Matthews Becomes State's First Age-Friendly Community

Matthews is the first town in the state to join the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities. The program helps participating towns and cities become increasingly livable for people of all ages by adopting safe, walkable streets; better housing and transportation options; access to key services; and opportunities for residents to participate in community activities.

With a population of about 30,000, Matthews already has greenways and paths for pedestrians and bicyclists. It also has extensive housing for retired people, according to Mayor Jim Taylor. “A lot of people are moving to Matthews to be with their children or grandchildren,” he said.

Joining the network is a first step. To learn how Matthews and other communities are working to become better places to live for people of all ages, go to aarp.org/agefriendly.