Cornelius Was Just Ranked The 3rd Best Lake Beach Town in America

By
Scott Jensen
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12218

With summer now in full swing, the personal-finance website WalletHub took a close look at 2019’s Best Beach Towns to Live in.

Out of the hundreds of popular beach towns in America, WalletHub found Charlotte’s suburb town of Cornelius to be the 3rd best lake beach town in the country.

To determine the most livable beachside communities, the website compared 192 cities across 62 key metrics. The data set ranges from housing costs to share of for-sale waterfront homes to quality of beach water.

Their study divides beach towns into two categories, those by the ocean and those by lakes. 3 Carolina towns made it on at least one of the top 10 lists, including North Myrtle Beach, SC as the 7th best Ocean Beach Town, Davidson, NC as the 7th best Lake Beach Town, and Cornelius, NC as the 3rd best Lake Beach Town in America;

Top 10 Best Ocean Beach Towns in America Top 10 Best Lake Beach Towns in America
1 Naples, FL 1 Traverse City, MI
2 Lahaina, HI 2 Folsom, CA
3 Newport Beach, CA 3 Cornelius, NC
4 Carlsbad, CA 4 Holland, MI
5 Boca Raton, FL 5 Kirkland, WA
6 Sarasota, FL 6 Mercer Island, WA
7 North Myrtle Beach, SC 7 Davidson, NC
8 Encinitas, CA 8 Redmond, WA
9 Santa Monica, CA 9 Eden Prairie, MN
10 Venice, FL 10 Bay Village, OH

 

Cornelius and Davidson both scored exceptionally high in the ‘affordability’, ‘economy’, and ‘education and health rank’;

Best Beach Towns to Live in (Lake)

Overall Rank
(1 = Best)		 City Total Score ‘Affordability’ Rank ‘Weather’ Rank ‘Safety’ Rank ‘Economy’ Rank ‘Education & Health’ Rank ‘Quality of Life’ Rank
1 Traverse City, MI 69.07 11 14 12 9 14 1
2 Folsom, CA 65.36 2 5 26 7 4 5
3 Cornelius, NC 64.55 1 6 15 6 3 15
4 Holland, MI 61.70 9 12 25 13 10 4
5 Kirkland, WA 61.31 18 30 14 2 6 10
6 Mercer Island, WA 60.73 16 30 13 4 1 20
7 Davidson, NC 60.51 3 9 4 1 7 26
8 Redmond, WA 59.85 19 30 32 3 2 9
9 Eden Prairie, MN 59.08 7 10 10 11 13 19
10 Bay Village, OH 59.06 8 3 1 30 8 34
11 Brookfield, WI 57.98 14 18 22 10 12 13
12 Rocky River, OH 57.65 30 2 6 12 9 22
13 Branson, MO 56.79 17 43 38 17 39 2
14 Pewaukee, WI 56.38 15 25 18 5 17 16
15 Mequon, WI 56.11 13 17 11 14 5 32
16 South Lake Tahoe, CA 55.42 42 23 34 22 23 3
17 Duluth, MN 54.92 32 13 27 21 19 8
18 Alpena, MI 54.69 24 1 16 35 15 12
19 Highland Park, IL 54.50 25 33 7 16 20 17
20 Loveland, CO 54.25 23 34 28 8 22 14
21 Lake Havasu City, AZ 53.25 6 7 35 18 16 18
22 Burlington, VT 53.01 44 37 23 23 11 7
23 Plattsburgh, NY 52.30 34 21 5 25 41 11
24 Vermilion, OH 51.43 29 11 2 34 25 36
25 Stoughton, WI 50.75 33 19 8 27 18 35
26 Laconia, NH 49.76 21 20 21 15 34 24
27 St. Cloud, FL 48.17 4 39 9 26 45 37
28 Shorewood, WI 48.02 39 45 3 28 21 21
29 Portage, IN 47.07 10 24 17 37 24 44
30 Kenosha, WI 47.00 35 28 20 33 32 23
31 Port Huron, MI 45.82 22 8 41 36 28 27
32 Michigan City, IN 44.97 5 27 37 40 30 29
33 Oak Creek, WI 44.75 38 42 19 20 29 41
34 Sebring, FL 44.53 28 36 40 41 46 6
35 Council Bluffs, IA 44.48 40 44 30 19 31 28
36 Lakewood, WA 43.09 37 15 46 31 27 30
37 Racine, WI 43.08 43 22 39 29 38 25
38 Gages Lake, IL 42.26 20 38 36 32 36 45
39 Ashtabula, OH 41.63 41 4 43 45 43 31
40 Oregon, OH 41.41 31 41 31 38 37 38
41 Lake Elsinore, CA 40.64 26 40 42 24 40 43
42 Zion, IL 39.69 46 29 33 39 26 42
43 Hope Mills, NC 39.67 27 35 44 43 35 39
44 Waukegan, IL 39.53 45 26 24 42 42 40
45 Lorain, OH 38.32 36 16 29 46 44 46
46 Morgan City, LA 34.47 12 46 45 44 33 33

