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Living in
Cornelius.
About
Life in Cornelius
Cornelius works well if you want suburban comfort with reasonable access to Charlotte's job market—a 25-minute commute is manageable for most people, though it varies by where you work. The median home price of $559,400 is steep for North Carolina, and rent around $1,722 monthly isn't cheap either, so you're paying for proximity and stability rather than affordability. The community skews older and more established (median age 42.9), with about half of households being married couples, which shapes the vibe—it's quieter and more family-focused than trendy.
Cornelius at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.4%
Foreign-Born
8.8%
Broadband Internet
96.9%
of households
Population Growth
+11.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.8% foreign-born, most often from Russia
Who lives in Cornelius: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Cornelius, the largest foreign-born group is from Russia (10.1%), and 3.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.8%
of residents
65 and Older
20.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.4%
of households
Married Couples
54.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.36
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 40% above NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Cornelius
In Cornelius, rent runs 40% above the NC average, and home values are 94% above the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,512
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
69.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2002
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $520,795 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NC
Unemployment in Cornelius and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cornelius is close to the NC average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Cornelius Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area
Commute25.4 min avg
How Cornelius residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Cornelius, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 mi
Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA)
Regional airport · few flights196k passengers boarded in 2025
- 19 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 62% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Cornelius runs 62% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
125.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
959.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Cornelius Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Mecklenburg County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Mecklenburg County, which includes Cornelius, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
| 2024 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $28.4M |
| 2023 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $550,000 |
| 2022 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $180,000 |
| 2021 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3,000 |
| 2020 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.5M |
| 2019 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $72,500 |
| 2018 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $52,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Mecklenburg County, county-wide
Cornelius is about 3% of Mecklenburg County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality51 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Mecklenburg County, which includes Cornelius, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
51
Good Days
176
per year
Moderate Days
189
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Mecklenburg County, county-wide
Cornelius is about 3% of Mecklenburg County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate89°F summers, 34°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Cornelius has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and mild winters (avg low 34°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/49°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
73°/51°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
55°/34°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.0"
Annual Snowfall
3.5"
Hot Days/Year
49
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
58
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
107
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52°F | 32°F | 3.49" |
| Feb | 57°F | 35°F | 3.13" |
| Mar | 64°F | 41°F | 3.95" |
| Apr | 73°F | 49°F | 3.84" |
| May | 80°F | 58°F | 3.36" |
| Jun | 87°F | 66°F | 3.99" |
| Jul | 90°F | 70°F | 3.74" |
| Aug | 89°F | 69°F | 4.35" |
| Sep | 83°F | 63°F | 3.71" |
| Oct | 73°F | 50°F | 3.16" |
| Nov | 63°F | 40°F | 3.31" |
| Dec | 55°F | 35°F | 3.57" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Cornelius
Uninsured
4.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Cornelius's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.7 mi away · Huntersville
Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.5 mi away · Mooresville
Atrium Health University City
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.7 mi away · Charlotte
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Cornelius
Cornelius's student/teacher ratio is 19.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 62.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
62.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Cornelius (within 15 miles)
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
14.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 24,453 students · in-state tuition $7,317 · 69% graduate · median earnings $63,486 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,867 students · in-state tuition $69,315 · 91% graduate · median earnings $89,297 (10 yrs after entry)
Universal Technical Institute-Mooresville
9.3 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 1,345 students · 62% graduate · median earnings $62,466 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, 36 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Cornelius
Cornelius has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (36 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
36 mi awayKings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
37 mi awayCowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
57 mi awayGuilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
74 mi awayCarl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
90 mi awayBlue Ridge Parkway
Parkway
91 mi awayPublic Libraries in Cornelius
Cornelius Branch Library
21105 Catawba Ave, Cornelius
Cities Near Cornelius
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Cornelius?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Cornelius FAQ
Is Cornelius, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Cornelius's median rent is $1,722/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $113,767/year. Median home value is $559,400.
Is Cornelius, North Carolina safe?⌄
Cornelius's violent crime rate was 125 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 960 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Cornelius, North Carolina?⌄
Cornelius has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Cornelius, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Cornelius is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,722/month and median household income is $113,767/year. The median home value is $559,400. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Cornelius, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Cornelius is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from