The Town FilesMatthews, North Carolina
Town in Mecklenburg County · population 29,435 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $445,100
- Household income
- $108,611
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 40.1
Matthews is a town of 29,435 people in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $445,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 95% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 95% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 93% of North Carolina towns.
How Matthews ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Matthews is worth $445,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $108,611, which is more affordable than 41% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,764 a month. 64.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Matthews | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $445,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,764 | $969 |
| Median household income | $108,611 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 64.4% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Matthews
| People | Matthews | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.4% | — |
| Work from home | 18.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Matthews
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 32.0°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Matthews since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 5, 1989 about 6.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 18 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 5, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 4, 1985.
Severe weather in Mecklenburg County since 1996
Mecklenburg County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County had 788,436 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $88,111 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Matthews itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Matthews
14 public schools with 13,256 students, about 18.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weddington High | 9-12 | 1,857 | 22.1 |
| Butler High School | 9-12 | 1,843 | 17.1 |
| Weddington Middle | 6-8 | 1,403 | 22.3 |
| Crestdale Middle | 6-8 | 987 | 19.0 |
| Socrates Academy (charter) | K-11 | 947 | 16.6 |
| Mint Hill Middle | 6-8 | 869 | 16.1 |
| Antioch Elementary | K-5 | 842 | 16.2 |
| Mint Hill Elementary School | K-5 | 826 | 16.2 |
| Matthews Charter Academy (charter) | K-8 | 775 | 23.5 |
| Matthews Elementary | K-5 | 738 | 17.2 |
| Weddington Elementary | PK-5 | 662 | 14.7 |
| Elizabeth Lane Elementary | K-5 | 660 | 15.0 |
Towns near Matthews
- Stallings, NC2.9 mi · 16,112 people · home $428,000
- Indian Trail, NC4.8 mi · 39,997 people · home $385,000
- Lake Park, NC4.9 mi · 3,269 people · home $334,500
- Mint Hill, NC5.1 mi · 26,450 people · home $428,900
- Weddington, NC6.9 mi · 13,181 people · home $824,100
- Wesley Chapel, NC7.9 mi · 8,681 people · home $535,500
- Charlotte, NC9.2 mi · 874,579 people · home $385,700
- Marvin, NC10.3 mi · 6,358 people · home $906,000
Matthews questions
Is Matthews, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Matthews scores better for retirees than 49% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 24%. 20.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.1).
How much does a house cost in Matthews?
The median owner-occupied home in Matthews is valued at $445,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,611, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,764 a month.
What is the weather like in Matthews?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 32.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 2.3 inches of snow.
Does Matthews get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Matthews since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 5, 1989. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)