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 your private lakeside oasis in the gated community of Pointe Regatta, situated on a premium stretch of Lake Norman with wide, unobstructed water views. Designed for effortless lake living and entertaining, this exceptional waterfront property showcases a resort-style outdoor living experience – complete with a stunning pool, spa, firepit area, and a covered outdoor patio with gas fireplace. Surrounded by mature trees that provide natural privacy from neighbors, this home offers both exclusivity and convenience, along with access to community boat slips, including an HOA-assigned slip just a short walk away that transfers with the sale. Seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor living, the home is filled with natural light and thoughtfully positioned to capture lake views from nearly every room. The main living area features vaulted ceilings with wood beams, a gas log fireplace, and expansive windows. The open-concept kitchen is designed for both everyday living and entertaining, offering a large island with seating, built-in wine cooler and icemaker, and a spacious pantry. The luxurious primary suite on the main level is a true retreat, featuring a Bainultra therapeutic spa tub, floor-to-ceiling walk-in shower, dual vanities, and generous his-and-hers walk-in closets. Throughout the home, you’ll find turnkey, high-end finishes, built-in cabinetry, a mudroom, and a large laundry room with extensive storage. Upstairs, all bedrooms include en-suite baths with decorative tile, along with a Home Office featuring a private balcony with lake views as well as a large bonus/flex space above the three-car garage. The outdoor living and entertaining experience is unmatched: step outside to enjoy the pool, hot tub, and expansive deck overlooking the water, or launch a kayak or paddleboard from your own shoreline access. A full bathroom accessible from the exterior provides added convenience for pool and lake days, allowing guests to shower and refresh without entering the home. With approximately 200 feet of shoreline, a fenced back yard, and a fully conditioned, clean, and moisture-controlled crawlspace, this move-in ready property truly embodies modern luxury lake living. Enjoy the water, the views, and every season from the comfort of your own private retreat – Welcome Home!
| MLS#: | 4370865 |
| Price: | $3,300,000 |
| Square Footage: | 4246 |
| Bedrooms: | 4 |
| Bathrooms: | 5.1 |
| Acreage: | 0.69 |
| Year Built: | 2014 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Virtual Tour: | Click here |
| Listing courtesy of: | Keller Williams Lake Norman - susan@homecarolinas.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
Welcome to your private lakeside oasis in the gated community of Pointe Regatta, situated on a premium stretch of Lake Norman with wide, unobstructed water views. Designed for effortless lake living and entertaining, this exceptional waterfront property showcases a resort-style outdoor living experience – complete with a stunning pool, spa, firepit area, and a covered outdoor patio with gas fireplace. Surrounded by mature trees that provide natural privacy from neighbors, this home offers both exclusivity and convenience, along with access to community boat slips, including an HOA-assigned slip just a short walk away that transfers with the sale. Seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor living, the home is filled with natural light and thoughtfully positioned to capture lake views from nearly every room. The main living area features vaulted ceilings with wood beams, a gas log fireplace, and expansive windows. The open-concept kitchen is designed for both everyday living and entertaining, offering a large island with seating, built-in wine cooler and icemaker, and a spacious pantry. The luxurious primary suite on the main level is a true retreat, featuring a Bainultra therapeutic spa tub, floor-to-ceiling walk-in shower, dual vanities, and generous his-and-hers walk-in closets. Throughout the home, you’ll find turnkey, high-end finishes, built-in cabinetry, a mudroom, and a large laundry room with extensive storage. Upstairs, all bedrooms include en-suite baths with decorative tile, along with a Home Office featuring a private balcony with lake views as well as a large bonus/flex space above the three-car garage. The outdoor living and entertaining experience is unmatched: step outside to enjoy the pool, hot tub, and expansive deck overlooking the water, or launch a kayak or paddleboard from your own shoreline access. A full bathroom accessible from the exterior provides added convenience for pool and lake days, allowing guests to shower and refresh without entering the home. With approximately 200 feet of shoreline, a fenced back yard, and a fully conditioned, clean, and moisture-controlled crawlspace, this move-in ready property truly embodies modern luxury lake living. Enjoy the water, the views, and every season from the comfort of your own private retreat – Welcome Home!
| MLS#: | 4370865 |
| Price: | $3,300,000 |
| Square Footage: | 4246 |
| Bedrooms: | 4 |
| Bathrooms: | 5.1 |
| Acreage: | 0.69 |
| Year Built: | 2014 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Virtual Tour: | Click here |
| Listing courtesy of: | Keller Williams Lake Norman - susan@homecarolinas.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
