackson Christie's - Cynthia@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!
DANIELLE WASSER
704-604-2999
