Athens, AL vs Matthews, NC
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Athens
70
#1140 nationally
Matthews
68.7
#1294 nationally
Matthews leads in median household income ($103,405 vs $57,444). Matthews leads in crime level (5.1 vs 6.7). Athens leads in walk score (21 vs 16).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Athens, AL | Matthews, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70 (#1140) | 68.7 (#1294) |
| Population | 30,904 | 30,934 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $311,050 | $514,763 |
| Median Household Income | $57,444 | $103,405 |
| Average Commute | 24.5 min | 26.9 min |
| Walk Score | 21 | 16 |
| Crime Level | 6.7 | 5.1 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 93 | 116 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+43.9 | D+32.9 |
C-
70 Score
Athens, AL
Small Alabama city with local appeal
Median Home
$311,050
Population
30,904
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
21
Southeast
View Athens, AL →
D+
68.7 Score
Matthews, NC
Small North Carolina city with local appeal
Median Home
$514,763
Population
30,934
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
16
Southeast
View Matthews, NC →