Cost of Living in Essex 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 Essex County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Essex County ranks #2,068 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 34%)
Sourced county brief
Essex County Rent-to-Income Percentage Reaches 32.4%
In Essex County, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 32.4%. This is 3.8 percentage points higher than the Virginia unweighted county mean GRAPI of 28.6%. The median gross rent for the county was estimated at $972 per month, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $1,170. Renter households had an estimated median income of $44,176. For owner-occupied properties, the median selected monthly owner cost was $955, while the state unweighted county mean was $1,190. The median home value in the county was $238,100, which is $57,708 lower than the Virginia unweighted county mean of $295,808. These figures from the 2020-2024 ACS 5-year estimates provide a statistical snapshot of housing costs relative to income levels for residents of the county. 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: Essex County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.4% of renter household income in Essex County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $972 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $955. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $38,880 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. Essex County's $972 median is 16.9% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Essex County
Rent Burden
20.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,319
per month
Owner Cost Burden
20.3%
of gross income
The median home in Essex County may be a stretch
Median home value is $238,100. Estimated monthly cost: $1,901 vs. your max of $1,319.
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
What is the cost of living in Essex County, Virginia?
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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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