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City Housing Verdict

Ashland, VA

High Pressure

The cost of living in Ashland, VA is 13% above the national average (Cost Index: 113). Homes here are typically valued around $451,691, compared to the $303,400 national median. The median household income is $65,000 — overall, living costs and earnings are reasonably balanced in this area.

Ashland already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 21% rent burden, 6.9x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 149. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Ashland.

Monthly Housing
$1,154/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
21%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$3,763/mo
After housing and debt · $1,254/person
Rent vs Buy
Rent first
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 31%
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Cost Index
113
Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$451,691
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $272,600
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,154/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$65,000
National: $78,538
Population
7,667
Purchasing Power
73
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
149 / 100
49% above average
Rent Index
86 / 100
14% below average
Goods & Groceries
97 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
89 / 100
11% lower utility bills
Healthcare & Services
99 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
113
Expensive · 13% above average

Ashland Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $451,691 and Virginia's property tax rate of 0.82%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$65,000
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
21%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
6.9x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Ashland looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Ashland, VA

Est. Annual Property Tax
$3,704
Monthly Impact
$309
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.82%
National avg: ~1.00%

Virginia Place Tax Context

Tax TypeVirginiaNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.82%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate5.75%~5.0%
State Sales Tax5.75%~5.0%

Compare Ashland to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Ashland, VA
113
86
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Ashland, VA: 149
Rent Prices
86

FAQ: Living in Ashland

Is Ashland, VA an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Ashland is about 13% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 113. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $451,691, and monthly rents average roughly $1,154. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Ashland fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,154, while local median household income is $65,000. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 21% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Ashland, VA?+

Virginia has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 5.75%. The effective property tax rate is 0.82%. On a home worth $451,691, that translates to roughly $3,704 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 5.75% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Ashland, VA?+

The typical monthly rent in Ashland is around $1,154. That's roughly 14% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $451,691, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Ashland, VA?+

The median home in Ashland is valued at $451,691. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,284/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 56% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Ashland?+

Grocery prices in Ashland are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 97, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 89). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Ashland, VA like to live in?+

Ashland is a small town with a population of about 7,667. The median age of residents is 30.7, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 16.43%, above the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Virginia

If Ashland feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Virginia

Use these city pages when you want to compare Ashland against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly