Matthews, NC vs Waukee, IA
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.
Matthews
68.7
#1294 nationally
Waukee
77.3
#263 nationally
Waukee leads in average commute (19.6 min vs 26.9 min). Waukee leads in crime level (3.9 vs 5.1). Waukee leads in cost of living index (106 vs 116).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Matthews, NC | Waukee, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.7 (#1294) | 77.3 (#263) |
| Population | 30,934 | 31,645 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $514,763 | $343,274 |
| Median Household Income | $103,405 | $106,846 |
| Average Commute | 26.9 min | 19.6 min |
| Walk Score | 16 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 5.1 | 3.9 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 116 | 106 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+32.9 | R+4.8 |
Data coverage note: Waukee is missing data for 1 metric that Matthews has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
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 →
C+
77.3 Score
Waukee, IA
Small Iowa city with local appeal
Median Home
$343,274
Population
31,645
Crime
Low
Median Income
$106,846
Midwest
View Waukee, IA →