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 a home where timeless architecture, thoughtful upgrades, and exceptional community amenities come together in one of Weddington’s most sought-after neighborhoods. Located in the top-rated Weddington school district, this home sits adjacent to the scenic trail entrance leading directly to Antioch Elementary School, allowing families to enjoy an easy morning walk while avoiding school traffic. This impressive three-story John Wieland Windsor floor plan makes a striking first impression with stately pillars, a welcoming front porch, and heavy-duty double iron entry doors with operable glass panels, allowing you to greet guests and enjoy fresh air without stepping outside. Inside, 8-foot doors on the main level, plantation shutters, over 4,000 sq ft of refinished or updated flooring, and custom hand-refinished stairs and railings highlight the home’s craftsmanship. The chef-inspired kitchen features premium Bosch appliances, an expansive island, abundant cabinetry, and a bright breakfast area overlooking the private backyard. A secondary kitchen workspace in the garage with cabinetry, countertops, and refrigerator water line hookup provides added convenience for cooking or entertaining. The main level also includes a private guest suite with full bath, ideal for visitors or multigenerational living. Upstairs, the luxurious primary suite offers plantation shutters, a spa-inspired bath, and two custom closets, along with a versatile flex room perfect for a nursery or home office. A dedicated fitness room with professional gym flooring can easily convert to an additional bedroom. Two additional bedrooms complete the level, including one with an ensuite bath. The third floor features a professional home theater with Dolby Atmos surround sound, designed to contain sound and minimize noise to lower floors, creating the ultimate cinematic experience without disrupting the rest of the home. Additional highlights include an encapsulated crawl space for improved energy efficiency, foundation protection, and year-round storage, along with multiple walk-in attic storage areas. Residents enjoy resort-style amenities just steps away, including a clubhouse, lazy river, wading pool, tennis courts, covered pavilion, and scenic walking trails.
| MLS#: | 4350306 |
| Price: | $1,387,500 |
| Square Footage: | 4990 |
| Bedrooms: | 5 |
| Bathrooms: | 5.1 |
| Acreage: | 0.38 |
| Year Built: | 2004 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Listing courtesy of: | JPeters Realty, LLC - john@jpetersrealty.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 a home where timeless architecture, thoughtful upgrades, and exceptional community amenities come together in one of Weddington’s most sought-after neighborhoods. Located in the top-rated Weddington school district, this home sits adjacent to the scenic trail entrance leading directly to Antioch Elementary School, allowing families to enjoy an easy morning walk while avoiding school traffic. This impressive three-story John Wieland Windsor floor plan makes a striking first impression with stately pillars, a welcoming front porch, and heavy-duty double iron entry doors with operable glass panels, allowing you to greet guests and enjoy fresh air without stepping outside. Inside, 8-foot doors on the main level, plantation shutters, over 4,000 sq ft of refinished or updated flooring, and custom hand-refinished stairs and railings highlight the home’s craftsmanship. The chef-inspired kitchen features premium Bosch appliances, an expansive island, abundant cabinetry, and a bright breakfast area overlooking the private backyard. A secondary kitchen workspace in the garage with cabinetry, countertops, and refrigerator water line hookup provides added convenience for cooking or entertaining. The main level also includes a private guest suite with full bath, ideal for visitors or multigenerational living. Upstairs, the luxurious primary suite offers plantation shutters, a spa-inspired bath, and two custom closets, along with a versatile flex room perfect for a nursery or home office. A dedicated fitness room with professional gym flooring can easily convert to an additional bedroom. Two additional bedrooms complete the level, including one with an ensuite bath. The third floor features a professional home theater with Dolby Atmos surround sound, designed to contain sound and minimize noise to lower floors, creating the ultimate cinematic experience without disrupting the rest of the home. Additional highlights include an encapsulated crawl space for improved energy efficiency, foundation protection, and year-round storage, along with multiple walk-in attic storage areas. Residents enjoy resort-style amenities just steps away, including a clubhouse, lazy river, wading pool, tennis courts, covered pavilion, and scenic walking trails.
| MLS#: | 4350306 |
| Price: | $1,387,500 |
| Square Footage: | 4990 |
| Bedrooms: | 5 |
| Bathrooms: | 5.1 |
| Acreage: | 0.38 |
| Year Built: | 2004 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Listing courtesy of: | JPeters Realty, LLC - john@jpetersrealty.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
