What are the schools like in Matthews, NC?

Matthews is served primarily by Socrates Academy. The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 19.6:1.

What is the median household income in Matthews?

The median household income in Matthews, NC is $103,405 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.0%.

What is the weather like in Matthews, NC?

Matthews has an average high temperature of 52.7°F in January and 90.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 2.1 inches.

Matthews, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Matthews, NC affordable or expensive?

Matthews's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Matthews is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $360,000 and the median rent is $1,495 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Matthews, NC?

Matthews has a violent crime rate of 184.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2654.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Matthews, NC a Good Place to Live?

Matthews is a small city of 29,613 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $103,405 and a 3.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Matthews stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Matthews is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Matthews city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 97.0

Matthews's overall cost of living index is 97.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Matthews costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Matthews, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$360,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,495	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$103,405	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Matthews's violent crime rate is 184.6 per 100,000 residents — 51% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

184.6 /100k

Property Crime

2654.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Matthews is served primarily by Socrates Academy. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Matthews, NC	National Avg
School District	Socrates Academy	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	19.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	52.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Matthews sees average highs of 52.7°F in January and 90.5°F in July, with 37.9 inches of annual precipitation and 2.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Matthews, NC
Average High — January	52.7°F
Average High — July	90.5°F
Annual Precipitation	37.9"
Annual Snowfall	2.1"

Demographics

Metric	Matthews, NC	National Avg
Population	29,613	—
Median Age	39.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	73.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	12.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.1%	18.9%
Asian	6.1%	6.3%
Under 18	20.4%	22.2%
65 and over	18.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Stallings, NC 3 mi Hemby Bridge, NC 5 mi Lake Park, NC 5 mi Indian Trail, NC 5 mi Mint Hill, NC 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Matthews

Matthews, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28105

Matthews vs Other Cities

Matthews, NC vs Stallings, NC Matthews, NC vs Hemby Bridge, NC Matthews, NC vs Lake Park, NC Matthews, NC vs Indian Trail, NC Matthews, NC vs Mint Hill, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Matthews, NC affordable or expensive?

Matthews's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Matthews roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $360,000 and median rent is $1,495/month.

What is the crime rate in Matthews, NC?

Matthews's violent crime rate is 184.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2654.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Matthews?

Public schools in Matthews are operated by Socrates Academy. The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.6:1. 52.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Matthews, NC a good place to live?

Matthews, NC has a population of 29,613, a median household income of $103,405, and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Matthews?

Matthews averages 52.7°F in January and 90.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.9 inches with about 2.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Matthews?

Matthews, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28105.

What is the population of Matthews?

The population of Matthews, North Carolina is 29,613 with a median age of 39.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Matthews?

Key numbers for living in Matthews: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $360,000, median household income $103,405, crime index 80 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Matthews side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.