Matthews, NC — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·North Carolina·Matthews

Mecklenburg County · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia · population 32,048

InvestorsGrowing fastRenter-friendly
Matthews, NC
Image: Wikipedia · Matthews, North Carolina
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
View watchlist →
69
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Matthews stands

At or near all-time high. averaging 7.4% annual growth over 5 years. population growing 2.1% per year.

Median home $505,820
1-year +1.0%
5-yr CAGR +7.4%
vs 5-yr peak -0.1%
Population +2.1%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-02$506k$224k$325k$426k$526k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
22/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
87/100
Excellent for remote work
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$1,742/mo$1,392$1,659$1,926202220242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent143118100120140202220242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 24.2
Lean rent

At a 24.2 price-to-rent ratio, the math is starting to lean toward renting in Matthews. Owner-occupier ROI requires longer holds and the assumption that prices keep appreciating roughly at the rate of rent.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
55 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
76 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
81 · w16%
Rent YoY
25 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
79 · w10%
Long thesis

Matthews has been growing population at 2.1% per year while home values compounded +7.4% annually. Demand-driven appreciation — the kind that persists as long as people keep showing up, which they currently are.

Short thesis

Matthews's rents are softening (-4.1% YoY) while home values stall (+1.0%). When rents fall, the cap-rate math gets ugly for investors and the 'rent vs buy' equation tilts toward renting — neither helps prices.

About Matthews

Matthews is a city in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, with an estimated population of 32,048. It anchors the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metro area. The population has grown 2.1% per year on average between 2020 and 2024 — among the faster-growing communities in the state. The median home value in Matthews is $505,820 as of 2026-04, up 1.0% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +7.4% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Matthews average $1,742 per month, down 4.1% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 69 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●People are voting with their feet: population growing 2.1% per year since 2020 — that’s faster than ~80% of US cities.
●Healthy 5-year run: +7.4% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
●Held the highs: currently -0.1% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

About Matthews (Wikipedia)

Matthews is a town in southeastern Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States. It is a suburb of Charlotte. The population was 29,435 as of the 2020 census.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Mecklenburg County right now.

NWS active alerts (NC)North Carolina Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Mecklenburg County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Matthews

Cornelius, NC71 · RisingSanford, NC77 · RisingSouthern Pines, NC71 · RisingMint Hill, NC73 · Rising

Run the numbers for Matthews

ToolCan I afford Matthews?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Matthews rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Matthews to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolMatthews cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
50° / 30°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
88° / 68°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
213
~58% of year
Annual precip
50″ rain
6″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
High
Tornado
Moderate
Wildfire
Low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
High

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Matthews listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
71%
Humid climate
Median household income
$67,500
North Carolina state median
Top industries (state-level)
Banking (Charlotte)Tech (RTP)Manufacturing

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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