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 on a quiet cul-de-sac in the desirable Enclave section of Brookhaven, this beautifully appointed full-brick home sits on one of the community's most private lots, surrounded by mature trees and bordering HOA-owned land. Inside, a striking two-story foyer with elegant curved staircase creates an inviting first impression. At the heart of the home is the timeless renovated kitchen, thoughtfully designed for everyday living and entertaining. It features custom stacked shaker cabinetry, an oversized gas range, additional wall oven with microwave, tasteful lighting, and a large center island with prep sink, beverage refrigerator, and abundant workspace. The kitchen flows seamlessly into the family room where an eye-catching stone fireplace flanked by built-in bookcases create a warm gathering space. Tucked off the family room is a guest suite with a beautifully renovated en-suite bath. Upstairs, the spacious primary suite offers a luxurious retreat with a recently remodeled spa-inspired bath featuring a large walk-in shower and dual vanities. An adjoining flex room provides endless possibilities as a private home office, fitness room, nursery, or expanded closet. Three additional bedrooms, two full baths, and a raised bonus room complete the second level. The walk-out finished basement expands this home's exceptional living space with plenty of room for entertaining, recreation, and relaxing. This level also includes a private bedroom with a renovated full bath, an additional half bath, and a substantial unfinished storage area that stays naturally cool year-round. In addition, this home features a spacious three-car garage with durable epoxy flooring. Outdoor living is equally inviting with a private tree-lined yard that you can enjoy from your screened-in porch, expansive deck, or fire pit patio that is accented by a tranquil water feature. Enjoy Brookhaven's expansive resort-style amenities or take advantage of the generous yard with plenty of room to add your own pool.
| MLS#: | 4398858 |
| Price: | $1,495,000 |
| Square Footage: | 6008 |
| Bedrooms: | 6 |
| Bathrooms: | 5.2 |
| Acreage: | 0.41 |
| Year Built: | 2006 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Listing courtesy of: | NorthGroup Real Estate LLC - homesbyjulie@outlook.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 on a quiet cul-de-sac in the desirable Enclave section of Brookhaven, this beautifully appointed full-brick home sits on one of the community's most private lots, surrounded by mature trees and bordering HOA-owned land. Inside, a striking two-story foyer with elegant curved staircase creates an inviting first impression. At the heart of the home is the timeless renovated kitchen, thoughtfully designed for everyday living and entertaining. It features custom stacked shaker cabinetry, an oversized gas range, additional wall oven with microwave, tasteful lighting, and a large center island with prep sink, beverage refrigerator, and abundant workspace. The kitchen flows seamlessly into the family room where an eye-catching stone fireplace flanked by built-in bookcases create a warm gathering space. Tucked off the family room is a guest suite with a beautifully renovated en-suite bath. Upstairs, the spacious primary suite offers a luxurious retreat with a recently remodeled spa-inspired bath featuring a large walk-in shower and dual vanities. An adjoining flex room provides endless possibilities as a private home office, fitness room, nursery, or expanded closet. Three additional bedrooms, two full baths, and a raised bonus room complete the second level. The walk-out finished basement expands this home's exceptional living space with plenty of room for entertaining, recreation, and relaxing. This level also includes a private bedroom with a renovated full bath, an additional half bath, and a substantial unfinished storage area that stays naturally cool year-round. In addition, this home features a spacious three-car garage with durable epoxy flooring. Outdoor living is equally inviting with a private tree-lined yard that you can enjoy from your screened-in porch, expansive deck, or fire pit patio that is accented by a tranquil water feature. Enjoy Brookhaven's expansive resort-style amenities or take advantage of the generous yard with plenty of room to add your own pool.
| MLS#: | 4398858 |
| Price: | $1,495,000 |
| Square Footage: | 6008 |
| Bedrooms: | 6 |
| Bathrooms: | 5.2 |
| Acreage: | 0.41 |
| Year Built: | 2006 |
| Type: | Single Family Residence |
| Listing courtesy of: | NorthGroup Real Estate LLC - homesbyjulie@outlook.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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