LivabilityCalc
Find Your City
City Housing Verdict

Colonial Heights, VA

Manageable

The cost of living in Colonial Heights, VA is 5% below the national average (Cost Index: 95). Homes here are typically valued around $291,617, compared to the $303,400 national median. The median household income is $76,250 — overall, living costs and earnings are reasonably balanced in this area.

Colonial Heights looks comparatively manageable for household relocation, with 18% rent burden, 3.8x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 96. Use the assumptions below to test whether your own budget still stays in the safe range.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Safe

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

Monthly Housing
$1,162/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
18%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$4,692/mo
After housing and debt · $1,564/person
Rent vs Buy
Buying can be tested
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 26%
Uses a URL fragment, so it does not create a separate indexed page.
Cost Index
95
Average
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$291,617
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $231,700
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,162/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$76,250
National: $78,538
Population
18,210
Purchasing Power
102
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
96 / 100
Close to 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
95
Average

Colonial Heights Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $291,617 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
$76,250
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
18%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
3.8x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Colonial Heights 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 Colonial Heights, VA

Est. Annual Property Tax
$2,391
Monthly Impact
$199
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 Colonial Heights 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.

Colonial Heights, VA
95
86
Loading cities...
---
---

Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Colonial Heights, VA: 96
Rent Prices
86

FAQ: Living in Colonial Heights

What is the cost of living like in Colonial Heights, VA?+

Living costs in Colonial Heights land close to the national average, with a Cost Index of 95 (where 100 = the US baseline). Housing is the largest variable: the median home value here is $291,617, and typical monthly rents run around $1,162. Groceries and utilities are in line with what you would find in most US cities.

How does Colonial Heights fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,162, while local median household income is $76,250. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 18% 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 Colonial Heights, 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 $291,617, that translates to roughly $2,391 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 5.75% on everyday purchases.

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

The typical monthly rent in Colonial Heights is around $1,162. That's roughly 14% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $291,617, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Colonial Heights, VA?+

The median home in Colonial Heights is valued at $291,617. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,475/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 68% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Colonial Heights?+

Grocery prices in Colonial Heights 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 Colonial Heights, VA like to live in?+

Colonial Heights is a small town with a population of about 18,210. The median age of residents is 38.5, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 9.57%, near the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Virginia

If Colonial Heights 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 Colonial Heights 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