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Lowes Island, VA

High Pressure

Living in Lowes Island, VA costs about 69% more than the national average (Cost Index: 169). Housing is the main driver — the typical home value of $777,700 is well above the $303,400 US median. The local median household income is $220,238, which helps frame the place-side housing burden.

Lowes Island already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 16% rent burden, 3.5x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 256. 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 Lowes Island.

Monthly Housing
$2,897/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
16%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$14,956/mo
After housing and debt · $4,985/person
Rent vs Buy
Buying can be tested
Main pressure: everyday costs
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: nonmetroHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 19%
Uses a URL fragment, so it does not create a separate indexed page.
Cost Index
169
Very Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$777,700
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$2,897/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$220,238
National: $78,538
Population
11,199
Purchasing Power
166
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
256 / 100
~2.6x more expensive
Rent Index
215 / 100
~2.1x more expensive
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Utilities
88 / 100
12% lower utility bills
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Healthcare & Services
98 / 100
In line with national average
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Overall Index
169
Very Expensive · 69% above average

Lowes Island Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $777,700 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
$220,238
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
16%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
3.5x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Lowes Island 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 Lowes Island, VA

Est. Annual Property Tax
$6,377
Monthly Impact
$531
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 Lowes Island 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.

Lowes Island, VA
169
215
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Lowes Island, VA: 256
Rent Prices
215

FAQ: Living in Lowes Island

Is Lowes Island, VA an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Lowes Island is about 69% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 169. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $777,700, and monthly rents average roughly $2,897. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Lowes Island fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $2,897, while local median household income is $220,238. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 16% 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 Lowes Island, 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 $777,700, that translates to roughly $6,377 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 5.75% on everyday purchases.

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

The typical monthly rent in Lowes Island is around $2,897. That's about 115% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $777,700, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Lowes Island, VA?+

The median home in Lowes Island is valued at $777,700. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $3,932/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 90% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Lowes Island?+

Grocery prices in Lowes Island are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Lowes Island, VA like to live in?+

Lowes Island is a small town with a population of about 11,199. The median age of residents is 40.4, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 0.72%, well below the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Virginia

If Lowes Island 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 Lowes Island 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