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2018 Best Suburbs to Live in the Charlotte AreaAbout this List

Explore the best suburbs to live in the U.S. based on crime, public schools, cost of living, job opportunities, and local amenities. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, and other sources. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

Best Places to Live
96 results

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  1. Davidson

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 17
    1 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: Friendly, rural, up-and-coming town that holds plenty of opportunity for families raising children. It is very well located among best-rated schools, entertainment, and big companies.
    Read 17 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 12,076 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  2. Tega Cay

    • Suburb in South Carolina
    • 18
    2 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: Tega Cay is a growing suburb, definitely. It has its ups and downs, being a busy area in terms of traffic as well as a lack of diversity. The area is made up of mostly white, middle-class families. On a positive note, it is full of great public schools and is generally safe and good for families. It is in a good location for work as it is close to the rest of Fort Mill as well as the Charlotte area.
    Read 18 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 9,026 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  3. Marvin

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 5
    3 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Niche User: I love living in North Carolina, it's beautiful, and my allergies are a lot better in this state. I moved from Livonia, Michigan back in November 2005.
    Read 5 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 6,056 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  5. Cornelius

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 22
    4 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: Cornelius is a wonderful little town outside of Charlotte! With Lake Norman, Uptown, and other fun activities just a short drive away, it is the perfect place for families, young professionals, or retirees.
    Read 22 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 27,426 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  6. Matthews

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 105
    5 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: Down one road is a shopping center. Down another are delicious restaurants. Another is a park. The things to do in Matthews are endless! The Town of Matthews functions to make its people happy, and that is what makes the bond between citizens in our community so strong. Between local bands, solo musicians, Food truck Fridays, and community parades, you cannot go wrong with living in Matthews.
    Read 105 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 30,054 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  7. Huntersville

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 154
    6 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: Huntersville offers a quality of life unmatched in the Charlotte Metro. The town retains a small-town feel with friendly people and a compact downtown. There are plenty of recreational opportunities with multiple golf courses, several parks and close proximity to Lake Norman. This is a family friendly community with festivals for all ages occurring just about every month of the year. There is a variety of housing types in neighborhoods that range from rural to downright urban. Huntersville really punches above its weight with shopping and dining options that most associate with a big city. With Charlotte just a few minutes away, what's not to like about Huntersville!
    Read 154 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B+
      Public Schools
    • 51,701 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  10. Waxhaw

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 42
    7 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: Waxhaw is a nice suburban area with many people and subdivisions to live in. There's many different schools within the area, however the redistricting can seriously affect which school your child may go to. Though all the schools provide a good education, school spirit and finance are present in schools such as Marvin Ridge High School and Cuthbertson High School rather than older schools such as Parkwood High School. As a teen, I can vouche for the fact that there are very few activities to do that don't involve driving somewhere or going to Charlotte (which is 45 minutes away). However, for those who enjoy the country/suburban life, this place is perfect. Another thing is that the area is pretty conservative and traditional, meaning some things are more taboo than if one were to go to Charlotte.
    Read 42 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 12,398 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  11. Fort Mill

    • Suburb in South Carolina
    • 67
    8 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: Fort Mill is a nice southern town. It is very pretty and the weather is lovely. The FM natives are friendly and hospitable. There are so many positives to living here. The negatives are: rapid growth, there are thousands of northerners moving here and thousands of new homes going up. We are missing many of our beautiful trees now. The traffic lights are not timed, hopefully this will change in the following years. It’s not a big deal until rush hour comes. Finally, our schools are very highly ranked. I can tell you that your kids will get a solid education here. Unfortunately, our public schools don’t care about the mental health of kids and will shove them into honors and AP classes (because they get more money) until the stresses of life are just too much to handle and the teenager reaches their breaking point. I know the last part of my review wasn’t happy, but if you are planning to move here I want you to be able to make the most informed decision possible. Good luck!
    Read 67 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • 13,181 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  12. Weddington

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 32
    9 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: Weddington is a great community of active residents. The schools are excellent and provide many enrichment opportunities for students. Town zoning requires 1 acre lots so no overcrowded neighborhoods like surrounding towns. The town has a nice country feel with a number lakes throughout. It’s about as far south you’d want to go if commute to Charlotte. With new shopping and restaurant areas built in 2017, there are many places to go out to dinner or drinks.
    Read 32 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 10,254 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  14. Harrisburg

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 27
    10 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Nearby Resident: My experience living in the area has been great. I have been given the upmost respect. The people that work here are nice and friendly and willing to lend a help in hand. The library is beautiful and amazing. There are so many opportunities offered if you live here. The natural/organic bakery here is so beautiful and aesthetic. There are 6 grocery stores so you have plenty of options to shop at. Chick-Fil-A is coming to Harrisburg. The schools here are amazing and maintain such a high rating. The town itself is a close-knit town which is something I love about this town.
    Read 27 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 14,500 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  15. Indian Trail

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 90
    11 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: Love Indian Trail! Overall fantastic community to live in!
     Traffic can be heavy at times, however that is everywhere in Charlotte.
    Indian Trail has a fantastic small town feel, especially being so close to a major city such as Charlotte!
    Tons of amenities for children, wonderful parks and recreation. A overall wonderful place to live and raise children!
    Read 90 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 36,357 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  16. Stallings

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 25
    12 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Niche User: My little suburb of Charlotte is absolutely the perfect place to grow up. The people are kind and caring, and the house is close enough to the city that entertainment is never hard to come by. At the same time, it's far enough away from the city that crime isn't something to worry about, and it's quiet at night. While I want to move somewhere with a bit more energy as I enter my professional life, I would definitely recommend Matthews as a place to grow up.
    Read 25 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 14,759 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  19. Lake Wylie

    • Suburb in South Carolina
    • 31
    13 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Niche User: I love Lake Wylie, South Carolina. It is the best kept secret in the world. Our community, River Hills, has every amenity one could think of; professional golf course, country club with a 5 star chef, professional tennis courts, professional swimming pools, and our community in general is very classy. I love that everyone knows everyone, and that we all support each other through businesses owned locally. Through dentists, doctors, pharmacies, and our grocery store, Publix. Everything is great about Lake Wylie, from our famous restaurants, to our famous neighborhood, River Hills, where I was born and raised. It truly is the best place in the world, as far as I can tell from everywhere I've been fortunate enough to visit. At the bottom I will choose other, because I am born and raised here, as well as a current and a forever resident. Now, I would love to own a small ranch outside of Colorado someday, but Lake Wylie will always be home.
    Read 31 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 11,472 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  20. India Hook

    • Suburb in South Carolina
    • 2
    14 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    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

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 4,192 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  21. Mint Hill

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 48
    15 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: It's awesome! It is continuing to grow and be a bigger part of Charlotte, NC. Many new places are coming up around the area and making it more and more cultural friendly. It used to be more geriatric, but is coming up with more and more families. Plenty of parks, restaurants, places to go.
    Read 48 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B+
      Public Schools
    • 25,024 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  22. Pineville

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 11
    16 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: I absolutely enjoy Pineville, it's nice and cozy. Although it isn't too big, it has so much to offer as far as different restaurants and local community activities. I love going down the to park during the summertime where the rec center plans movie nights and even festivals! This small suburb gives you the small community feel but with big city amenities.
    Read 11 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 8,244 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  23. Wesley Chapel

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 24
    17 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: I moved to Wesley Chapel in 2004 from a town in New Jersey. I consider it my home town for all intents and purposes, and I feel proud in saying so. Wesley Chapel fostered me from the time I was a first grader to the time I was a senior in high school. The local elementary school was filled with teachers who supported their students and were truly passionate about what they were doing. As I made my way into high school, that same mentality prevailed. There is a large shopping center in the middle of the town that hosts plenty of shops and restaurants, and the housing developments in the area are great. Proud to say I was able to grow up here.
    Read 24 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 8,217 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  26. Mooresville

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 107
    18 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: Living in Mooresville is fantastic! The only
     complaints I have is the amount of traffic and too many chain restaurants. Mooresville needs something to stand out, but with a lot of tourists being Race City USA it is better market with chains. Traffic is unavoidable because everyone wants to move here!
    Read 107 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 35,387 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  27. Lake Park

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 3
    19 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: Lake Park is one of the nicer neighborhoods in the area. It is really pretty and walking friendly. There is a tennis court, basketball court, a pool (with a swim team), parks, churches, even a school and day care. There are festivals throughout the year, and they constantly have smaller events sprinkled throughout the year. There are a lot of families living here, so a lot of kids.
    Read 3 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 3,678 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  28. Concord

    • Town in North Carolina
    • 161
    20 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: Concord, NC is an average-sized town that has quite a few attractions that visitors can enjoy. The Concord Mills mall houses many different shops that the entire family can enjoy browsing, a delicious food court, a go cart track, and an IMAX movie theatre. A short drive from there will get you the Charlotte Motor Speedway where thousands come to watch NASCAR racing, fireworks, and much more! For those who like a quiet, laid-back experience, Downtown Concord has a lovely, little row of small shops and restaurants to enjoy. The Depot, close to Downtown, is a huge antique mall housed in an old mill where you can find all sorts of items from years gone by.

    While it has a few attractions, Concord is not usually the reason most people come to the area. Charlotte, NC is just a short drive away, so most people prefer to travel there for entertainment. Also, the traffic in Concord can be rather hectic, so use caution when driving here.
    Read 161 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B+
      Public Schools
    • 85,753 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  29. Belmont

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 28
    21 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: Belmont is a cute little town. Family-friendly, shops, and more! Parks are clean and pet-friendly, too.
    Read 28 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B
      Public Schools
    • 10,494 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  30. Clover

    • Town in South Carolina
    • 38
    22 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: I have moved from Hopkinsville, KY to Clover, SC. At first, it was hard to adjust especially being a new mom and barely anyone I know here except for my darling husband. I have to say, I am a huge Gilmore Girls fan so anyone who is a fan strives to find a town such as Stars Hollow; well, Clover is my Stars Hollow. It has such an amazing feeling all throughout the seasons and a welcoming feel that will embrace you deeply! I love it here and would never want to live anywhere else!
    Read 38 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • 5,593 Population
    View Nearby Homes
  31. Review Your Area

  32. Wingate

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 8
    23 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: This site is very user friendly, easy to understand, and easy to navigate through. It was not a lot of red tape to read through everything listed was straight forward so therefore there was no gray area to be confused about. Wingate is a quiet Town about 25 miles south of Charlotte, that is quiet, friendly, safe, and overall a close knit community.
    Read 8 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B
      Public Schools
    • 3,798 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  33. Westport

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 8
    24 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Niche User: Our neighborhood works diligently with the police to try and keep the area safe. We have police officers who patrol the community every couple of hours and watch closely when the children get on and off the bus. They are always around to help. Also, as neighbors, we all look out for each other and help each other out whenever we can.
    Read 8 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • 3,923 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  34. Cramerton

    • Suburb of Charlotte, NC
    • 7
    25 Best Suburbs to Live in Charlotte Area

    Current Resident: Just 20 minutes from either the coty of Gastonia, or the Queen city, this small Charlotte subarb is a close community offering plenty of opportunities to stay active. You simply have to visit Goat Island Park.
    Read 7 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B
      Public Schools
    • 4,292 Population
    View Nearby Homes
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