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
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20601 Island Forest Drive
Subdivision: Island Forest
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| Welcome to this exquisite Lake Norman waterfront retreat nestled in the heart of Cornelius. This luxurious 4-bed, 3.5-bath beauty, built in 2020, offers an unparalleled blend of modern design and serene lakefront living. As you enter, you're greeted with an open floor plan bathed in abundant natural light. The living, dining, kitchen and keeping rooms seamlessly make up the main living areas. Main-level primary suite boasts a spa-like bath and a private deck where you can soak in sunset views over the lake. Additional main-level amenities include a bar with a beverage fridge, drop zone, and laundry room. Upper level offers a versatile loft, 3 beds, 2 full baths, and a large flex/bonus room. Step outside to your own backyard oasis where a saltwater pool. Private stationary dock with a boat lift, level spacious yard with meticulous landscaping, 2 car attached garage, prime location. This home epitomizes luxury and tranquility, making it an incredible Lake Norman gem! |
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The data relating to real estate on this Web site derive in part from the Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc. IDX program. Brokers make an effort to deliver accurate information, but buyers should independently verify any information on which they will rely in a transaction. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither Danielle Edwards, REALTOR nor any listing broker shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, or misprints, and they shall be held totally harmless from any damages arising from reliance upon this data. This data is provided exclusively for consumer -- personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties they may be interested in purchasing. © 2025 Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc.
Data updated May 30, 2025. |
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:Â OR CREATE YOUR OWN CUSTOM SEARCH
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20601 Island Forest Drive
Subdivision: Island Forest
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Back to Property List | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Welcome to this exquisite Lake Norman waterfront retreat nestled in the heart of Cornelius. This luxurious 4-bed, 3.5-bath beauty, built in 2020, offers an unparalleled blend of modern design and serene lakefront living. As you enter, you're greeted with an open floor plan bathed in abundant natural light. The living, dining, kitchen and keeping rooms seamlessly make up the main living areas. Main-level primary suite boasts a spa-like bath and a private deck where you can soak in sunset views over the lake. Additional main-level amenities include a bar with a beverage fridge, drop zone, and laundry room. Upper level offers a versatile loft, 3 beds, 2 full baths, and a large flex/bonus room. Step outside to your own backyard oasis where a saltwater pool. Private stationary dock with a boat lift, level spacious yard with meticulous landscaping, 2 car attached garage, prime location. This home epitomizes luxury and tranquility, making it an incredible Lake Norman gem! |
Basic Information
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Contact An Agent: |
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The data relating to real estate on this Web site derive in part from the Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc. IDX program. Brokers make an effort to deliver accurate information, but buyers should independently verify any information on which they will rely in a transaction. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither Danielle Edwards, REALTOR nor any listing broker shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, or misprints, and they shall be held totally harmless from any damages arising from reliance upon this data. This data is provided exclusively for consumer -- personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties they may be interested in purchasing. © 2025 Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc.
Data updated May 30, 2025. |
Here are the details found on CORNELIUS and MATTHEWS.
CITYÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â RANKÂ Â Â Â AMENITIESÂ Â EDUCATIONÂ Â Â Â EMPLOYMENTÂ Â Â Â $LIVING CRIMEÂ Â 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
