As one among America’s authentic 13 colonies, Virginia is full of historical past. It’s additionally full of folks — greater than 8.6 million, in response to the U.S. Census. That quantity is rising, too, with the inhabitants increasing by greater than 600,000 between 2010 and 2020. However, whereas there are a lot of causes to make the Outdated Dominion state your private home, a very lean price of residing isn’t one among them: Information from the U.S. Bureau of Financial Evaluation reveals that Virginians spent a median of $48,249 per 12 months on residing prices in 2021, which is simply barely above the nationwide common of $47,915. Right here, we break down the general price of residing in Virginia.
Housing prices
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The Virginia Realtors housing market overview for October 2022 reveals a median value of $365,000 for single household houses. That’s up 4.3 p.c from October 2021, however nonetheless barely lower than the present nationwide median of $379,100.
Should you’re considering of shopping for a home in Virginia, it’s best to know that costs are typically significantly larger in Northern Virginia cities simply outdoors Washington, D.C. The October median value in Alexandria was $640,000, for instance, and in Arlington it was $650,000, in response to Redfin knowledge.
For renters, Virginia Realtors knowledge reveals that the statewide common lease as of early 2022 was $1,546 monthly. As with home-sale costs, that quantity jumps in Northern Virginia — on this case, all the best way as much as $1,952. The state noticed double-digit progress in rents for 3 quarters in a row, in 2021 and 2022.
Job market in Virginia
Virginia’s job market is robust. Because of its shut proximity to the nation’s capital, many high-profile authorities entities are primarily based within the northern a part of the state, together with the Pentagon in Arlington and the CIA in Langley. Loads of prime firms have headquarters right here too, like Nestlé, Carmax, Boeing and CapitalOne.
The statewide unemployment fee was simply 2.7 p.c as of October 2022, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which ties it for the ninth-lowest within the nation. The Virginia Employment Fee knowledge reveals excessive progress throughout the complete sector, and its job outlook projection for 2026 predicts total employment within the state to develop by simply over 10 p.c. Information from ZipRecruiter, an employment web site, reveals the typical annual wage within the state as of November 2022 was $61,836.
Meals prices
The Shopper Value Index reveals that meals costs have gone up in Virginia over the previous 12 months, as they’ve throughout the nation. Within the South area, costs from October 2021 to October 2022 rose by 8.4 p.c for consuming out, and by 12.7 p.c for groceries to eat in. The MIT Dwelling Wage Calculator places food-related bills in Virginia at $3,351 per 12 months for a single particular person, or $9,856 for a household of 4.
Transportation in Virginia
MIT’s Dwelling Wage Calculator places the typical transportation expenditure for a single grownup in Virginia at round $5,500 yearly. The common price of gasoline in North Carolina, per AAA knowledge, was $3.19 per gallon as of early December — barely cheaper than the nationwide common of $3.32.
Many metro areas throughout the state have their very own transit companies, which give public-transportation service through the whole lot from bus to mild rail to ferry. Washington, D.C.’s Washington Metropolitan Space Transit Authority additionally providers a lot of Northern Virginia with commuter trains and buses.
Native and state taxes and charges
- Virginia ranks eleventh within the nation for particular person earnings tax, per the Tax Basis, with a prime fee of 5.75 p.c.
- Property and actual property taxes are calculated on a native foundation, various largely by county. The common state property tax fee is 0.82 p.c.
- The state levies a 5.3 p.c gross sales tax, with an extra 0.45 p.c, on common, tacked on by native municipalities. Groceries and a few private gadgets are taxed at a decreased fee, and there’s a gross sales tax vacation in August on clothes, college provides and choose different gadgets.
- As of early December 2022, mortgage charges in Virginia had been averaging 6.45 p.c for a 30-year fastened mortgage and 5.85 p.c for a 15-year fastened.
- Essential observe for retirees: Virginia doesn’t tax social safety advantages.
Transferring to Virginia
Dwelling prices are very localized, and the excessive costs within the D.C. metro space can skew the statewide image. Many areas of Virginia are very reasonably priced. Earlier than transferring, use Bankrate’s price of residing calculator to crunch the price differential between your present locale and the place in Virginia you’d like to maneuver. Should you do resolve to relocate right here, significantly from out-of-state, don’t neglect to issue the price of transferring itself into your funds.
FAQs
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Whereas Virginia’s price of residing isn’t the bottom within the nation, additionally it is not outrageously greater than different states. In truth, it’s virtually precisely within the center: 2021 knowledge from the U.S. Bureau of Financial Evaluation reveals that client spending averaged $48,249 within the state, per capita, placing it very near the nationwide common of $47,915.
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Per the MIT Dwelling Wage Calculator, the residing wage in Virginia for a person grownup with no youngsters works out to $19.40 per hour. (It defines “residing wage” as the quantity a person must earn to help themselves and their household.) Given a 40-hour workweek and 52 weeks per 12 months, this works out to an annual wage of about $40,362. Per ZipRecruiter, the typical wage within the state is $61,836.
Supply By https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/cost-of-living/in-virginia/