Places › North Carolina › Cornelius

Living in Cornelius, NC

Suburb in North Carolina

Cornelius is a suburb in North Carolina, home to about 32,000 people, with 1.8 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Cornelius a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Easy flying: CLT is 18 mi away
  • Low natural disaster risk: 4 federally declared disasters since 2000
  • Strong healthcare: 7 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Strong public schools: test results well above the US average

👎 Cons

  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Cornelius ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
32,000
1.8 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
55°F / 90°F
Average daily highs · 3″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$474k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,080/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
97
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,615
State income tax per resident · 0.69% property tax
Safety
No data
Not in FBI 2019 city table
Natural disasters
4 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding
Top-rated hospitals
7
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Public schools
Excellent
Tests well above US average · 19 students per teacher
Adults with a degree
60%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
CLT
18 mi away

Living in Cornelius: common questions

What is the cost of living in Cornelius?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $474k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,080 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 97, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Cornelius?

North Carolina collects about $1,615 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.69% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Cornelius safe?

Cornelius isn't in the FBI's 2019 city crime table, so Best Life Fit Me counts its safety as average.

How are the schools in Cornelius?

Public schools in Cornelius test well above the US average in math and reading (2018–19 state tests, put on one national scale with NAEP), with about 19 students per teacher.

What is the weather like in Cornelius?

Cornelius has cool winters: winter days average around 55°F and summer days around 90°F, with roughly 3″ of snow a year.

Does Cornelius get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding: 4 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.22 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Cornelius?

The nearest major airport is CLT, about 18 mi away.

How Cornelius scores

Each bar compares Cornelius with the other 1,990 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City sizeSmall city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quietUrban & suburban mix Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting aroundSome transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or natureStrong culture scene Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️ClimateCool winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of livingAverage cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️PaceModerate pace Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝CommunitySome community feel AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡HousingApartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housingAverage
💸Low taxesExcellent
💼Job marketAverage
🏥HealthcareExcellent
🏫SchoolsExcellent
🎓EducationGood
🧸Kids & familyBelow average
🐕Dog-friendlyGood
⛰️OutdoorsPoor
🎭CultureBelow average
👮SafetyNo crime data (counted as average)
🌪️Few natural disastersExcellent
☀️SunnyAverage
🌤️Mild summersAverage
✈️AirportExcellent

Places like Cornelius

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 24 aspects.

The circle is each place's all-round score out of 100: the average of its 15 quality scores, from red (poor) to green (excellent).

Tuckahoe, VASuburb60 $514k$2,070/moNo crime data Matthews, NCSuburb60 $415k$2,080/moSafe Mooresville, NCSuburb61 $392k$1,810/moVery safe Homewood, ALSuburb60 $524k$1,580/moNo crime data Peachtree Corners, GASuburb64 $441k$2,180/moNo crime data Duluth, GASuburb67 $374k$2,180/moNo crime data

Nearby

Huntersville, NCSuburb · 5 mi away72 $431k$2,080/moVery safe Mooresville, NCSuburb · 8 mi away61 $392k$1,810/moVery safe Kannapolis, NCSuburb · 13 mi away57 $293k$2,080/moSafe Concord, NCSuburb · 15 mi away65 $335k$2,080/moVery safe Charlotte, NCBig city · 18 mi away57 $352k$2,080/moHigher crime Statesville, NCSmall city · 22 mi away56 $291k$1,810/moNo crime data

See all the best places to live in North Carolina.

Is Cornelius right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.