Cost of Living in Shenandoah 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 Shenandoah County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Shenandoah County ranks #2,281 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 27%)
Sourced county brief
Shenandoah County median gross rent remains below state unweighted mean
The median gross rent in Shenandoah County was $984 per month for the period 2020-2024, a figure that is $186 below the Virginia unweighted county mean of $1,170. The official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) in the county was 26.5%, which is 2.1 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 28.6%. For owner-occupied housing, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,108, which is less than the state unweighted county mean of $1,190. The median home value in the county was estimated at $294,900, while the state unweighted county mean was $295,808. The median income for renter households was $47,938. These figures represent a snapshot of census-reported data and do not constitute a prediction of future housing prices or rental rates. 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: Shenandoah County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 26.5% of renter household income in Shenandoah 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 $984 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,108. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $39,360 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. Shenandoah County's $984 median is 15.9% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Shenandoah County
Rent Burden
17.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,568
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.8%
of gross income
The median home in Shenandoah County may be a stretch
Median home value is $294,900. Estimated monthly cost: $2,354 vs. your max of $1,568.
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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