 

North Myrtle Beach shined brightest in the ‘affordability’ and ‘weather’ categories;

Best Beach Towns to Live in (Ocean)

Overall Rank
(1 = Best)		 City Total Score ‘Affordability’ Rank ‘Weather’ Rank ‘Safety’ Rank ‘Economy’ Rank ‘Education & Health’ Rank ‘Quality of Life’ Rank
1 Naples, FL 65.61 51 101 15 41 61 1
2 Lahaina, HI 62.81 71 28 4 1 72 10
3 Newport Beach, CA 62.76 107 60 45 22 12 9
4 Carlsbad, CA 62.31 8 79 56 2 15 29
5 Boca Raton, FL 62.30 29 5 81 69 26 16
6 Sarasota, FL 62.27 42 26 106 71 51 3
7 North Myrtle Beach, SC 62.24 6 7 120 20 18 13
8 Encinitas, CA 62.07 7 78 30 7 33 32
9 Santa Monica, CA 61.26 140 36 94 16 48 2
10 Venice, FL 60.95 21 8 66 19 7 48
11 Jupiter, FL 60.93 11 21 76 11 46 87
12 Mill Valley, CA 60.48 115 47 13 44 1 34
13 Coronado, CA 59.85 15 83 16 17 16 51
14 Destin, FL 59.77 2 109 102 53 45 15
15 Laguna Beach, CA 59.21 121 54 85 3 22 24
16 Hermosa Beach, CA 58.66 98 44 17 21 19 36
17 Key Biscayne, FL 58.63 44 67 6 115 9 88
18 San Clemente, CA 58.58 64 50 42 8 41 46
19 Jacksonville Beach, FL 58.06 9 49 99 18 27 38
20 Coral Gables, FL 57.94 47 15 49 54 32 37
21 Vero Beach, FL 57.78 68 31 40 116 83 12
22 Fernandina Beach, FL 57.78 62 40 20 75 70 27
23 Morro Bay, CA 57.48 131 56 2 23 10 59
24 Myrtle Beach, SC 57.33 25 6 138 117 69 4
25 Seal Beach, CA 57.02 99 51 58 6 11 73
26 Santa Barbara, CA 57.00 144 82 59 34 91 6
27 Kihei, HI 56.95 76 29 57 49 39 26
28 Santa Cruz, CA 56.84 142 71 98 52 66 5
29 Edmonds, WA 56.65 59 13 53 12 44 80
30 Alameda, CA 56.52 94 84 62 9 21 45
31 St. Augustine, FL 56.47 80 33 72 108 57 14
32 Stuart, FL 56.40 20 41 87 33 139 20
33 Satellite Beach, FL 56.27 3 63 38 97 24 112
34 Redondo Beach, CA 56.23 101 65 28 38 43 42
35 San Mateo, CA 56.20 138 24 41 10 63 43
36 Manhattan Beach, CA 56.19 83 64 27 25 28 66
37 San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA 56.09 50 127 35 48 55 28
38 Goleta, CA 56.00 96 48 36 13 37 77
39 Atlantic Beach, FL 55.96 39 12 74 59 40 64
40 Kailua, HI 55.72 110 104 46 5 105 17
41 Benicia, CA 55.59 17 4 75 42 52 84
42 Anacortes, WA 55.49 34 69 25 70 81 53
43 Key West, FL 55.44 70 139 26 90 110 7
44 Westport, CT 55.35 58 100 23 45 3 120
45 Rye, NY 55.31 78 95 1 27 17 124
46 Port Royal, SC 55.17 36 1 90 110 4 131
47 Marco Island, FL 55.00 12 143 14 103 13 57
48 Monterey, CA 55.00 129 58 88 55 73 18
