The Town FilesMathews, Virginia
Community in Mathews County · population 525 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $193,400
- Household income
- $55,481
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 35.3
Mathews is a community of 525 people in Mathews County, Virginia. The median home is worth $193,400, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more seaside character than 98% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 96% of Virginia towns, better for a vacation home than 92% of Virginia towns.
How Mathews ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Mathews is worth $193,400, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $55,481, which is more affordable than 67% of Virginia towns. 63.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mathews | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,400 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | — | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $55,481 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 63.7% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.2% | — |
Who lives in Mathews
| People | Mathews | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.7% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.7% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.1% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 1.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 0.9% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 91.8% |
Weather in Mathews
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 29.4°F. About 51.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.5 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mathews since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 16, 2011 about 5.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 28 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 9, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on May 2, 2016.
Severe weather in Mathews County since 1996
Mathews County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| October 15, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4401: Hurricane Florence |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
Jobs and pay in Mathews County
Mathews County had 1,576 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,476 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Mathews itself the ACS puts it at 13.9%.
Public schools in Mathews
3 public schools with 840 students, about 10.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathews Elementary | PK-4 | 298 | 11.0 |
| Mathews High | 9-12 | 297 | 10.2 |
| Thomas Hunter Middle | 5-8 | 245 | 11.1 |
Towns near Mathews
- Gwynn, VA4.3 mi · 578 people · home $421,400
- Deltaville, VA7.5 mi · 1,057 people · home $404,500
- Gloucester Courthouse, VA11.1 mi · 3,030 people · home $381,500
- Gloucester Point, VA15.2 mi · 10,587 people · home $320,700
- Saluda, VA18.4 mi · 627 people · home $263,800
- Kilmarnock, VA18.7 mi · 1,445 people · home $282,400
- Poquoson, VA21.8 mi · 12,460 people · home $400,300
- Cape Charles, VA21.8 mi · 1,178 people · home $640,600
Mathews questions
Is Mathews, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mathews scores better for retirees than 96% of Virginia towns and quieter than 89%. 26.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.3).
How much does a house cost in Mathews?
The median owner-occupied home in Mathews is valued at $193,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,481, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Mathews?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 29.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 8.5 inches of snow.
Does Mathews get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mathews since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 16, 2011. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- 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)