Cost to Own
United States › North Carolina › Mecklenburg County › Matthews Population 29,959 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-15
Before you budget for Matthews FEMA rates natural hazard risk in Mecklenburg County Relatively High, with river flooding its highest-ranked hazard against other US counties. It shapes what insurers charge here. See what threatens homes in this county

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Matthews, North Carolina

A $407,000 home here costs

$3,201

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $137,000 a year.

P&I 70%Tax 7%Insurance 5%Utilities 7%Upkeep 11%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,254. The real number is $946 higher every month, 42% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Mecklenburg County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Matthews median: $406,800
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
NC average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $325,600 borrowed $2,254
Property tax0.701% effective rate for Matthews itself $238
Homeowners insuranceNorth Carolina averages $1,192/yr (NAIC), or 0.435% of home value $148
Electricity15.16ยข/kWh, North Carolina residential average, EIA $154
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $339
Total monthly $3,201

Matthews against Mecklenburg County and North Carolina

MeasureMatthewsMecklenburg County
Median home value$406,800$371,200
Median property tax$2,853$2,780
Effective tax rate0.701%0.749%
Median gross rent$1,670$1,521
Population29,9591,130,906

The weather behind that power bill

Matthews sits in Mecklenburg County, which averages a high of 90.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 31.8°F in its coldest, with 43.6" of precipitation a year and 28% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,769 cooling and 3,058 heating degree days, which is what sets the $154 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Mecklenburg County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Mecklenburg County

Full Mecklenburg County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Matthews averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Matthews every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Matthews I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Matthews?

A $407,000 home in Matthews, North Carolina costs approximately $3,201 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $2,254 principal and interest, $238 property tax, $148 homeowners insurance, $222 utilities and $339 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Matthews?

Matthews has an effective property tax rate of 0.701%, based on a median home value of $406,800 and median real estate taxes of $2,853. That is lower than the Mecklenburg County average of 0.749%.

What is the average home price in Matthews?

The median owner-occupied home value in Matthews, North Carolina is $406,800, against $371,200 across Mecklenburg County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Matthews?

Median gross rent in Matthews is $1,670 a month, against $3,201 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Matthews?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Matthews, North Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $137,000 a year. That covers the full $3,201 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Matthews, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for North Carolina.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology