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Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Cost of living in Stafford County, VA

Part of the Washington Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$4,481/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 160,520 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $2,056 46%
Federal tax $817 18%
Healthcare $480 11%
Groceries $355 8%
State tax $266 6%
Transport $250 6%
Energy $202 5%
Water $55 1%

Rent in Stafford County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$2,012
per month
1 bedroom
$2,056
per month
2 bedroom
$2,314
per month
3 bedroom
$2,893
per month
4 bedroom
$3,413
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Stafford County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$133,792
per year
Individual earnings
$59,985
per year
Per capita
$51,999
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Stafford County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$458,800
Annual property tax
$3,301

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Stafford County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$153
per month · 14.6¢/kWh
Natural gas
$49
per month
Annual total
$2,424
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Stafford County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
6.7%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Stafford County

State and local tax rates for Virginia.

State income tax
5.8%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
5.3%
Combined sales tax
5.8%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Stafford County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
37.6 min
Drive alone
66.0%
Public transit
2.5%
Work from home
18.1%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Stafford County

What it costs to live in Stafford County each month.

Single person
$4,481
per month
  • Rent $2,056
  • Energy $202
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $355
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $817
  • State tax $266
Couple
$6,989
per month
  • Rent $2,314
  • Energy $242
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $588
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,946
  • State tax $620
Family
$9,730
per month
  • Rent $2,893
  • Energy $303
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $893
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,946
  • State tax $620

Frequently asked questions about Stafford County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Stafford County?

In Stafford County, VA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $2,056 per month, a two-bedroom averages $2,314 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,893 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Stafford County?

In Stafford County, VA, the average household income is $133,792 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $59,985 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Stafford County?

The estimated cost of living in Stafford County, VA is approximately $4,481 per month for a single person, $6,989 for a couple, $9,730 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Stafford County?

The combined sales tax rate in Stafford County, VA is 5.75%, which includes the Virginia state rate of 5.30% plus an average local rate of 0.45%.

Is Stafford County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Stafford County, VA would need approximately $4,481 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $133,792 per year ($11,149 per month). Stafford County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Stafford County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Stafford County, VA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 6.7% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Stafford County?

The average home value in Stafford County, VA is $458,800, with average annual property taxes of $3,301, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Stafford County compare to other areas?

You can compare Stafford County, VA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Stafford County is in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area.

Other counties in Virginia

Browse the full list of counties in Virginia, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Virginia

Compare Stafford County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources