C-

Matthews, GA

Source:

Affordability Score: 51/100

Population: 555 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Matthews, GA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 555 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C- (51/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $54,784, median home value of $283,900, median rent of per month, and 33.6% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $973 per month (studio $788, 1BR $793, 3BR $1,167, 4BR $1,452). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $5,642 per year, consuming 10% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Matthews, GA include rent. Pressure points are housing. Unemployment currently reads 0.0% and poverty 30.7% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income D
$54,784
Median household income
Education C
33.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
5.2x
Home value $283,900 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent B+
$973/mo
2BR fair market rent (21% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare B
$5,642/yr
Center-based infant care (10% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$54,784
▼ 12% vs national
Per Capita Income
$46,721
Unemployment Rate
0.0%
Poverty Rate
30.7%

Housing

Median Home Value
$283,900
▲ 3% vs national
Median Rent
Owner Occupied
59.2%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$973/mo
▼ 19% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$788
1BR
$793
2BR
$973
3BR
$1,167
4BR
$1,452

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
33.6%
▲ 4 ppt vs national
High School+
90.1%
Median Age
55.5
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$5,642/yr
10% of income
Toddler (Center)
$5,304/yr
Preschool (Center)
$5,304/yr
School-Age (Center)
$2,860/yr

What This Means

Matthews, GA receives an overall affordability grade of C- (51/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 555. This area performs well in rent. Challenges include housing. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Matthews, GA affordable?
Matthews, GA receives an overall affordability grade of C- (51/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $54,784. Median home value is $283,900.
What is the cost of living in Matthews?
Key cost metrics: 2BR fair market rent $973/mo. Infant childcare $5,642/yr. Median home value $283,900.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →