2023 Best Suburbs to Live in the Charlotte Area

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 4.43 out of 5  35 reviews

Current Resident: Small town charm with a slower pace, kind neighbors, low crime..and 2 lakes! The Buzz of Charlotte, Intnl. airport and nightlife, is 20-30 minutes away ~ but it feels like another planet! Grocery, restaurants,Churches, Music in the Park, Summer Saturday Farmer's Market, Davidson Christmas, College sports (when all opens again !) Pack a little patience (most are less stressed and not in a city-rush !) for traffic on Catawaba toward Cornelius and the 2 stoplights thru town, on a beautiful weekend :))) stop in for a coffee, or at the wine bar on the lake ! You will dream of living in a town like this one day - like we did...and now do. :) Love you Davidson... Read 35 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 14,644

• Suburb in South Carolina

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  31 reviews

Current Resident: There is so much community stuff to do like visit the lake, hang out at the Shore Club, or enjoy other surrounding areas. We are very close to either the beach or mountains, and we aren't far from Charlotte at all!... Read 31 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 12,336

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 4.22 out of 5  41 reviews

Current Resident: I live on the border of Weddington & Marvin. I leave the uptown city of tall shiny buildings, past the sprawl of typical suburbs and then immediately sense the change into Weddington as I drive past horse pastures, farms, churches, sunflower fields, historical homes, and large lots. Weddington is the balanced position of being under 10 minutes from multiple excellent commercial centers and the highway, but far enough away to have a quiet county setting with clean air and water and good people. If I could change anything about Weddington it would be more trails, a library, a fast (few stops) rail line up providence road, and a couple wealthy businesses to lower the low taxes further. The biggest downside is the 30 minute commute, but I have an excellent place to raise my kids.... Read 41 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 12,851

• Suburb in South Carolina

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  Rating 4.13 out of 5  168 reviews

Current Resident: Love this place, Cheap cost of living. low taxes, easy access to the local lake. Most people that live down here are professionals that work in Charlotte, so there is a well educated and diverse group of people here. Downtown Fort Mill is quaint but has 2 breweries and a few good restaurants. Great place to do a date night. Fort Mill frequently closes off the downtown area for festivals with live music and tons of vendors. Always a good time! Plus, we have the highest rated schools in the whole state and higher than the Charlotte Metro systems as well.... Read 168 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 24,069

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 4.15 out of 5  13 reviews

Current Resident: Great schools with awesome administration. Housing is expensive. Lacks diversity but is improving. Overall, a lovely peaceful community to live in.... Read 13 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 6,326

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 4.14 out of 5  49 reviews

Current Resident: Harrisburg, North Carolina is a small town located in Cabarrus County. While individual experiences and perspectives may vary, here are some generally recognized positive aspects of Harrisburg: Small-town atmosphere: Harrisburg maintains a charming small-town atmosphere that appeals to many residents. The community is known for its friendly and close-knit nature, offering a sense of community and belonging. Proximity to Charlotte: Harrisburg is situated just a short distance from Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina. This close proximity provides residents with convenient access to urban amenities, employment opportunities, cultural events, and entertainment options. The area needs more community engagement and involvement, Increasing community engagement and involvement can help foster a stronger sense of community and belonging.... Read 49 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 18,415

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 4.3 out of 5  46 reviews

Current Resident: Cornelius is known for its friendly community and small-town charm. The downtown area offers a range of unique shops, restaurants, and cafes, and there are several parks and green spaces for outdoor activities. The town is also home to several events and festivals throughout the year, including the annual Lake Norman Wine Festival and the All-American Fourth of July celebration.... Read 46 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 30,925

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 4.11 out of 5  159 reviews

Current Resident: Matthews is an amazing town for families, children, and adults all overall. There's always something to do, the variety of stores and entertainment is huge, and the events hosted by Matthews downtown really make the place feel like home. I'm so grateful I live in Matthews, and living near Matthews downtown is one of the biggest blessings I've been given.... Read 159 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 29,417

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 4.44 out of 5  100 reviews

Current Resident: I like living in the town of Waxhaw. It's small but has a lot of different kinds of people. I like seeing the vast ranges in diversity and people here. However, I do not like how competitive the schooling system is here.... Read 100 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 19,645

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 3.64 out of 5  28 reviews

Current Resident: Stallings is a great place to raise a family or retire. The area has grown a LOT in the ten years we’ve been here, and that has brought challenges including increased traffic, loss of trees, and a strain on the infrastructure such as roads, water, and sewer. But the local governments are good at fixing things. People are approachable but not all up in your business. The cost of living is good compared to lots of other places in the USA. A new hospital is opening soon so we won’t have to travel to Matthews, Pineville or Charlotte. There are lots of grocery stores and plenty of basic food options and basic shops. It is not Charlotte and doesn’t want to be. You won’t like it if you seek fancy restaurants, shops, or nightlife. We feel safe living here and even though there are more interesting and prettier places to live, this is a good compromise, schools are above average, and Charlotte is just a short drive away. Politically it’s about even between red and blue.... Read 28 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 15,932

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 4 out of 5  208 reviews

Current Resident: Huntersville is a suburb of Charlotte, North Carolina. It is located north of the city. Huntersville is a very family friendly place to live. It has many community style neighborhoods which often have playgrounds, pools and sports courts. Huntersville is a very safe place to live. People take care of their homes, and look out for each other. A really nice thing about Huntersville is the location. There are several public parks with playgrounds, walking and hiking trails, tennis courts, sports fields and more. Lake Norman is also right here for people who like to swim, boat, fish and paddle board. There are a lot of shopping options including numerous grocery stores, retail stores, boutiques and more. There are plenty of dining options too, from national chains, to locally owned restaurants. Huntersville is a great place to live!... Read 208 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 60,166

