St. Matthews: Economy & Jobs
St. Matthews's typical household earns $51,310 (1.1× below Calhoun County median $58,682; 1.4× below South Carolina median $70,111), with homes at a median value of $204,200. The surrounding county supports 4,558 jobs (avg $60,842).
- $63,323 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $51,310 — below the South Carolina median ($70,110). Poverty rate 31.1% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 65% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 4.0× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 19.3% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 65.1% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 31.1% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 1.5% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $6,470 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $409,702 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $63,323 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $63,073 |
| Median Household Income | $51,310 (vs South Carolina $70,111) |
| Poverty Rate | 31.1% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $51,310 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 4.7% — above the U.S. average of ~4%. 13% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 13.1% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 4,558 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $277,299,759 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $60,842 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 2,222,950 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7% (vs South Carolina 5.1%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 286 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 89,870 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 314.20 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Animal Totals, Cotton, Poultry Totals, Vegetable Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 247 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 3,611 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 185,045 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 12 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Insurance Agencies | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Law Offices | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Home Health | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Full Service Restaurants | 5 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 5 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 4 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (3)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (1)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Dollar General 22768 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 1 |
Sources: USDA SNAP — county FIPS aggregate
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | CALHOUN FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $109,746,746 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 7,772.98 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 14,119 people |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 64.8% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 13.3% |
| Pct Walked | 13.1% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 54.3 years (vs South Carolina 40.5y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 35.9% |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12