These Lake Norman Towns Named Among Best In NC

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — According to a new list released by Chamber of Commerce, Huntersville and Cornelius are among the very best places to live in North Carolina.

Chamber of Commerce ranked the top cities in North Carolina out of 2,509 cities with populations above 25,000 and enough data for analysis. It used five factors: employment (number of establishments, median earnings); housing (owner-occupied housing with a mortgage, monthly housing costs); quality of life (work commute, poverty levels); education (percentage with a bachelor's degree or higher); and health (obesity ratios).

Huntersville came in No. 3 and Cornelius No. 5 as the best places to live out of 78 Tar Heel State cities, the study said.

"Huntersville is a large suburb in the Charlotte metropolitan area with two man-made lakes perfect for water skiing and boating. The city’s high median household income is indicative of its economic success and employment opportunities,” the study said.

Cornelius’ nod was also based on a high median household income and the historic Potts Plantation, the study noted.

The top 10 cities in North Carolina are:

1. Cary
2. Morrisville
3. Huntersville
4. Holly Springs
5. Cornelius
6. Apex
7. Hillsborough
8. Chapel Hill
9. Asheville
10. Wake Forest