Darien, IL 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.
Darien
75.1
#500 nationally
Matthews
68.7
#1294 nationally
Darien leads in crime level (1.1 vs 5.1). Darien leads in walk score (35 vs 16). Matthews leads in average commute (26.9 min vs 29.7 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Darien, IL | Matthews, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75.1 (#500) | 68.7 (#1294) |
| Population | 21,698 | 30,934 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $463,450 | $514,763 |
| Median Household Income | $110,546 | $103,405 |
| Average Commute | 29.7 min | 26.9 min |
| Walk Score | 35 | 16 |
| Crime Level | 1.1 | 5.1 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 122 | 116 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+13.3 | D+32.9 |
C
75.1 Score
Darien, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$463,450
Population
21,698
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
35
Midwest
View Darien, IL →
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 →