Are you thinking of moving to the Northern Virginia area and wonder what the cost of living in Stafford, Virginia is?

In this episode of Give, Work, Play, I'm going to break the cost of living here in Stafford. We’ll look at everything from amenities to housing prices so you know exactly what to expect.

Housing Costs

Whether you’re PCS going into the area or are moving here from Texas, California, Colorado, or overseas, you're going to want to know what the actual cost of living is. First, let’s talk about housing costs. This will largely depend on your needs.

There are a few questions you need to answer. Are you buying? Are you renting? Do you need a big backyard? Are you looking for a townhouse? In Stafford, the average four-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-car garage costs about $425,000. While this price does depend on whether you're in a community, have acreage, are on the water, or have horses, this is the average home price. 

If you're going to rent that same house, it's probably about $2,500 a month. Depending on your taste, of course—like if you want the champagne taste and the house to match as well—you can pay up to $850,000. If you're okay with a little shag carpet, Corian countertops, or even some Formica, you could find a house as low as $350,000. You might even be able to find a house for $300,000, depending on how much work you're willing to put into the property. 

The big thing about Stafford, Virginia is that prices are going to vary depending upon whether you're on the water, a gated community, or a lot of land. You might be able to find a house in a lower price range in some of the smaller communities. But if you're looking for more amenities, you're definitely going to be on the higher side of the price point. Depending on what you're looking for, I'm happy to send you a list of homes at whatever price point you're looking at.

Townhouses And Condos

Maybe you don't want that much land or you don't want to take care of all the amenities. If you're looking for something a little bit smaller, Stafford has townhouses and condos as well. The unique thing about Stafford is that we do have some older townhouses and condos. This makes the price point on these in the mid $200,000s.

If you're looking for something new with all the amenities, it could cost you almost as much as a single-family home. The pricing of townhouses depends on the amenities that you're looking for. Some of the townhouses are luxury living, with a gym, multiple pools, and walking distance to Publix. There are options for everyone in Stafford. 

Taxes And Transportation Costs

If you're moving from California, New York, Florida, New Jersey, or New England, the property taxes in Stafford are definitely very reasonable. They're assessed every two years, so when you buy in Stafford, you know what you're getting for at least two years. 

To put it in perspective, if a house is about $450,000, the assessed value is usually over $100,000 on average. That’s less than 1% of the assessed value of the house—which is crazy low. For example, a recent client of mine just purchased a house in Stafford for $450,000. The assessed value was about $310,000 and the actual taxes for the year were just a little over $3,000 for the year. That's super reasonable. 

For those of you who are moving into Virginia, our state income tax is only 5.75%. And if you're moving here, you’re probably going to have a car to get around. As of this recording in Spring 2021, the average price of gas per gallon is only $2.75. This makes us slightly below the national average and is especially beneficial if you're going to be commuting to D.C. 

Keep in mind that every other year you're going to need an emissions test—which is only $25. And like every other state, you're going to need a vehicle inspection sticker. We do it every year just like every other state, but it’s only $20 a year. So if you're coming from California, that’s about a $300 savings. 

Lastly, Virginia also has a personal property tax. This means you do have a tax on your car, truck, boat, or motorcycle. While it's something to consider, it's only usually a few hundred dollars per vehicle. It's not really that big of a charge, and it's something that everybody has to pay. And if you're active-duty military or disabled, you’re exempt from the personal property tax. 

Affordable Living In Stafford

I hope this helped you understand what the true cost of living is like in Stafford, Virginia. It’s a great place to work, live, and play. If you'd like any more information, make sure to reach out to me and I’ll be happy to provide you with whatever you need.

Make sure to subscribe to my channel for information about Stafford Quantico, Fredericksburg, and anything in the Northern Virginia area that has to do with living, working, and playing. I’ll catch you on the next episode!