Best neighborhood near Charlotte (Concord, Hickory: best neighborhoods, sale, crime)

[getmeoutofnj]

Oops, I accidentally posted this in the general NC thread but I meant to post it here.

Hi, we are looking to move to the Charlotte area. Im curious to know which are the very best neighborhoods within a reasonable(30 min?) commute to the financial area of downtown.

I dont have any concern about the housing prices(I mean even expensive areas are fine), but if you could, list the ave home cost for the areas.
I'd also like to know which towns have the best schools?

TIA

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by getmeoutofnj

Oops, I accidentally posted this in the general NC thread but I meant to post it here.

Hi, we are looking to move to the Charlotte area. Im curious to know which are the very best neighborhoods within a reasonable(30 min?) commute to the financial area of downtown.

I dont have any concern about the housing prices(I mean even expensive areas are fine), but if you could, list the ave home cost for the areas.
I'd also like to know which towns have the best schools?

TIA

Wow Tia, there really are too many to mention. If price is of no concern, look in Dilworth (homes starting at $500,000 but going way up over that), Elizabeth, homes in the $400, 500 and 600,000 range. These two nighborhoods would get right at about 5-10 minutes to uptown.

But within 30 minutes also look in Cotswald, Myers Park, Foxcroft...It really would help if you would give us an accurate picture of what you consider your top price.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by getmeoutofnj

Oops, I accidentally posted this in the general NC thread but I meant to post it here.

Hi, we are looking to move to the Charlotte area. Im curious to know which are the very best neighborhoods within a reasonable(30 min?) commute to the financial area of downtown.

I dont have any concern about the housing prices(I mean even expensive areas are fine), but if you could, list the ave home cost for the areas.
I'd also like to know which towns have the best schools?

TIA

Also, if you can spend close to a million on a home I would suggest you check out the excellent private schools in south Charlotte. There are many fine public elementary schools in Charlotte, a few middle schools and a few high schools. Best public schools overall are in Union county and up in Cabarrus county.

[businessperson]

The best area of Charlotte is south. Anywhere from Myers Park, South Park, Piper Glen, Ballantyne to Union County. Check http://www.charmeck.org and select "Neighborhoods" for more info. The "2006 Quality of Life Study" indicates best areas by economic, educational, employment, crime stats, etc. If you want to view available listings send me a pm. I can give you a good website.

[businessperson]

If you like older established neighborhoods, the Myers Park, Eastover, South Park, Foxcroft areas are nice. Piper Glen, Ballantyne Country Club further south are nice as well. In any of these areas you would spend $5k - 1million. There are, of course less expensive homes in South Charlotte but homes overall are more expensive here. You would probably have to plan on spending $400-500.

If you'd like more info on the area send me a pm. I can give you websites, maps, and listings in the area. Good luck!

[indraman]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

Also, if you can spend close to a million on a home I would suggest you check out the excellent private schools in south Charlotte. There are many fine public elementary schools in Charlotte, a few middle schools and a few high schools. Best public schools overall are in Union county and up in Cabarrus county.

Which schools/neighborhoods are great in Cabaruss? I've been looking but so far.....not that great. It certainly would be a better commute for my husband. Thanks.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by indraman

Which schools/neighborhoods are great in Cabaruss? I've been looking but so far.....not that great. It certainly would be a better commute for my husband. Thanks.

In Cabarrus the scores may not be quite as high as the best schools in Charlotte, but, what you need to remember is this, there is a lot more to a school than its test scores. The schools in Cabarrus county are not plagued with the problems some of the schools in Mecklenburg county are. Because it is a much smaller school system things can be taken care of more effeciently sometimes. And the level of parental involvement is much higher, which can help a school in so many ways. I would say you should take the time to go visit some of the schools in Cabarrus if you haven't already and don't judge them just by what you see on paper. For elementary I would look at Cox Mill, Harrisburg, or Odell. Middle schools to see are Harris Road and Griffin. High school, I like Central Cabarrus High. Good luck. That whole area is really a good choice to live in.

[friendnc]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

In Cabarrus the scores may not be quite as high as the best schools in Charlotte, but, what you need to remember is this, there is a lot more to a school than its test scores. The schools in Cabarrus county are not plagued with the problems some of the schools in Mecklenburg county are. Because it is a much smaller school system things can be taken care of more effeciently sometimes. And the level of parental involvement is much higher, which can help a school in so many ways. I would say you should take the time to go visit some of the schools in Cabarrus if you haven't already and don't judge them just by what you see on paper. For elementary I would look at Cox Mill, Harrisburg, or Odell. Middle schools to see are Harris Road and Griffin. High school, I like Central Cabarrus High. Good luck. That whole area is really a good choice to live in.

What LM said is pretty much right on the money. My wife teaches in the system here in Cabarrus. There aren't huge gaps in test scores from school to school, as there is in many big districts. Most of the school score really well. My wife loves teaching here and your child will get a good education in this system. Look at the schools LM mentioned, and throw in Roblinson HS (Concord) and the brand-new this summer Hickory Ridge HS (Harrisburg)as well. Good luck!!!

[south.charlotte&union]

Originally Posted by getmeoutofnj

Oops, I accidentally posted this in the general NC thread but I meant to post it here.

Hi, we are looking to move to the Charlotte area. Im curious to know which are the very best neighborhoods within a reasonable(30 min?) commute to the financial area of downtown.

I dont have any concern about the housing prices(I mean even expensive areas are fine), but if you could, list the ave home cost for the areas.
I'd also like to know which towns have the best schools?

TIA

In a hopefully more direct answer to your question, here's the data for the third quarter 2006 as posted on MLS (I have limited to average sale prices of $400K or above) by zip code:

28031 $513,400 (Cornelius -- north of Charlotte -- Lake Norman)
28036 $518,900 (Davidson -- north of Charlotte)
28202 $570,000 (Uptown Charlotte)
28203 $430,100 (Dilworth/Wilmore)
28204 $515,300 (Elizabeth)
28207 $1,222,500 (Myers Park/Eastover)
28211 $488,400 (Southeast Charlotte)
28277 $405,800 (South Charlotte , includes Ballantyne and Piper Glen)

This is for Mecklenburg County -- I can get you data for other counties as well. Note also that these are averages -- range can fluctuate greatly. For example, Ballantyne area can have million dollar homes as well as homes priced in the 250s)

Check www.ncschoolreports.org for school reports -- I can give you exact schools in those areas if you would like.

Best of luck to you, and let me know if I can help in any way

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by south.charlotte&union

In a hopefully more direct answer to your question, here's the data for the third quarter 2006 as posted on MLS (I have limited to average sale prices of $400K or above) by zip code:

28031 $513,400 (Cornelius -- north of Charlotte -- Lake Norman)
28036 $518,900 (Davidson -- north of Charlotte)
28202 $570,000 (Uptown Charlotte)
28203 $430,100 (Dilworth/Wilmore)
28204 $515,300 (Elizabeth)
28207 $1,222,500 (Myers Park/Eastover)
28211 $488,400 (Southeast Charlotte)
28277 $405,800 (South Charlotte , includes Ballantyne and Piper Glen)

This is for Mecklenburg County -- I can get you data for other counties as well. Note also that these are averages -- range can fluctuate greatly. For example, Ballantyne area can have million dollar homes as well as homes priced in the 250s)

Check www.ncschoolreports.org for school reports -- I can give you exact schools in those areas if you would like.

Best of luck to you, and let me know if I can help in any way

The problem is that the poster wants to be within an easy 30 minute commute to uptown and the parts of south Charlotte you mentioned, Davidson and Cornelius don't fit that bill