The Town FilesCornelius, North Carolina
Town in Mecklenburg County · population 31,412 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $559,400
- Household income
- $113,767
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 44.0
Cornelius is a town of 31,412 people in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $559,400, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 96% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 95% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 95% of North Carolina towns.
How Cornelius ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cornelius is worth $559,400, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $113,767, which is more affordable than 18% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,722 a month. 69.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cornelius | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $559,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,722 | $969 |
| Median household income | $113,767 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 69.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2002 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Cornelius
| People | Cornelius | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.8% | — |
| Work from home | 28.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in Cornelius
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 28.9°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.0 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 61 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 74 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cornelius since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 7, 2023 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 65 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 7, 1998.
Severe weather in Mecklenburg County since 1996
Mecklenburg County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County had 788,436 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $88,111 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Cornelius itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Cornelius
5 public schools with 5,472 students, about 19.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Amos Hough High | 9-12 | 2,503 | 21.4 |
| Bailey Middle | 6-8 | 1,325 | 18.2 |
| J.V. Washam Elementary | K-5 | 810 | 16.9 |
| Cornelius Elementary | K-5 | 556 | 15.0 |
| Lakeside Charter Academy (charter) | K-8 | 278 | 21.4 |
Towns near Cornelius
- Davidson, NC3.4 mi · 15,106 people · home $687,700
- Huntersville, NC4.6 mi · 61,376 people · home $472,900
- Lake Norman of Iredell, NC5.6 mi · 11,395 people · home $887,400
- Westport, NC5.6 mi · 5,705 people · home $580,000
- Lowesville, NC7.7 mi · 3,281 people · home $406,500
- Mooresville, NC8.2 mi · 50,193 people · home $390,900
- Denver, NC10.5 mi · 2,697 people · home $296,300
- Lake Norman of Catawba, NC10.5 mi · 8,658 people · home $492,600
Cornelius questions
Is Cornelius, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cornelius scores better for retirees than 68% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 11%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.0).
How much does a house cost in Cornelius?
The median owner-occupied home in Cornelius is valued at $559,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $113,767, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $1,722 a month.
What is the weather like in Cornelius?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 28.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 3.0 inches of snow.
Does Cornelius get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cornelius since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 7, 2023. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)