Cost of Living in Stafford 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 Stafford County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Stafford County ranks #3,098 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 1%)
Sourced county brief
Stafford County Median Gross Rent Surpasses $2,000 Per Month
The median gross rent in Stafford County is $2,020 per month, which is $850 higher than the unweighted county mean of $1,170 for Virginia. For households that rent, the median income was estimated at $85,364 during the 2020-2024 period. The official median Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) is 28.5%, a figure that is 0.1 percentage points below the state’s unweighted county mean of 28.6%. Homeowners in Stafford County face a median selected monthly owner cost of $2,220, compared to the unweighted county mean of $1,190 for Virginia counties. The median home value in the county was estimated at $485,100, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $295,808. These data points provide a snapshot of local housing costs based on 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: Stafford County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.5% of renter household income in Stafford 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 $2,020 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,220. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $80,800 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. Stafford County's $2,020 median is 72.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Stafford County
Rent Burden
17.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$3,215
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.3%
of gross income
The median home in Stafford County may be a stretch
Median home value is $485,100. Estimated monthly cost: $3,873 vs. your max of $3,215.
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
What is the cost of living in Stafford County, Virginia?
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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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