Cost of Living in Mathews 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 Mathews County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Mathews County ranks #2,011 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 36%)
Sourced county brief
Mathews County Official Median GRAPI Snapshot is 25.2 Percent
In Mathews County, Virginia, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 25.2%. This is 3.4 percentage points lower than the Virginia unweighted county mean of 28.6%. The median gross rent was $1,032 per month, which is $138 below the state unweighted county mean of $1,170. Renter-household income was estimated at $42,857. For owner-occupied residences, the median home value was $360,900, while the state unweighted county mean was $295,808. Median selected monthly owner costs were $878, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,190. These data are sourced from the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. 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: Mathews County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 25.2% of renter household income in Mathews County, which is below the 30% affordability 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 $1,032 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $878. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $41,280 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. Mathews County's $1,032 median is 11.8% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Mathews County
Rent Burden
16.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,771
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.9%
of gross income
The median home in Mathews County may be a stretch
Median home value is $360,900. Estimated monthly cost: $2,881 vs. your max of $1,771.
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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