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
Located in the highly sought-after Atherton, 208 Pumpkin Seed Court offers a rare opportunity to own a spacious, luxury home on a private 1.06-acre cul-de-sac lot. This impressive 5-bedroom, 4.5-bath home features over 5,600 square feet of living space, combining timeless design with modern updates ideal for today’s lifestyle. The home showcases an open floor plan, generous room sizes, abundant natural light, and quality finishes throughout. Inside, you’ll find luxurious hardwood plank floors, elegant plantation shutters, dual staircases, and dedicated home office spaces that provide flexibility for work, study, or creative use. The chef’s kitchen serves as the epicenter of the home, opening seamlessly to surrounding living spaces—ideal for gatherings, entertaining, or daily living. The spacious primary suite offers a private retreat, highlighted by an ensuite bath featuring an oversized walk-in WOW shower and a relaxing soaker tub, designed for spa-like comfort. Generously sized secondary bedrooms and the bonus room provide adaptable living space for a variety of needs. Step outside to an exceptional outdoor living experience, framed by lush landscaping and designed for year-round enjoyment. Recent updates include a heated saltwater pool with spa, surrounded by a travertine patio that elevates both style and durability. An expansive outdoor pavilion with a grilling station and a separate platform deck creates multiple areas for dining, relaxing, or entertaining in a peaceful setting. Additional highlights include a 4-car garage, ample driveway parking, and mature landscaping that enhances privacy and curb appeal. The expansive yard offers space for recreation, gardening, or future enhancements. Conveniently located near prime shopping, dining, and everyday amenities, this property combines the benefits of suburban living with easy access to surrounding areas.
| MLS#: | 4301655 |
| Price: | $1,800,000 |
| Square Footage: | 5654 |
| Bedrooms: | 5 |
| Bathrooms: | 4.1 |
| Acreage: | 1.06 |
| Year Built: | 2015 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Virtual Tour: | Click here |
| Listing courtesy of: | Keller Williams South Park - abby@redbudgroup.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
Located in the highly sought-after Atherton, 208 Pumpkin Seed Court offers a rare opportunity to own a spacious, luxury home on a private 1.06-acre cul-de-sac lot. This impressive 5-bedroom, 4.5-bath home features over 5,600 square feet of living space, combining timeless design with modern updates ideal for today’s lifestyle. The home showcases an open floor plan, generous room sizes, abundant natural light, and quality finishes throughout. Inside, you’ll find luxurious hardwood plank floors, elegant plantation shutters, dual staircases, and dedicated home office spaces that provide flexibility for work, study, or creative use. The chef’s kitchen serves as the epicenter of the home, opening seamlessly to surrounding living spaces—ideal for gatherings, entertaining, or daily living. The spacious primary suite offers a private retreat, highlighted by an ensuite bath featuring an oversized walk-in WOW shower and a relaxing soaker tub, designed for spa-like comfort. Generously sized secondary bedrooms and the bonus room provide adaptable living space for a variety of needs. Step outside to an exceptional outdoor living experience, framed by lush landscaping and designed for year-round enjoyment. Recent updates include a heated saltwater pool with spa, surrounded by a travertine patio that elevates both style and durability. An expansive outdoor pavilion with a grilling station and a separate platform deck creates multiple areas for dining, relaxing, or entertaining in a peaceful setting. Additional highlights include a 4-car garage, ample driveway parking, and mature landscaping that enhances privacy and curb appeal. The expansive yard offers space for recreation, gardening, or future enhancements. Conveniently located near prime shopping, dining, and everyday amenities, this property combines the benefits of suburban living with easy access to surrounding areas.
| MLS#: | 4301655 |
| Price: | $1,800,000 |
| Square Footage: | 5654 |
| Bedrooms: | 5 |
| Bathrooms: | 4.1 |
| Acreage: | 1.06 |
| Year Built: | 2015 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Virtual Tour: | Click here |
| Listing courtesy of: | Keller Williams South Park - abby@redbudgroup.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
