Elon, NC vs Matthews, NC

Elon is moderately more affordable than Matthews, with a 7% lower cost of living index. Elon scores 110 compared to 118 for Matthews, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Matthews can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Elon is $1,584/month compared to $1,670/month in Matthews — a 5% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Elon is more affordable at $355,800 median vs $406,800.

Median household income in Elon is $82,717 compared to $105,579 in Matthews (-21.7%). While Matthews is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Elon spend roughly 23% of their income on rent, more than the 19% in Matthews.