Cost of Living in Orange 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 Orange County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Orange County ranks #2,738 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 13%)
Sourced county brief
Orange County Median GRAPI Calculated at 24.8 Percent
The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Orange County was 24.8% per the ACS B25071 estimate. This percentage is 3.8 percentage points lower than the Virginia state unweighted county mean of 28.6%. The median gross rent in the county was recorded at $1,205 per month, which is $35 above the state unweighted county mean of $1,170. Renter-household median income was $57,961. Regarding property owners, the median home value was $364,200, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $295,808. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,488, while the state unweighted county mean for this metric was $1,190. These statistics are drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 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: Orange County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 24.8% of renter household income in Orange 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 $1,205 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,488. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $48,200 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. Orange County's $1,205 median is 3.0% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Orange County
Rent Burden
15.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,194
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.0%
of gross income
The median home in Orange County may be a stretch
Median home value is $364,200. Estimated monthly cost: $2,908 vs. your max of $2,194.
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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