Chapel Hill, NC vs Matthews, NC

Matthews is moderately more affordable than Chapel Hill, with a 7% lower cost of living index. Chapel Hill scores 126 compared to 118 for Matthews, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Chapel Hill can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Chapel Hill is $1,483/month compared to $1,670/month in Matthews — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Chapel Hill has cheaper rent, Matthews actually has lower median home values ($406,800 vs $576,500).

Median household income in Chapel Hill is $85,825 compared to $105,579 in Matthews (-18.7%). Matthews offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Chapel Hill spend roughly 20.7% of their income on rent, more than the 19% in Matthews.