49 Wilmington, NC 54.94 63 38 114 87 76 21
50 Dana Point, CA 54.87 81 52 31 28 86 49
51 Portland, ME 54.49 133 108 71 40 65 22
52 Pacific Grove, CA 54.27 125 57 3 35 64 67
53 Ocean City, NJ 54.09 91 110 24 65 122 19
54 Clearwater, FL 53.93 41 43 104 93 102 30
55 Dunedin, FL 53.72 27 105 65 96 62 50
56 Brunswick, ME 53.62 85 90 9 63 60 62
57 Miami Beach, FL 53.04 92 91 133 51 85 11
58 Cocoa Beach, FL 52.72 10 102 116 120 54 31
59 Panama City Beach, FL 52.70 16 88 136 26 144 8
60 Newburyport, MA 52.44 67 126 18 30 35 94
61 Port Washington, NY 52.24 45 134 8 56 29 113
62 Carpinteria, CA 52.08 95 73 11 89 88 65
63 South Portland, ME 51.92 104 111 78 15 53 76
64 Wantagh, NY 51.91 31 138 109 79 2 127
65 Port Lavaca, TX 51.78 28 9 48 67 124 116
66 Bonita Springs, FL 51.67 4 114 146 14 67 69
67 Pensacola, FL 51.63 53 70 101 129 121 23
68 Tarpon Springs, FL 51.61 14 107 96 105 31 85
69 Half Moon Bay, CA 51.60 100 27 97 50 87 44
70 Palos Verdes Estates, CA 51.58 66 118 22 98 36 98
71 New Smyrna Beach, FL 51.51 22 59 93 29 142 47
72 Ormond Beach, FL 51.44 38 17 107 62 115 60
73 Pacifica, CA 51.33 113 20 54 39 25 123
74 Delray Beach, FL 51.29 65 18 113 74 84 54
75 Daly City, CA 51.26 112 16 34 60 79 115
76 Jensen Beach, FL 51.19 30 94 142 47 42 81
77 Swampscott, MA 51.11 90 120 10 43 58 128
78 Fort Walton Beach, FL 50.97 13 103 80 114 132 40
79 Shoreline, WA 50.81 74 92 55 32 23 109
80 Kapolei, HI 50.72 102 34 100 31 50 55
81 Gulfport, FL 50.57 5 62 82 92 113 97
82 North Palm Beach, FL 50.24 24 42 43 124 108 105
83 Great Neck, NY 49.80 109 137 86 118 8 63
84 Hollywood, FL 49.73 57 72 79 113 106 70
85 Newport, RI 49.49 134 116 73 46 135 35
86 Ocean Springs, MS 49.46 19 99 111 132 47 82
87 Boynton Beach, FL 49.46 61 10 119 83 75 83
88 Gulf Shores, AL 49.32 35 142 118 81 78 25
89 Marina, CA 49.23 141 3 39 77 125 117
90 Wailuku, HI 49.02 120 35 4 84 103 61
91 South Yarmouth, MA 48.74 118 68 44 61 34 95
92 Burien, WA 48.62 89 92 95 4 80 111
93 Kaneohe, HI 48.56 123 25 117 24 89 72
94 Salem, MA 48.47 124 125 29 37 116 89
95 Melbourne, FL 48.34 26 45 130 85 112 75
96 Milford, CT 48.29 106 81 47 82 71 110
97 Gloucester, MA 48.21 122 129 37 36 100 86
98 Malibu, CA 48.09 146 122 91 128 20 39
99 Eureka, CA 48.01 75 2 122 106 118 68
100 Lompoc, CA 47.87 82 37 83 95 123 121