• Suburb in South Carolina

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  Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Niche User: I am glad that their are police at the school to make everyone feel better and protective because of the police... Read 2 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Population 4,092

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: Mcadenville is one of my favorite metro Charlotte communities. Small town with all of the positives of larger towns. Mcadenville or as many people know it, ChristmasTown USA. Convenient to Charlotte Douglas International airport, 15 minutes. Convenient to Charlotte center city, 20-25 mins. Right off of major interstate. Adorable downtown with restaurants, boutiques and gift shops. Tons of beautiful walking trails. And this community has tons of places to get beautiful views of the Catawba River. Tons of history and small town charm. The quintessential small town community.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• grade B

• Population 1,019

• Town in North Carolina

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  Rating 4.04 out of 5  268 reviews

Current Resident: I’ve lived here since 2018, and I will say that most people here are very friendly. Downtown Concord is approachable and easy to navigate. There is beautiful scenery, cool parks and walking paths. Frank Liske Park is my favorite. HOWEVER - unless you are rich you will never afford property, much less a house here. The beautiful green fields and countryside are being devoured by construction of apartment complexes and tract homes. Soon 29 -Concord Parkway- will be loaded with traffic will be a real pain to drive. Crime is growing too. People who see growth as a benefit don’t realize that they move from someplace they got tired of and create the same problems somewhere else- high living cost, traffic congestion, overpopulation. Concord still had some charm when I got here and it’s still beautiful for now, but it won’t be within the next 3 years. A word to transplants- Learn from the mistakes of places you left and stop making them somewhere else!... Read 268 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 102,566

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 4.1 out of 5  126 reviews

Current Resident: We love Indian trail! We have lived in Matthews prior to relocating. Indian trail is growing and housing values are increasing. Our children go to their primary/elementary school and we love it. No night life in the immediate area but if you drive about 15 minutes to Matthews or 35-40 minutes to uptown Charlotte, you’ll find plenty to do. Perfect for our family of 6.... Read 126 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 39,603

• Suburb in South Carolina

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  Rating 3.93 out of 5  42 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Lake Wylie my entire life, and it is amazing! I live roughly twenty-five minutes from Charlotte, and there is a lot to do around us. The small businesses and restaurants in this town are phenomenal and run by amazing people. There are a lot of really nice neighborhoods, and most importantly we have our lake. It is the center of fun in Lake Wylie during the summer. Kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, tubing, jet skiing, there are just endless opportunities in this lovely little town.... Read 42 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 13,560

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  183 reviews

Current Resident: Best neighbors ever! Living on the lake is wonderful. Feel very safe here. Excellent variety of shopping and restaurants. Educational level of residents is nice, able to have intelligent conversations.... Read 183 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 48,431

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 4.11 out of 5  45 reviews

Current Resident: Belmont started out as a small town outside of Charlotte, NC. It was quiet and a very nice homey environment. Over the past 6-7 years the population and business have grown for the better. There are plenty of great restaurants and activities to do!... Read 45 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 14,442

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 4.31 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: Pineville is great, cozy, and not too big. It has a wide variety of restaurants and activities and I do really love the park during the summertime where the rec center plans movie nights and even festivals! This small suburb gives you a small community feels and its really great.... Read 16 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 10,317

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 3.97 out of 5  29 reviews

Current Resident: Suburban feel but close to everything you could need or want! The schools are Weddington Schools and there are great athletics in the area (gymnastics, soccer, baseball, etc) for the kids. Taxes are very low, too.... Read 29 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Population 8,661

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 4 out of 5  67 reviews

Former Resident: I grew up in the suburbs of Mint Hill. It was one of the best places I could have grown up. You are close enough to the city that you can easily go out for a night on the town but Mint Hill still somehow retains that small-town feel. The schools are diverse and are tied in closely with businesses and families in the town. It is worth noting that Mint Hill is one the rise and it is growing quickly, losing some of that small-town feeling. However, you are only a 15 minute drive from the countryside and I still think it is worth moving to.... Read 67 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Population 26,236

• Suburb in South Carolina

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  Rating 3.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Niche User: Besides from the education in this area, there new business opening everyday and new people moving here everyday. And there is hardly any crime that happens in this area.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B

• Population 4,441

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 4 out of 5  8 reviews

Current Resident: Safe area, with a cute downtown area that includes a fantastic coffee shop. Goat Island Park is a great place for families, there's easy access to a grocery store, good schools, and close enough to Charlotte.... Read 8 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Population 5,190

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC

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  Rating 4 out of 5  9 reviews

Current Resident: It's a good place to raise a family. Lots of children in the area, tree lined streets and great schools in the area. Now that my kids are almost grown and out, I'm not so sure I will remain here. Certainly not much to do especially as a single person.... Read 9 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Population 4,250

• Suburb in South Carolina

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  Rating 4 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: Pretty much Fort Mill, SC. Close to Tega Cay. No one calls it Riverview. The Schools are great, low crime, but no night life, no food delivery services except pizza. I have no idea why. Hardly any shopping available. Rock Hill or Charlotte, NC provide closest shopping.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Population 1,989