Cost of Living in Buchanan County, Virginia
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Buchanan County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Buchanan County ranks #208 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 7%)
Sourced county brief
Buchanan County Official GRAPI Reaches 50.0 Percent
In Buchanan County, the official GRAPI is 50.0%, which is 21.4 percentage points higher than the Virginia unweighted county mean of 28.6%. The median gross rent for the county was estimated at $743 per month, while the median renter-household income is $22,544. Regarding owner-occupied housing, the median home value is $94,900, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $295,808. The median selected monthly owner cost for all owner-occupied units in the county is $404, compared to the Virginia unweighted mean of $1,190. These statistics are derived from the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. The GRAPI figure represents the median gross rent as a percentage of household income among renter-occupied units. This summary is a data snapshot and does not offer causal explanations for the recorded values. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Buchanan County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 50.0% of renter household income in Buchanan County, which is at or above the 50% severe-burden benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $743 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $404. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $29,720 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Virginia unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,170 per month. Buchanan County's $743 median is 36.5% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Buchanan County
Rent Burden
20.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,001
per month
Owner Cost Burden
11.3%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Buchanan County
Median home value is $94,900. Estimated monthly cost: $758 vs. your max of $1,001.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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