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
Step through the front door and you immediately feel it—total privacy, panoramic water views, and a level of craftsmanship rarely seen on Lake Norman. Set on its own gated 3.04-acre island with approximately 1,250 feet of shoreline, Regatta Island offers a rare combination of scale, exclusivity, and turnkey luxury. Finished with wide-plank white oak flooring and a premium appliance package featuring Wolf appliances and a Sub-Zero refrigerator, the home blends refined design with top-tier performance. The double-island chef’s kitchen anchors the main living space, flowing seamlessly into expansive indoor and outdoor entertaining areas. Slide open the doors and transition instantly into resort-style living, where a saltwater pool and spa overlook the water, complemented by fire features and a covered lakeside pavilion designed for year-round enjoyment. A custom pool house and an exceptional private dock by Lancaster Custom Docks—complete with covered boat storage, multiple lifts, and jet ski platforms—create a true waterfront retreat. Whether enjoying the lake from your private shoreline or heading out for the evening, the property offers both seclusion and convenience—choose your vehicle from the 8-car garage or step onto your boat within seconds. Completed in July 2024 by King Farm Building Group, this fully furnished estate was designed for effortless indoor-outdoor living and elevated entertaining. Additional features include two Generac generators, two laundry rooms with Electrolux washers and dryers, a Savaria Eclipse elevator, six Daikin HVAC systems, three Navien tankless water heaters, and dual pump-out systems to the road. Architectural details include Windsor Pinnacle aluminum-clad windows, Charleston blend slate roofing, a custom Clark Hall iron entry door with rain-tempered glass, North Carolina quarried stone, multiple Isokern fireplace systems, and custom copper chimney shrouds. The motor court is finished with Belgard Lafitt Grana slab pavers and Belgian block accents. A truly rare opportunity to own a fully realized private island compound where every detail has been designed for an exceptional waterfront lifestyle. All showings by appointment with listing agent. Proof of funds required.
| MLS#: | 4364285 |
| Price: | $18,999,000 |
| Square Footage: | 11008 |
| Bedrooms: | 6 |
| Bathrooms: | 6.3 |
| Acreage: | 3.04 |
| Year Built: | 2024 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Listing courtesy of: | Ivester Jackson Christie's - tomb@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
Step through the front door and you immediately feel it—total privacy, panoramic water views, and a level of craftsmanship rarely seen on Lake Norman. Set on its own gated 3.04-acre island with approximately 1,250 feet of shoreline, Regatta Island offers a rare combination of scale, exclusivity, and turnkey luxury. Finished with wide-plank white oak flooring and a premium appliance package featuring Wolf appliances and a Sub-Zero refrigerator, the home blends refined design with top-tier performance. The double-island chef’s kitchen anchors the main living space, flowing seamlessly into expansive indoor and outdoor entertaining areas. Slide open the doors and transition instantly into resort-style living, where a saltwater pool and spa overlook the water, complemented by fire features and a covered lakeside pavilion designed for year-round enjoyment. A custom pool house and an exceptional private dock by Lancaster Custom Docks—complete with covered boat storage, multiple lifts, and jet ski platforms—create a true waterfront retreat. Whether enjoying the lake from your private shoreline or heading out for the evening, the property offers both seclusion and convenience—choose your vehicle from the 8-car garage or step onto your boat within seconds. Completed in July 2024 by King Farm Building Group, this fully furnished estate was designed for effortless indoor-outdoor living and elevated entertaining. Additional features include two Generac generators, two laundry rooms with Electrolux washers and dryers, a Savaria Eclipse elevator, six Daikin HVAC systems, three Navien tankless water heaters, and dual pump-out systems to the road. Architectural details include Windsor Pinnacle aluminum-clad windows, Charleston blend slate roofing, a custom Clark Hall iron entry door with rain-tempered glass, North Carolina quarried stone, multiple Isokern fireplace systems, and custom copper chimney shrouds. The motor court is finished with Belgard Lafitt Grana slab pavers and Belgian block accents. A truly rare opportunity to own a fully realized private island compound where every detail has been designed for an exceptional waterfront lifestyle. All showings by appointment with listing agent. Proof of funds required.
| MLS#: | 4364285 |
| Price: | $18,999,000 |
| Square Footage: | 11008 |
| Bedrooms: | 6 |
| Bathrooms: | 6.3 |
| Acreage: | 3.04 |
| Year Built: | 2024 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Listing courtesy of: | Ivester Jackson Christie's - tomb@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
