St. Matthews is a small town of 1,932 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $35,950
and a 17.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
St. Matthews stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether St. Matthews is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All St. 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: 92.9
St. Matthews's overall cost of living index is 92.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in St. Matthews costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
St. Matthews, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$118,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,058
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$35,950
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
St. Matthews's violent crime rate is 329.3 per 100,000 residents
— 13% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
329.3 /100k
Property Crime
1427.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
St. Matthews is served primarily by Calhoun 01.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
St. Matthews, SC
National Avg
School District
Calhoun 01
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
23.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
St. Matthews sees average highs of 59.6°F in January
and 92.9°F in July,
with 49.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.1 inches of snow per year.
St. Matthews's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes St. Matthews roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $118,300 and median rent is $1,058/month.
St. Matthews's violent crime rate is 329.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1427.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in St. Matthews are operated by Calhoun 01.
The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 23.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
St. Matthews, SC has a population of 1,932, a median household income of $35,950, and an unemployment rate of 17.3%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
St. Matthews averages 59.6°F in January and 92.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.0 inches
with about 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
St. Matthews, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29135.
The population of St. Matthews, South Carolina is 1,932 with a median age of 43.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in St. Matthews: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $118,300, median household income $35,950, crime index 79 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare St. Matthews side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.