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
Welcome to an extraordinary Mediterranean-inspired waterfront estate where timeless architecture meets luxury lakefront living. Perfectly positioned to capture breathtaking sunset views across the water, this exceptional residence offers nearly 9,800 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space with every detail curated for comfort, entertaining, and everyday elegance. A grand two-story foyer with custom iron doors and Brazilian cherry staircase sets the tone for the home's impressive interior. The expansive great room showcases soaring ceilings, a dramatic wall of windows framing panoramic lake views, and seamless access to outdoor living spaces. The gourmet chef's kitchen is appointed with rare Labrador Blue granite countertops, premium Thermador and GE appliances, a spacious island, warming drawer, and inviting gathering spaces designed for hosting family and friends. The adjoining bar features a stunning backlit onyx countertop, creating a true showpiece for entertaining. The luxurious main-level primary suite is a private retreat with tranquil water views, a fireplace, private deck access, a spa-inspired bath, and an oversized custom walk-in closet. An elevator provides convenient access to all three levels of the home. Two stunning staircases lead to the second floor, where you'll find a beautiful executive office overlooking the water, a private secondary office ideal for working from home, and three spacious bedrooms, each featuring its own private en-suite bath. A versatile flex space tucked off the rear staircase provides the perfect setting for a media room, children's playroom, or additional lounge area, offering flexibility to fit your lifestyle. Designed for both relaxation and recreation, the walk-out lower level offers an impressive second living area complete with a second kitchen, wine cellar and tasting room, theater, fitness room, guest suite, and direct access to the patio and waterfront. Whether hosting large gatherings or enjoying quiet evenings at home, every space embraces the beauty of lakeside living. Outside, enjoy beautifully landscaped grounds, expansive decks and covered patios, a private boardwalk leading to a floating dock with boat lift, accommodations for multiple jet skis, and Wi-Fi extending all the way to the dock. Additional highlights include four HVAC systems, a tile roof, three garages, circular drive with fountain, security system, and whole-home EERO mesh Wi-Fi coverage. This one-of-a-kind Lake Norman waterfront estate delivers an unparalleled lifestyle where luxury, craftsmanship, and spectacular waterfront views come together to create an unforgettable place to call home.
| MLS#: | 4408389 |
| Price: | $3,900,000 |
| Square Footage: | 9724 |
| Bedrooms: | 5 |
| Bathrooms: | 6.1 |
| Acreage: | 0.62 |
| Year Built: | 2005 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Virtual Tour: | Click here |
| Listing courtesy of: | EXP Realty LLC Ballantyne - 704-529-9150 |
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
Welcome to an extraordinary Mediterranean-inspired waterfront estate where timeless architecture meets luxury lakefront living. Perfectly positioned to capture breathtaking sunset views across the water, this exceptional residence offers nearly 9,800 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space with every detail curated for comfort, entertaining, and everyday elegance. A grand two-story foyer with custom iron doors and Brazilian cherry staircase sets the tone for the home's impressive interior. The expansive great room showcases soaring ceilings, a dramatic wall of windows framing panoramic lake views, and seamless access to outdoor living spaces. The gourmet chef's kitchen is appointed with rare Labrador Blue granite countertops, premium Thermador and GE appliances, a spacious island, warming drawer, and inviting gathering spaces designed for hosting family and friends. The adjoining bar features a stunning backlit onyx countertop, creating a true showpiece for entertaining. The luxurious main-level primary suite is a private retreat with tranquil water views, a fireplace, private deck access, a spa-inspired bath, and an oversized custom walk-in closet. An elevator provides convenient access to all three levels of the home. Two stunning staircases lead to the second floor, where you'll find a beautiful executive office overlooking the water, a private secondary office ideal for working from home, and three spacious bedrooms, each featuring its own private en-suite bath. A versatile flex space tucked off the rear staircase provides the perfect setting for a media room, children's playroom, or additional lounge area, offering flexibility to fit your lifestyle. Designed for both relaxation and recreation, the walk-out lower level offers an impressive second living area complete with a second kitchen, wine cellar and tasting room, theater, fitness room, guest suite, and direct access to the patio and waterfront. Whether hosting large gatherings or enjoying quiet evenings at home, every space embraces the beauty of lakeside living. Outside, enjoy beautifully landscaped grounds, expansive decks and covered patios, a private boardwalk leading to a floating dock with boat lift, accommodations for multiple jet skis, and Wi-Fi extending all the way to the dock. Additional highlights include four HVAC systems, a tile roof, three garages, circular drive with fountain, security system, and whole-home EERO mesh Wi-Fi coverage. This one-of-a-kind Lake Norman waterfront estate delivers an unparalleled lifestyle where luxury, craftsmanship, and spectacular waterfront views come together to create an unforgettable place to call home.
| MLS#: | 4408389 |
| Price: | $3,900,000 |
| Square Footage: | 9724 |
| Bedrooms: | 5 |
| Bathrooms: | 6.1 |
| Acreage: | 0.62 |
| Year Built: | 2005 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Virtual Tour: | Click here |
| Listing courtesy of: | EXP Realty LLC Ballantyne - 704-529-9150 |
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
