Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Matthews, NC

    Is Matthews a good place to live?

    Watch Matthews

    Matthews ranks #8 of 43 North Carolina cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (70/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.2% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $406,800
    +13.0% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,670
    per month
    Household income
    $105,579
    median
    Unemployment
    2.2%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Matthews

    The median home value in Matthews is $406,800 and median rent is $1,670 a month, against a median household income of $105,579. Homes cost about 3.9× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Matthews crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across North Carolina the 2025 rate was 331 violent and 1,811 property crimes per 100,000 people — #15 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Matthews, NC

    Matthews has about 29,959 residents, 2.2% unemployment and 38% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Matthews with

    Matthews vs CharlotteMatthews vs RaleighMatthews vs GreensboroMatthews vs DurhamMatthews vs Winston-SalemMatthews vs FayettevilleMatthews vs CaryMatthews vs Wilmington

    More: Where to move in North Carolina · Best counties in North Carolina

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report