Population 32,497 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Cornelius
Household size in Cornelius
| Period | Cornelius | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.26 | 2.60 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.39 | 2.68 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.35 | 2.67 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.34 | 2.62 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Cornelius is a place of small households, averaging 2.34 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.26, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Cornelius
| Period | Cornelius | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.5 | 36.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.9 | 37.8 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.6 | 38.6 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.5 | 38.8 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.0 | +2.0 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 44.5, Cornelius is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.5, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Cornelius
| Period | Cornelius | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 12.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 11.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 11.3% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Cornelius: 7.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Cornelius has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of North Carolina cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Cornelius
Renters in Cornelius
| Period | Cornelius | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.4% | 30.9% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.1% | 33.4% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.8% | 34.3% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.3% | 34.1% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Cornelius own their homes; 31.3% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among owners, 29.2% have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northwest. The renter share has risen 3.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Cornelius
| Period | Cornelius | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 10.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 10.0% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 8.6% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 8.3% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.0 pts | −2.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Cornelius: 7.8% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across the Charlotte area. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 6.0 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Cornelius
| Period | Cornelius | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1997 | 1986 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1997 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 2000 | 1989 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1998 | 1994 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +8 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Cornelius is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1998, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the north. Cornelius has newer homes than at least four in five North Carolina cities.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Cornelius
| Period | Cornelius | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,181 | $875 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,160 | $966 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,300 | $1,127 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,822 | $1,552 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$641 | +$678 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in Cornelius pays $1,822 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $641 a month from 2006–10, a 54% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.9% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northeast; the highest are in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Cornelius
Bachelor's degrees in Cornelius
| Period | Cornelius | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.2% | 30.6% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 54.3% | 32.4% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 54.3% | 35.9% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 61.1% | 40.6% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.0 pts | +10.0 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Cornelius is highly educated: about six in ten adults 25 and older (61.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 9.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only ten of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Cornelius
| Period | Cornelius | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.6% | 85.8% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.4% | 87.3% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.0% | 89.2% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.3% | 90.6% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +4.8 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Cornelius: 97.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 1.7 points, mirroring the country. Only 11 of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Cornelius
| Period | Cornelius | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 9.1% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 10.8% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.4% | 4.3% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −4.8 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Cornelius has been low: just 2.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 28 have lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.5 points, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Cornelius compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornelius | 2.34 | 44.5 | 7.3% | 31.3% | 7.8% | 1998 | $1,822 | 61.1% | 97.3% | 2.4% |
| Davidson | 2.86 | 43.6 | 4.5% | 18.2% | 7.4% | 2002 | $1,745 | 70.5% | 97.6% | 3.5% |
| Huntersville | 2.67 | 40.1 | 7.9% | 26.2% | 5.0% | 2005 | $2,062 | 57.9% | 97.0% | 3.2% |
| Denver | 2.59 | 46.2 | 5.7% | 15.1% | 9.1% | 2004 | $1,322 | 43.8% | 95.8% | 4.3% |
| Mooresville | 2.61 | 41.3 | 8.3% | 29.0% | 9.2% | 2001 | $1,601 | 47.1% | 95.1% | 4.0% |
| Machpelah | 2.51 | 43.3 | 9.5% | 14.5% | 9.8% | 1999 | $821 | 33.5% | 95.8% | 3.0% |
| Terrell | 2.47 | 55.5 | 2.7% | 6.8% | 27.0% | 2000 | $1,307 | 50.3% | 94.8% | 10.7% |
| Lake Norman of Catawba | 2.22 | 54.2 | 5.1% | 19.7% | 18.0% | 1999 | $1,266 | 42.9% | 93.9% | 3.6% |
| Mariposa | 2.73 | 48.3 | 2.5% | 8.8% | 6.9% | 1990 | $1,011 | 37.3% | 89.4% | 2.9% |
| Stanley | 2.58 | 43.7 | 9.1% | 19.1% | 6.6% | 1990 | $1,260 | 25.2% | 89.6% | 3.1% |
| Iron Station | 2.63 | 44.2 | 14.6% | 9.2% | 9.0% | 1996 | $1,243 | 26.3% | 87.2% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Indiana, PA · Port Chester, NY · Oakton, VA · Oak Ridge, TN · Norwood, MA · Naugatuck, CT · Marysville, OH · Long Branch, NJ · Lewis Center, OH · Lafayette, CO
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Cornelius. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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