The Town FilesMatthews, Missouri
City in New Madrid County · population 534 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $108,400
- Household income
- $42,695
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 53.2
Matthews is a city of 534 people in New Madrid County, Missouri. The median home is worth $108,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 94% of Missouri towns, hipper than 71% of Missouri towns.
How Matthews ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Matthews is worth $108,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $42,695, which is more affordable than 63% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $749 a month. 63.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Matthews | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $108,400 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $749 | $855 |
| Median household income | $42,695 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 63.2% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Matthews
| People | Matthews | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.2 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.2% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 14.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 88.7% |
Weather in Matthews
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 27.8°F. About 49.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.1 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 56 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 74 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Matthews since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 22, 1981 about 5.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 23 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 7, 1971.
Severe weather in New Madrid County since 1996
New Madrid County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4803: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 21, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4741: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4552: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in New Madrid County
New Madrid County had 7,504 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,792 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Matthews itself the ACS puts it at 10.8%.
Public schools in Matthews
1 public school with 144 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATTHEWS ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 144 | 12.0 |
Towns near Matthews
- Sikeston, MO8.8 mi · 16,291 people · home $168,800
- Morehouse, MO9.2 mi · 741 people · home $56,000
- East Prairie, MO10.3 mi · 2,943 people · home $68,400
- Miner, MO10.5 mi · 916 people · home $131,600
- Lilbourn, MO11.7 mi · 994 people · home $57,300
- New Madrid, MO11.8 mi · 2,787 people · home $127,500
- Bertrand, MO12.2 mi · 718 people · home $86,300
- Charleston, MO17.0 mi · 5,056 people · home $123,700
Matthews questions
Is Matthews, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Matthews scores better for retirees than 39% of Missouri towns and quieter than 49%. 26.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.2).
How much does a house cost in Matthews?
The median owner-occupied home in Matthews is valued at $108,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,695, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $749 a month.
What is the weather like in Matthews?
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 27.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.6 inches of precipitation a year and 3.1 inches of snow.
Does Matthews get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Matthews since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 22, 1981. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- 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)