Cost of Living in James City 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 James City County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
James City County ranks #2,949 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 6%)
Sourced county brief
James City County Median Home Value is $447,200
James City County has a median home value of $447,200, which is $151,392 higher than the Virginia unweighted county mean of $295,808. The median gross rent was estimated at $1,552 per month, which is $382 above the state unweighted county mean of $1,170. The county's rentToIncomePct is 33.7%, which is 5.1 percentage points above the Virginia unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 28.6%. This figure is the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) from ACS table B25071. For owner-occupied units, the median monthly owner cost is $1,687, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,190. The median income for renter households is $60,617. This report presents a point-in-time analysis of ACS 5-year estimates and does not offer relocation advice or market predictions. 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: James City County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 33.7% of renter household income in James City 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 $1,552 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,687. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $62,080 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. James City County's $1,552 median is 32.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in James City County
Rent Burden
16.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,566
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.4%
of gross income
The median home in James City County may be a stretch
Median home value is $447,200. Estimated monthly cost: $3,570 vs. your max of $2,566.
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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