Cost of Living in Rockbridge 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 Rockbridge County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Rockbridge County ranks #1,616 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 49%)
Sourced county brief
Rockbridge County Median Monthly Owner Costs Below State Mean
Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units in Rockbridge County were $789. This figure is $401 lower than the Virginia unweighted county mean of $1,190. The median home value was estimated at $248,800, which is $47,008 below the state unweighted county mean of $295,808. For renter-occupied units, the median gross rent is $925 per month, which is $245 lower than the state unweighted county mean of $1,170. The official ACS B25071 Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) in the county is 27.9%, a figure that is 0.7 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 28.6%. Renter households in Rockbridge County had a median income of $43,103. These findings are part of the 2020-2024 American Community Survey snapshot analysis. See ACS table B25088 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: Rockbridge County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.9% of renter household income in Rockbridge 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 $925 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $789. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $37,000 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. Rockbridge County's $925 median is 20.9% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Rockbridge County
Rent Burden
17.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,528
per month
Owner Cost Burden
14.5%
of gross income
The median home in Rockbridge County may be a stretch
Median home value is $248,800. Estimated monthly cost: $1,986 vs. your max of $1,528.
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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