101 La Porte, TX 47.84 48 85 69 102 77 144
102 Ewa Beach, HI 47.80 108 22 103 57 59 108
103 Babylon, NY 47.74 18 141 50 101 68 96
104 New Rochelle, NY 47.66 136 87 21 58 99 140
105 Westerly, RI 47.52 130 112 60 121 38 78
106 Norwalk, CT 47.25 126 96 32 76 98 104
107 Merritt Island, FL 47.18 1 55 144 109 93 118
108 Navarre, FL 47.06 32 89 145 112 74 99
109 Mount Sinai, NY 46.98 40 128 137 136 6 143
110 Massapequa, NY 46.82 43 140 115 126 14 107
111 Capitola, CA 46.79 143 86 61 66 107 74
112 Stratford, CT 46.73 119 113 33 135 82 102
113 Hampton, VA 46.41 79 53 19 134 130 126
114 Glen Cove, NY 46.25 111 136 12 86 96 135
115 Watsonville, CA 45.96 135 30 70 100 113 114
116 Hallandale Beach, FL 45.93 72 76 92 64 134 103
117 Galveston, TX 45.87 87 145 89 68 129 41
118 Stony Brook, NY 45.54 52 130 127 143 5 122
119 Long Beach, NY 45.43 73 146 7 88 30 137
120 Revere, MA 45.16 139 124 51 72 90 139
121 Lynn, MA 45.11 132 123 77 78 111 130
122 Lake Worth, FL 44.86 84 19 125 137 101 91
123 Warwick, RI 44.81 97 117 68 91 138 100
124 Ventnor City, NJ 44.71 137 119 64 142 49 106
125 Patchogue, NY 44.47 86 131 52 130 117 71
126 Fort Pierce, FL 44.43 103 14 121 133 131 79
127 Waianae, HI 44.34 116 22 84 139 104 93
128 Hobe Sound, FL 44.03 56 32 112 73 143 125
129 Lantana, FL 43.86 33 74 105 140 126 132
130 Asbury Park, NJ 43.43 145 132 108 119 127 33
131 East Haven, CT 43.42 127 61 63 138 97 136
132 Daytona Beach, FL 43.42 69 39 134 122 145 52
133 Richmond, CA 43.23 117 80 123 94 94 133
134 Cocoa, FL 43.16 37 46 140 144 128 92
135 Biloxi, MS 43.02 49 115 129 107 140 90
136 Hudson, FL 42.98 46 98 128 123 136 119
137 Hilo, HI 42.83 128 106 139 99 141 56
138 Dania Beach, FL 42.59 93 77 110 111 133 101
139 Essex, MD 42.52 114 11 124 145 56 146
140 Apollo Beach, FL 42.17 23 121 143 80 92 138
141 Panama City, FL 41.71 54 66 135 131 146 58
142 Hull, MA 41.21 105 144 67 104 95 134
143 Riviera Beach, FL 40.56 55 74 132 125 120 141
144 Hampton Bays, NY 40.01 60 135 126 127 119 129
145 Shirley, NY 37.83 77 133 131 141 109 145
146 Holiday, FL 36.44 88 97 141 146 137 142

Cornelius’ new title comes just 3 years after they opened Mecklenburg County’s first public beach in Ramsey Creek Park;

Do you agree with the rankings?

What do you think the best town in America is?

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