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
Designed with exceptional attention to architecture, craftsmanship, and everyday livability, this Lake Norman waterfront home offers a level of detail rarely found in new construction. Soaring 12-foot ceilings, wide-plank European white oak floors, custom millwork, and distinctive architectural details are found throughout. A dramatic 10-foot custom steel entry door by Clark Hall opens to a welcoming foyer with a stunning wine wall. The open living area features a custom diamond-coffered ceiling, oversized arched openings, and a 10-foot quad-stack sliding door that opens to the rear terrace and creates an easy connection between the indoor and outdoor living spaces. The kitchen is both beautiful and functional, with custom two-tone inset cabinetry, white oak accents, a 2.5-inch mitered-edge island, panel-ready appliances, and an oversized Venetian plaster range hood. Large windows in the breakfast area bring in natural light and frame the lake views. Tucked behind the kitchen is one of the home’s standout features—a gorgeous hidden pantry/scullery with custom cabinetry, a full-size second refrigerator, second dishwasher, microwave, and plenty of storage. The main level also includes a private guest suite with a beautifully finished en-suite bath and oversized walk-in shower. Upstairs, the primary suite is a peaceful retreat with a private balcony, and beautiful views of the lake and grounds. The spa-like bath features a large marble-tile shower with floor-to-ceiling glass, custom tilework, dual inset vanities, decorative backsplash detail, and luxury gold fixtures. Two oversized custom walk-in closets feature integrated LED lighting. Three additional bedrooms and a spacious laundry room with abundant cabinetry complete the upper level. The finished lower level is where this home really stands apart. A custom golf simulator creates an incredible space for entertaining and enjoying time at home, while another quad-stack sliding door opens the lower level directly to the outdoors. The kitchenette is perfectly designed for indoor/outdoor living, with an ice maker, wine cooler, and accordion-style pass-through window connecting directly to the outdoor entertaining area. A private office and dedicated wellness room with a built-in sauna add even more versatility to this level. Outside, the covered rear porch overlooks a peaceful Lake Norman cove and professionally landscaped grounds. A new private dock puts you just steps from the water and makes enjoying the lake easy. The property also offers room for a future pool, creating the opportunity to make the outdoor space your own. Located in Bahia Bay, one of Lake Norman’s best waterfront communities, this home is minutes from shopping, waterfront dining, medical care, and everything Cornelius has to offer. Thoughtful design, exceptional craftsmanship, and a setting that truly embraces lake living make this a home you will want to experience in person.
| MLS#: | 4416878 |
| Price: | $3,975,000 |
| Square Footage: | 5188 |
| Bedrooms: | 5 |
| Bathrooms: | 5.1 |
| Acreage: | 0.23 |
| Year Built: | 2026 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Virtual Tour: | Click here |
| Listing courtesy of: | Adams and Collins Realty LLC - bwadams85@gmail.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
Designed with exceptional attention to architecture, craftsmanship, and everyday livability, this Lake Norman waterfront home offers a level of detail rarely found in new construction. Soaring 12-foot ceilings, wide-plank European white oak floors, custom millwork, and distinctive architectural details are found throughout. A dramatic 10-foot custom steel entry door by Clark Hall opens to a welcoming foyer with a stunning wine wall. The open living area features a custom diamond-coffered ceiling, oversized arched openings, and a 10-foot quad-stack sliding door that opens to the rear terrace and creates an easy connection between the indoor and outdoor living spaces. The kitchen is both beautiful and functional, with custom two-tone inset cabinetry, white oak accents, a 2.5-inch mitered-edge island, panel-ready appliances, and an oversized Venetian plaster range hood. Large windows in the breakfast area bring in natural light and frame the lake views. Tucked behind the kitchen is one of the home’s standout features—a gorgeous hidden pantry/scullery with custom cabinetry, a full-size second refrigerator, second dishwasher, microwave, and plenty of storage. The main level also includes a private guest suite with a beautifully finished en-suite bath and oversized walk-in shower. Upstairs, the primary suite is a peaceful retreat with a private balcony, and beautiful views of the lake and grounds. The spa-like bath features a large marble-tile shower with floor-to-ceiling glass, custom tilework, dual inset vanities, decorative backsplash detail, and luxury gold fixtures. Two oversized custom walk-in closets feature integrated LED lighting. Three additional bedrooms and a spacious laundry room with abundant cabinetry complete the upper level. The finished lower level is where this home really stands apart. A custom golf simulator creates an incredible space for entertaining and enjoying time at home, while another quad-stack sliding door opens the lower level directly to the outdoors. The kitchenette is perfectly designed for indoor/outdoor living, with an ice maker, wine cooler, and accordion-style pass-through window connecting directly to the outdoor entertaining area. A private office and dedicated wellness room with a built-in sauna add even more versatility to this level. Outside, the covered rear porch overlooks a peaceful Lake Norman cove and professionally landscaped grounds. A new private dock puts you just steps from the water and makes enjoying the lake easy. The property also offers room for a future pool, creating the opportunity to make the outdoor space your own. Located in Bahia Bay, one of Lake Norman’s best waterfront communities, this home is minutes from shopping, waterfront dining, medical care, and everything Cornelius has to offer. Thoughtful design, exceptional craftsmanship, and a setting that truly embraces lake living make this a home you will want to experience in person.
| MLS#: | 4416878 |
| Price: | $3,975,000 |
| Square Footage: | 5188 |
| Bedrooms: | 5 |
| Bathrooms: | 5.1 |
| Acreage: | 0.23 |
| Year Built: | 2026 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Virtual Tour: | Click here |
| Listing courtesy of: | Adams and Collins Realty LLC - bwadams85@gmail.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.
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