Matthews, North Carolina Demographics
Population trends, housing costs, income, commuting, and health, all on one page.
Matthews, NC Population Density Map and Area Scores
Area Score
Health, income and education, each graded from F to A+. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
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A
Health Above average
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B
Income Around average
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A+
Education Top grade
Source: Map AI Methodology
Population
| Metric | Matthews | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,912 | 10,724,323 | 337,468,954 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 1914.4 | 199.1 | 86.4 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.20% | 0.97% | 0.59% |
| Median age | 37.9 | 37.7 | 37.3 |
| Households | 12,743 | 4,279,225 | 130,235,071 |
Population in Matthews grew by 9.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching 32,912 in 2024.
Population Growth 2009–2024
Race & Ethnicity
Age & Sex
The largest generation in Matthews is Millennials, aged 29–44, at 22.1% of residents. That is 0.7 points above North Carolina as a whole.
- Gen Z 13–28 6,662 20.2% -1.6 pts
- Millennials 29–44 7,271 22.1% +0.7 pts
- Gen X 45–60 6,989 21.2% +0.7 pts
- Boomers 61–79 5,087 15.5% -1.5 pts
Residents by birth cohort, from the 2025 age distribution. The right-hand figure is how far each cohort's share sits above or below North Carolina, in percentage points. Children younger than Gen Z and the generations before the Boomers are counted in the population but not shown here, so these shares do not add up to 100%.
Male and female share
Women are 51.6% of the people living in Matthews and men 48.4%.
- Women 51.6% North Carolina 51.1%
- Men 48.4% North Carolina 48.9%
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Economy
Matthews has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Matthews | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $108,216 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.11% | 5.20% | 4.80% |
| Unemployment rate | 2.4% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Matthews is about 49% higher than in North Carolina.
Housing
| Metric | Matthews | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $385,162 | $278,288 | $248,835 |
| Median rent | $1,740 | $1,227 | $1,407 |
| Homeownership rate | 62.7% | 66.6% | 65.2% |
The median home price in Matthews is about 18.4 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,740 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Matthews spend about 47 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 197 hours, about 8.2 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Matthews | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 23.7 | 21.9 | 22.4 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 47.4 | 43.7 | 44.8 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 197 | 182 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $6,119 | $5,645 | $5,790 |
| Work from home | 18.1% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 18,635 | 8,330 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 4,102 | 1,609 | 1,355 |
The average commute time in Matthews is 24 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in North Carolina.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Matthews has a education index of A+, which means it is exceptionally educated.
| Metric | Matthews | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.1% | 31.1% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.56 | 2.44 | 2.53 |
Health
Matthews has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Matthews | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.9 | 77.1 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 9.0% | 16.8% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 12.8% | 20.7% | 19.0% |
Matthews, NC Compared With Nearby Cities
How Matthews, NC compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Median home price | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthews, NC | 32,912 | $108,216 #1/3 | $385,162 #2/3 | 23.7 min #1/3 |
| Indian Trail, NC | 33,281 | $100,729 | $431,741 | 26.9 min |
| Mint Hill, NC | 25,060 | $97,851 | $352,520 | 30.4 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Matthews, North Carolina.
How many people live in Matthews, North Carolina?
About 32,912 people live in Matthews, North Carolina, in 12,743 households of 2.6 people on average. The median age is 37.9, close to the U.S. median of 37.3.
How densely populated is Matthews, North Carolina?
Averaged over its land area, Matthews, North Carolina has 1,914 people per square mile, a density typical of urban and suburban areas. That is about 22 times the U.S. average of 86.
Is Matthews, North Carolina an affordable place to live?
The median home costs 3.6 times the median household income ($385,162 against $108,216), compared with 3.1 times nationally. A ratio of about 3 is traditionally considered affordable. Median rent of $1,740 a month takes about 19% of the median household's income, below the 30% level at which HUD considers renters cost-burdened.
How strong is the job market in Matthews, North Carolina?
Unemployment in Matthews, North Carolina is only 2.4%, well below the U.S. rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What share of adults in Matthews, North Carolina have a college degree?
49.1% of adults in Matthews, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher (about 1 in 2), well above the U.S. share of 31.6%.
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